Former President at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Carter died Sunday, coming up on two years after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia.
At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest:
Carter's state funeral will be Jan. 9
President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9.
Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100.
Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday.
Guterres' remembrance focuses on Carter's contributions to peace
United Nations Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres on Sunday praised Carter for his significant contributions to international peace through the Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal treaties.
鈥淧resident Carter鈥檚 commitment to international peace and human rights also found full expression after he left the presidency,鈥� Guterres said in a statement. "He played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations.
鈥淧resident Carter will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity,鈥� Guterres said.
Reflections from King Charles III
King Charles III joined leaders from around the world in issuing their condolences and sharing their reflections on the former president.
鈥淚t was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former President Carter," the king said in a public statement. 鈥淗e was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977."
Biden remembers Carter for his decency
President Joe Biden broke from his family vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands to remember Carter, recalling his predecessor as a role model and friend.
America and the world lost a 鈥渞emarkable leader鈥� with Carter鈥檚 death, Biden said, adding that he had spoken to several of the former president's children and was working with them to formalize memorial arrangements in Washington. Speaking for roughly 10 minutes, Biden remembered Carter as a humanitarian and statesman, someone he couldn't imagine walking past a person in need without trying to help them. He represented 鈥渢he most fundamental human values we can never let slip away,鈥� Biden said.
The president repeatedly praised Carter's 鈥渟imple decency鈥� and his values, saying some will see him as a man of honesty and humility from a bygone era.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe it鈥檚 a bygone era. I see a man not only of our time, but for all times,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淭o know his core, you need to know he never stopped being a Sunday school teacher at that Baptist church in Plains, Georgia.鈥�
Egyptian president notes historic Camp David Accords
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on X that Carter's significant role in achieving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel "will remain etched in the annals of history.鈥�
He went on to say Carter's 鈥渉umanitarian work exemplifies a lofty standard of love, peace, and brotherhood.鈥� Carter will be remembered as 鈥渙ne of the world鈥檚 most prominent leaders in service to humanity,鈥� el-Sissi said.
Biden to speak on Carter's death
President Joe Biden will speak about Carter Sunday evening. The president will make his address from a hotel in St. Croix, from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he is on a holiday vacation with his family.
Carter鈥檚 relationship with his wife Rosalynn spanned a near-lifetime
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history.
The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, 鈥淩osie,鈥� which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is 鈥淩OSE-uh-lyn,鈥� not, repeat NOT, 鈥淩AHZ-uh-lyn.鈥�
They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy鈥檚 mother, 鈥淢iss Lillian,鈥� delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn.
She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center.
Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter鈥檚 funeral.
Grandson Jason Carter says Plains kept his grandparents humble
Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center鈥檚 board of governors. He said his grandparents 鈥渘ever changed who they were鈥� even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians.
He says their four years in Washington were just one period of and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting 鈥渆xtension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.鈥�
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren鈥檛 motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers 鈥� they ventured to remote places because they could 鈥渞ecognize these people.鈥� They too were from 鈥渁 600-person village鈥� and understood that even the poorest people 鈥渉ave the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.鈥�
President Biden mourns his predecessor
As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter鈥檚 death, saying the world lost an 鈥渆xtraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian鈥� and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter鈥檚 compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others.
Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington.
Pelosi says Carter鈥檚 life 鈥榳as saintly鈥� in devotion to peace
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped 鈥渋n devotion to public service and peace.鈥�
The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to 鈥渉onoring the spark of divinity within every person,鈥� something she said manifested in 鈥渢eaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.鈥�
Pelosi also said Carter led 鈥減erhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.鈥�
Historical praise from the United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center.
鈥淢otivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,鈥� Starmer said.
Commemoration in New York City
To commemorate Carter鈥檚 death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, 鈥渢o honor the life and legacy鈥� of the late former president.
The Obamas recall Carter's Sunday services
In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter鈥檚 beloved Maranatha Baptist Church 鈥渨ill be a little quieter on Sunday,s鈥� but added that the late former president 鈥渨ill never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.鈥�
Noting the 鈥渉undreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews鈥� to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did 鈥渇or most of his adult life,鈥� the Obamas listed Carter鈥檚 accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. 鈥淢any people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter鈥檚 decency.鈥�
A somber announcement
The died Sunday, more than a year after entering , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, who , spent most of their lives.
鈥淥ur founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,鈥� The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family.
A Southerner and a man of faith
In his 1975 book 鈥淲hy Not The Best,鈥� Carter said of himself: 鈥淚 am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan鈥檚 songs and Dylan Thomas鈥檚 poetry.鈥�
A moderate Democrat, as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer.
After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world.
Former Vice President Gore remembers Carter for life "of purpose鈥�
Former Vice President praised Jimmy Carter for living 鈥渁 life full of purpose, commitment and kindness鈥� and for being a 鈥渓ifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.鈥�
Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes.
Gore said that 鈥渋t is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world鈥� that Carter is often 鈥渞emembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.鈥�
During Gore鈥檚 time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is 鈥済rateful鈥� for 鈥渕any years of friendship and collaboration鈥� with Carter.
The Clintons react to Jimmy Carter's death
Former President former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others.
鈥淗illary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others 鈥� until the very end."
The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts 鈥渢o protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David."
After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn鈥檚 devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity 鈥� he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,鈥� the statement said.
The Associated Press
