The 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter, at 100 years old, recently passed away on December 29, 2024. He will be forever missed as not only a civil rights activist, an environmentalist, but also a peace bringer. During his presidency from 1977 to 1981, he negotiated multiple peace treaties and fought relentlessly for human rights, which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Before entering politics, Carter served in the United States Naval Academy for seven years and reached a full lieutenant rank. After graduating in Annapolis, Maryland in 1946, he married Rosalynn Smith and they had three children.
In 1962, he entered state politics, and in 1971 he was elected as the Governor of Georgia. He later announced his running for President in December of 1974 against incumbent President Gerald R. Ford. Carter won the election and took office in 1976.
He put in significant efforts to deal with energy related issues. Specifically, he created the Department of Energy, which promoted energy conservation and encouraged further research on renewable energy.
Regarding foreign policies, the Panama Canal Treaties were one of Carter’s well known accomplishments. Carter played an important role in negotiating closely with the Panamanian leader, and it was agreed upon that the control of the Canal should be transferred back to Panama while the canal remained open to other nations besides the U.S.
In 1978, Jimmy Carter achieved “one of the most significant diplomatic achievements of the 20th century.” He brought peace to the Middle East and ended the war between Egypt and Israel. It was an extremely challenging task at the time, as the two countries had fought four major wars with each other previously. Carter managed to invite the President of Egypt and the Prime Minister of Israel to meet at Camp David, where they had lengthy and contentious negotiations and eventually reached an agreement.
Between 1979 and 1981, Carter established the Department of Education, built a strong diplomatic relationship with China, worked on the national park system which protected over 157 million acres of Alaskan land, and dealt with the Iran Hostage Crisis. Furthermore, Carter founded the Carter Center, an organization that shows his passion for peace and human rights. Over the years, the Carter Center has helped improve the lives of the impoverished around the globe and has contributed to preventing diseases as well.
On December 29th 2024, the longest living president, Jimmy Carter, peacefully passed away in his home in Plains, Georgia. Americans continue to remember and honor his legacy.
