39th US President Carter dies at 100

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, whose post-presidential life redefined the role of a former commander-in-chief, has died at the age of 100.

The Carter Center announced his death on Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he had spent most of his life alongside his wife, Rosalynn, who predeceased him in November 2023. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said on the social media platform X. “He died peacefully, surrounded by his family.”

President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s passing, calling him “an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian.” Biden emphasized Carter’s example as a model for public service. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter,” Biden said. He also announced plans for a state funeral in Washington.

Carter, a former peanut farmer and Navy officer, rose to prominence in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War, winning the 1976 presidential election with a promise of honesty and transparency. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter declared during his campaign.

During his single term in office, Carter navigated Cold War tensions, volatile oil markets, and social upheaval. His most significant achievement was brokering the 1978 Camp David Accords, which brought peace between Egypt and Israel. “My faith demands—this is not optional—that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said of his approach to leadership.

However, his presidency was marred by challenges, including the Iran hostage crisis, double-digit inflation, and energy shortages. Reflecting on his term, Carter admitted in his 2020 memoir White House Diary that his approach could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic.” Despite these struggles, he maintained, “I achieved my primary objectives—to protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully and enhance human rights here and abroad.”

After his defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1980, Carter transformed his legacy through humanitarian work. He founded The Carter Center in 1982, describing it as “a place where we could work” rather than just a repository for presidential memorabilia. The center became a hub for global health initiatives, democracy promotion, and conflict resolution. It monitored over 113 elections worldwide, played key roles in easing tensions in North Korea and Haiti, and nearly eradicated the guinea worm parasite.

Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 recognized his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Accepting the honor, Carter remarked, “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place. The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.”

Even in his later years, Carter continued to challenge political norms. He criticized