Former President Jimmy Carter, a man who redefined what a post-presidency could be, died Sunday. He was 100.

Carter, who lived longer than any other U.S. president, entered home hospice care in Plains, Georgia in February 2023 after a series of short hospital stays.

The only Georgian ever elected to the White House, Carter left office after a single term that was highlighted by forging peace between Israel and Egypt, but was overshadowed by the Iran hostage crisis. In the decades after, his reputation grew through his and wife Rosalynn Carter’s work at the Carter Center in Atlanta and his philanthropic causes such as Habitat for Humanity.

“People will be celebrating Jimmy Carter for hundreds of years. His reputation is only going to grow,” Rice University history professor Douglas Brinkley wrote in his book “The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter.”
Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, in 2002 for his diplomacy work through The Carter Center.
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Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, in 2002 for his diplomacy work through The Carter Center.

James Earl Carter Jr. was born in Plains on Oct. 1, 1924, the first of four children of Earl Carter, a farmer and businessman, and Lillian Gordy Carter, a registered nurse.

He gained an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduated and joined the Navy submarine branch where in seven years he worked his way into “Rickover’s boys,” the elite nascent unit of America’s nuclear submarine fleet championed by the iconic Admiral Hyman Rickover. Carter was on his way up until a death at home changed his destiny.

His father Earl, a farmer, businessman and cornerstone personality in the Plains community, died from cancer. Carter left the Navy and its far-from-Plains postings such as Hawaii, and he, Rosalynn and their growing family returned to Georgia in 1953 to take over the family farming business. It was there he first ran for school board, then state senator.

He was elected governor in 1970. Carter served one successful term before launching an improbable bid to become president, winning the Democratic nomination and then defeating Republican President Gerald Ford in November 1976.

On his inauguration day, rather than driving past the crowds in an armored limousine, Jimmy and Rosalynn emerged from the car with daughter Amy at their side and walked down Pennsylvania Avenue, holding hands and waving.

Carter’s successes included promoting human rights, adding to the national park and preserve system, reestablishing governmental credibility after the Watergate Crisis, and the Camp David Accords, which forged a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.

They were overshadowed by trouble at home and abroad. At home, Carter and his advisers, most of them Washington outsiders, met resistance from his own party.

Then, in November 1979, Iranian militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took hostages. He tried negotiation, then launched a bold rescue mission that never reached its target because of helicopter failure. He could not resolve the situation until the last day of his administration.

At home, a foundering economy exacerbated by oil embargoes from Mideast countries and the rise of the Republican Party under Ronald Reagan helped lead to his defeat in November 1980.

Carter returned to tiny Plains and used the power of an ex-president’s bully pulpit as the springboard to his last, and, some say, his best act.

Carter began volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, a fairly new Americus-based organization, building houses for the poor. Then, together with Rosalynn, he founded the Atlanta-based Carter Center, which focused on making peace and spreading health and democracy around the world. It will carry the couple’s humanitarian and democratic work forward.

From his work as president and as the leader of the Carter Center, he won the Nobel Prize, the United National Human Rights Prize and many other notable awards from countries, organizations and world leaders. The Carters both were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton.

”Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter,” Clinton said, “have done more good things for more people in more places than any other couple on the face of the Earth.”

Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter’s wife of 77 years, died in November 2023.

They are survived by their children Amy, Chip, Jack and Jeff; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

iwaeda:
He lived well

chigoziri2403:
What is his legacy

malali:
May his soul rest in peace.
God bless America.

Carter encouraged Nigeria’s transition from military rule to civilian governance, which culminated in the 1979 elections that brought President Shehu Shagari to power.

The Carter administration encouraged American companies to invest in Nigeria, fostering economic growth and development.The Carter administration encouraged American companies to invest in Nigeria, fostering economic growth and development.Nigeria, being a major oil producer, was an important trading partner for the U.S. Carter’s administration maintained strong trade ties, which benefited Nigeria’s economy during the oil boom of the 1970s.

Carter and Nigeria’s leaders shared a strong opposition to apartheid in South Africa. Nigeria, as a frontline supporter of the anti-apartheid movement, received diplomatic backing from the U.S. during Carter’s tenure.

Carter worked with Nigeria to promote regional stability and unity against colonial and white-minority regimes in southern Africa.

Carter’s administration facilitated scholarships and educational exchange programs that allowed Nigerian students to study in the United States, enhancing the country’s human capital.Programs promoting cultural exchanges between Nigeria and the U.S. helped to strengthen mutual understanding and respect were encouraged.

Carter’s later humanitarian work through The Carter Center has had an impact on Nigeria, especially in combating diseases like guinea worm and promoting health initiatives.

Nigeria’s role in peacekeeping missions in Africa, supported indirectly by Carter’s policies, further strengthened the country’s regional influence during his administration.

naptu2:


The first visit of a US president to Sub-Saharan Africa.

The video opens with a panoramic view of the grounds of State House Ribadu Road (aka Dodan Barracks) and the massed ranks of officers and men of the Brigade of Guards. You can see the real Dodan (army) Barracks in the distance (brown and white buildings).

The video shows President Carter arriving Dodan Barracks for the welcoming ceremonies.
Riding in the limousine with President and Mrs. Carter is General Joseph Garba. At that time, Joseph Garba was Nigeria’s foreign minister. After retiring from the army, General Garba would go on to serve as Nigeria’s representative at the United Nations. He served as President of the UN General Assembly in 1990.

General Garba previously served as Commander of the Brigade of Guards when General Gowon was Head of State.

President Carter is received by Lt Gen Obasanjo and introduced to Nigerian officials.

The two heads of state receive the 21 gun salute and the national salute (Star Spangled Banner and Arise O’ Compatriots). A line of Nigerian officials is shown during the rendition of the anthems. The officials include Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters), Lt Gen T.Y Danjuma (Chief of Army Staff), Vice Admiral Michael Adelanwa (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshall John Yisa Doko (Chief of Air Staff) and Alhaji Muhammed Dikko Yusuf (Inspector General of Police).

President Carter, accompanied by his (US) ADC and the parade commander, inspects the troops.

Short clips of speeches by President Carter and Lt Gen Obasanjo.

There is then a very brief shot of the Council Chamber at State House Ribadu Road.

The US President is then shown at the Cenotaph at Tafawa Balewa Square. The guards play the Last Post and the President lays a wreath at the tomb of The Unknown Soldier.

Finally, there is a shot of Marina. President Carter stayed at State House Marina during his visit. It’s an interesting shot because you can see Marina before the Outer Ring Road was built. This was back when Marina had a sandy beach, instead of the concrete structures that are there at the moment. This was even before NECOM House (Net Building) was built.

Sunday, April 2nd 1978.

Footage of Nigerian Head of State, Lt. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo signing a joint communique with U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Lagos, Nigeria at the end of an historic first visit to a Black African country by an American president.

Both men told newsmen that the two countries had pledged to work for the elimination of "the evil and oppressive system of apartheid" in South Africa.

But Lt. General Obasanjo expressed his strong disappointment over what he called the inadequacy of measures taken against South Africa by the international community, including the United States.

OBASANJO: "We have been able to agree, and in fact, all along, agreement on what is bad has not been a problem. We know what is bad, and that we have agreed upon. We also know what is required, that we agree upon. It terms of how to achieve what is required expeditiously has taken a bit of doing".

CARTER: "The last point I would like to make here is one that he has referred to several times, including his toast a few minutes ago, and that is our belief that Africans are completely able to resolve their own differences in Africa as it relates to political and military encounters, and the intrusion of outside forces into African disputes can only aggravate them and exaggerate death and suffering of people in this continent."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J4lTxqreac?si=dL-rANHa_ICCprW9

chigoziri2403:
What is his legacy

Bittersweetnig:
go back and read, this time! Slowly

naptu2:
United States First Lady, Rosalyn Carter and Amy Carter (daughter of President and Mrs Carter) at the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos.