Former President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100.
Carter's office announced the news of his death on Sunday. The 39th President of the United States was receiving hospice care since last year at his home, where he lived with his wife, Rosalynn, in Plains, Georgia. Rosalynn died in November 2023. They leave behind their four children (Amy, Chip, Jack, and Jeff), 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Carter, the oldest living President was the first commander-in-chief to hit his 100th birthday. He was elected in 1976 as a Democrat, beating Republican Gerald Ford, and served only one term that was clouded by the controversial Iran hostage crisis. Carter lost the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan by a landslide.
Following his time leading the country and having one of the lowest public approval ratings on record, Carter rehabilitated his image by devoting his life to encouraging peaceful conflict resolutions, democracy, human rights, and social justice worldwide, mainly through the Carter Center, which he and his wife founded in 1982. He was also a significant figure backing the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity, which built and improved homes of low-income or disadvantaged families.
Carter's philanthropic work was recognized when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 for his efforts in finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts and his ironclad commitment to sustaining human rights.
"President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service," Barack Obama said in a statement. "Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man."
President Biden also released the following statement.
RIP.
