Former President Jimmy Carter discusses the recent release of two hostages May 1, 1990. He was in Nashville to address the Conference of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons at the Opryland Hotel.
© Bill Steber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Plains, GA) – Former President Jimmy Carter — the only US Commander in Chief to live to 100 years of age — has died. He spent two years in hospice care and was pre-deceased by his wife of 70 years, Rosalynn Carter. A noted humanitarian and advocate for human rights, Carter’s presidency was troubled by a series of challenges — perhaps most chiefly his handing of the Iranian hostage crisis.
President Biden has joined with every other living US president to offer condolences following Carter’s passing. He discussed the man he’s known since the 1970s in comments delivered while on vacation in St. Croix. Former President Barack Obama said, “President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service.” Fellow Democrat, former President Bill Clinton: “Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others – until the very end.”
President-elect Donald Trump praised the 100-year-old in a post on his Truth Social site, saying “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans.” Fellow Republican ex-President George W. Bush called Carter “a man of deeply held convictions” and offered his condolences to the family. He said Carter dignified the office and pointed to Carter’s work with Habitat for Humanity as an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations.
Meanwhile, there will be a series of public services and observances held for the former president — both in Washington, DC and in Atlanta. A native of Plains, Georgia, Carter was a peanut farmer and once served as the Peach State’s governor. Condolences may be left online at JimmyCarterTribute.org — with donations requested to The Carter Center in lieu of flowers.
A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Carter was a naval officer and nuclear engineer. He notably helped avoid disaster at a nuclear facility in Canada, when it suffered a partial meltdown.
President Biden has declared January 9th as a National Day of Mourning in honor of Carter. Biden also called on Americans to assemble in their respective places of worship on that day to pay homage to the memory of the 39th president. US flags will be flown at half-staff for 30 days, including Inauguration Day.
