James Earl Carter Jr., known by many as Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, passed away on Sunday at 100, the Carter Center announced in a statement.
Carter died in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday, surrounded by family, according to the Carter Center's statement. He was in home hospice care since February 2023 after a series of short hospital stays, according to CNN.
President Carter was a peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, who went on to broker peace between Israel and Egypt. He later received the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.
Carter, a longtime Democrat, served as president from January 1977 to January 1981 after defeating Republican president Gerald Ford in the 1976 election.
According to Reuters, Carter lived longer after his term in office than any other US president. Along the way, he earned a reputation as a better former president than serving president - a status he readily acknowledged.
Years ago, in an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes, Carter revealed he was a fan of The Jerusalem Post.
"I read the New York Times, the Washington Post, and read Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post from Israel," he said.
Carter's foreign policy was heavily focused on the Middle East, and his 1978 Egypt-Israel peace treaty successfully ended hostilities between the two countries.
The former president considered the Camp David Accords, a peace agreement between Egyptian president Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin, to be a major achievement of his. The Carter Center stated that it continues to place high importance on peace in the Middle East and on promoting human rights internationally.
Carter’s 2006 book, titled “Palestine: Peace, not Apartheid,” led to controversy as Jews and Israelis felt the title was comparing Israel to apartheid South Africa.
The Atlanta Jewish Times reported that Emory University Prof. Kenneth Stein, executive director of the Carter Center from 1984-86 and an adviser on Middle East affairs, said he felt “betrayed” by the book, resigning from his position as Middle East Fellow at the Center shortly after the book’s publication and ending his association with the institution.
A friend to Jews everywhere
The Jewish Democratic Council of America released a statement shortly after his death, saying, “We will remember President Carter as an honest, principled leader who loved America. Following his presidency, he dedicated his life to humanitarian causes and the promotion of democracy and peace around the world. We send our condolences to the Carter family. May his memory be a blessing."
"An extraordinary leader"
"Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian," President Joe Biden wrote.
"Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well."
"We all owe him a debt of gratitude"
"The challenges Jimmy faced as president came at a pivotal time for our country, and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans," President-elect Trump stated, "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude."
"Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers."
"Integrity, respect, and compassion"
“Jimmy Carter promised voters that he would always tell the truth. And he did — advocating for the public good, consequences be damned,” former president Barack Obama wrote.
“He believed some things were more important than reelection — things like integrity, respect, and compassion. Because Jimmy Carter believed, as deeply as he believed anything, that we are all created in God’s image.”
"Loyal to family, community, and country"
"James Earl Carter, Jr., was a man of deeply held convictions. He was loyal to his family, his community, and his country," former president George W. Bush wrote.
"President Carter dignified the office. And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn’t end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations."
"President Carter lived to serve others"
"Hillary 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 – until the very end," former president Clinton said in a statement.
"From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge... and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David... to his and Rosalynn's devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity – he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world."
Service, compassion, and integrity
"President Carter personified the true meaning of leadership through service, through compassion, and through integrity," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.
"President Carter’s faith in the American people and his belief in the power of kindness and humility leave a strong legacy. He taught us that the strength of a leader lies not in rhetoric but in action, not in personal gain but in service to others."
"An important reminder of what’s possible"
"Jimmy Carter was a United States President, a US Navy veteran, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and a humanitarian who dedicated his life to promoting peace, democracy, and human rights," Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated.
“President Carter also showed us what can be achieved through tireless and principled diplomacy, mediating a landmark deal with Israel and Egypt that helped forge peace between two nations that had spent decades at war. His efforts are an important reminder of what’s possible, especially amidst renewed conflict and suffering in the region.”
The Empire State Building has released a statement saying the tower will be lit in red, white, and blue tonight to honor the former president.
The Carter family has asked the public to honor the late president's memory with a donation to his foundation, the Carter Center.
The center announced that it will provide updates about ceremonies and activities to honor the life of President Carter as they become available.