Jimmy Carter, a politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th President of the United States, passed away at his home and birthplace in Plains, Georgia on December 29, 2024 at the age of 100. Carter was the oldest living former U.S. president and had been receiving hospice care since February 2023. The notable end of Carter’s life was a testament to the legacy that he leaves. Throughout his time at home, across the United States, and around the world, Carter had a remarkable global impact.

Born in 1924, Carter lived with his parents: Lillian, who worked as a nurse, and James, a farmer. He later attended Georgia Southwestern College, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and finally received a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy. From there, Carter began his 15-year service in the military starting as a submariner and later becoming a senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew of the nuclear submarine, Seawolf. Carter’s commander, Hyman Rickover pushed him to reach this prominent position in the U.S. military. “I think, second to my own father, Rickover had more effect on my life than any other man,” said Carter. After the death of his father in 1953, Carter cut his military career short and returned home to help his family run their peanut farm.
At this time, the Civil Rights movement was gaining traction. As support for segregation in Georgia became louder, Carter remained firmly against it. In Plains, Carter was urged to join a White Citizens Council which looked to enforce racial segregation in the South. Although a boycott was put on his business, Carter was the only white man in Plains that refused to join. His strong support for desegregation was one of the points that sparked his political career.
Carter became the chairman of the Sumter Board of Education in 1955 and later ran successfully for an open seat in the Georgia state senate where he stayed for two terms. His political success was not automatic. After losing a race for the U.S. house in Georgia, he tried again in 1970 and became Governor of Georgia. Described as a Liberal Democrat, Carter’s time in office as Governor was marked by support for funding for education and environmental projects, cutting bureaucratic offices, and more diversity within his government’s hiring practices.
In 1976, his campaign for president was regarded as a long shot. Despite his win in Georgia, Carter was largely unknown across the United States, yet he entered the race at a good time. After former president Nixon resigned and the Vietnam war lacked support, Carter appeared as a change-making outsider who had no ties to the elites in Washington.
Despite Carter’s defeat in 1980, he brought forth a new era of politics in his first term. As an avid supporter of the anti-Vietnam War movement, one of Carter’s first political moves was to pardon every draft evader. This sent a message that through his presidency he would be an advocate for peace around the world. Carter and his team engaged in diplomacy with nations in the Middle East, most notably negotiating the Camp David Peace Accords. This resulted in the gradual Israeli withdrawal from Eastern Egypt.
Carter was also a trailblazer for the environmental movement. During his presidency, he lost support from his Democratic caucus due to his unbreakable attitude towards vetoing pollutive projects, protecting various wilderness areas, and promoting the use of clean energy. Carter notably wore a cardigan in a fireside chat with the American people where he encouraged them to turn down their thermostats and do what they can to conserve energy. He was one of the nation’s most radical environmental advocates and a leader of the popular environmental movement that we see today.
Carter’s presidency can be remembered for high inflation and energy shortages, however he used his power to challenge old systems and create lasting change. Post-presidency, he and his wife Rosalynn started the Carter Foundation. Their mission was to show that “people can improve their own lives when provided with the necessary skills, knowledge, and access to resources.” This foundation was responsible for helping eradicate Guinea worm, creating village-based health centres in thousands of African villages, and observing 125 elections in over 40 countries to help strengthen democratic institutions.
The work of Jimmy Carter was a lifelong task. It was not always easy, but he acted with a selfless goal to improve the lives of the collective and make the world a better place.
Information about the Carter Foundation can be found here: https://www.cartercenter.org/