After almost 2 years in hospice care, former US president Jimmy Carter died at age 100 on December 29, 2024. Carter was a hardworking man who rose from a lowly peanut farmer in rural Georgia to the 39th President of the United States. While in office, Carter worked to support the economy and tackle unemployment rates across the nation. He was the oldest former president of the United States, and was the only one to live up to the age of 100.
Early Life
Carter was born October 1, 1924. He grew up in the remote town of Plains, Georgia, living in a simple home where he and his wife, Rosalynn, would live for most of their lives. Carter attended military school in Maryland before serving as a naval officer for seven years. He then began to get involved in politics within Georgia, and was elected as state governor, starting his political career.
Presidency
In 1974, Carter began a two-year presidential campaign as the Democratic candidate. He was running against the Republican candidate Gerald R. Ford. Following his presidential win in 1976, Carter had many achievements in office. He combatted a short supply of energy throughout the nation, placing regulations on petroleum prices to tackle the shortage. He supported the Social Security System, brought people of all walks of life and ethnicities into government jobs, and brought into existence the Department of Education. He helped to expand the national park system, placing 103 million acres of land in Alaska under federal protection. He promoted peace and harmony in his foreign diplomacy.
End of Term & Post-Presidency
Later in Carter’s term, Iran took several US ambassadors as hostages. The American economy also inflated around this time. These two factors contributed to Carter’s defeat in reelection, against Ronald Reagan. Jimmy Carter lived his post-presidential life with his wife Rosalynn in Plains, GA. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, and was recognized for his contributions and achievements as the president. He created the Carter Center, which is a nonprofit association that worked to combat humanitarian issues. He also wrote many New York Times Bestselling books. He passed away from melanoma, or skin cancer, after 22 months in hospice care.
Cites-
https://www.uclahealth.org
https://www.whitehouse.gov
https://www.nytimes.com
https://history.state.gov
