DEC. 29, 2024 | Jimmy Carter, the nation’s longest living former president whose political and humanitarian accomplishments led to a Nobel Peace Prize, died today at age 100, according to widespread media reports.
Through the years, the Charleston City Paper has offered insights into the life of the former nuclear engineer who became Georgia’s governor before winning the presidency in 1976. Here are some excerpts from past stories and commentaries:
Feb. 22, 2023: Carter’s good works will inspire for generations
“After losing the 1980 election, Carter didn’t sit idly by. He embarked on a post-presidential career that set the gold standard for public service. He wrote more than 30 books and established the Carter Center in Atlanta, which promotes peace and human rights and monitors international elections.
“One of his most astounding successes was his leadership to eradicate water-borne Guinea worm disease that once affected millions. In 2022, only 13 cases were documented worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. It may soon become the world’s second human disease to be eradicated.”
Feb. 20, 023: Carter helped change the world during long career, Johnson says
“The 98-year-old Carter, the longest-living former president, has a legacy of helping people and attempting to change the world, said [the late Tom] Johnson, who is now retired and living in western Georgia.
“‘A lot of what President Carter did that was good gets washed away’ by the hostage crisis that began in late 1979. ‘One of his biggest legacies is how the man inspired others to go out to make their part of the world a better place.
“‘I heard him say one time that “There will be researchers and scholars who will spend the next 100 years studying a decision I had three minutes to make.”’ Johnson said. ‘There are a lot of things he did that gets overlooked because the press focuses on the Iranian crisis” that led to the death of eight U.S. servicemen, who died in the failed rescue attempt.
“‘What were the other options?’ Johnson asked. ‘We could have bombed [Iran], and the hostages could have been killed. So, looking at it now, they all came home to their families.’”
10/2/21: Happy birthday, Mr. President
“During his life after the presidency, Carter has often been on construction sites helping to build houses for Habitat for Humanity. Internet memes crop up periodically that show Carter hard at work on a house just days after a fall that left him with a black eye. He even showed up for work while recovering from cancer. That’s toughness. That’s resilience. That’s commitment.”
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.
