Tribute to Jimmy Carter - His Life and His Legacy

“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. I’m free to choose that something. ... My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can.”

 - Jimmy Carter

I have a soft spot in my heart for Jimmy Carter.  He is someone I have admired since his presidency, and someone who has shown me what a commitment to making the world a better place can lead to.  When I heard he had decided to enter hospice care in February 2023, I decided to write my thoughts down while I had time to think. Now that he is gone, I will mourn the world's loss. Who will step forward to fill his shoes?

Carter is most known for his role as the 39th president of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981.  During that time I was age 22 - 26.  While those who follow such things tell me repeatedly he wasn't considered a strong president, I admired him.  He was unassuming, kind, and felt like someone I would love to have as my grandfather. He had dignity. Instead of being a force of nature, he moved purposefully through whatever was in front of him with little show of ego.

When I was a freshman in high school, the Vietnam War was still going, as was the draft.  I remember watching the selection process on TV with a list of birth dates of classmates I cared for, hoping they would not be chosen. And I had great sympathy for those who chose to follow their inner guidance against war and and flee the country. I celebrated when, on his second day as president, he pardoned them.  Well done. At my age, that was enormous.  

After not winning a second term, and by a landslide, Carter didn't look back - 

“Instead of sulking about not winning the second term, he used his influence and prominence from his position in politics to help millions of people and win the Nobel Peace Prize. I can’t think of any other president who lived long enough to see their legacy while they’re still alive.." -  Joseph Crespino. as told to The Washington Post.

I lost track of what Carter was doing after his presidency, but eventually started hearing bits and pieces. Again, I was struck by how much he strived to be a good man and good citizen, how he shunned the celebrity spotlight, and how he committed he was to doing the right thing. A Wikipedia article says this - "After leaving office, he remained engaged in political and social projects, establishing the Carter Center, building his presidential library, teaching at Emory University in Atlanta, and writing numerous books. He also contributed to the expansion of Habitat for Humanity, to build affordable housing." That is the public story in a nugget, but his personal story is so much bigger.

He returned to his peanut farm which had been in a blind trust during his term of office to find the trustees had mismanaged it and left him over $1 million dollars in debt. Carter had to sell it and was close to losing everything. He began to write books. By 2019 he had published over 33 books - everything from a children's book to reflections on his presidency.  He also began to build his presidential library, started teaching at Emory University and contributed to the expansion of Habitat for Humanity.

Visiting Nigeria’s Nasarawa state in 2007 to celebrate progress against
the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis. Photo by Emily Staub

Carter and his wife spend modestly compared to other ex-presidents. They own a two bedroom modest home that in 2019 was worth less than $200,000.  He has even been known to buy clothes at the Dollar General and he often flies commercial. Post-presidency, he chose to decline the corporate board memberships and lucrative speaking engagements. Former communications director Geral Rafshoon shared, "He doesn't like big shots, and doesn't consider himself one." What a refreshing change from normal post presidential actions. 

In 1982, he established the Carter Center, a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization that has worked in more than 80 countries. At its core is a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering. The center seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. One of their successes was helping to reduce the incidence of Guinea worm disease by 99.99 percent, making it likely to be the first human disease since smallpox to be eradicated. 

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library - Virtual Tour

The organization is also working to improve global health through the control and eradication of other diseases such as river blindness, malaria, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis, and strives to diminish the stigma of mental illnesses and improve nutrition through increased crop production in Africa. It has monitored 96 elections in 38 countries since 1989, and has worked to resolve conflicts in Haiti, Bosnia, Ethiopia, North Korea, Sudan and other countries. Carter and the Center support human rights defenders around the world and have intervened with heads of state on their behalf.

In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work "to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development" through The Carter Center. Well deserved. On July 18, 2007, Carter joined Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa, to announce his participation in The Elders, a group of independent global leaders who work together on peace and human rights issues. 

There are two personal stories about Carter that really stand out for me.  The first is his commitment to Habitat for Humanity. He has to date helped renovate over 4,300 homes. Building affordable homes is a cause he promotes, raises funds for and donates to, but his commitment is even greater.  He shows up do the work and his presence speaks volumes.  He doesn't just give lip service to inspire others, he inspires them by being visibly there, working side-by-side with other volunteers.  Here is one famous story from a few years ago that illustrates this perfectly. 

"Fourteen stitches, a black eye and a large bandage are no match for former President Jimmy Carter, who turned 95 last week. Just hours after suffering injuries from a fall in his home Sunday morning, Carter traveled to Nashville to kick off a week of volunteer work. Despite his injuries, the oldest living former US president and his wife Rosalynn Carter have been working on building the new porches of 21 Nashville homes this week as part of the 36th Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity. - Elizabeth Wolfe and Saeed Ahmed, CNN, October 8, 2019

The other that stood out for me was his choice to leave his former Southern Baptist church. Carter and his wife are deeply religious, and had been attending this church for 21 years. What he could no longer accept was their attitude towards women, so he decided to make a stand publicly and move to another church. 

“I’m familiar with the verses they have quoted about wives being subjugated to their husbands. In my opinion, this is a distortion of the meaning of Scripture…I personally feel the Bible says all people are equal in the eyes of God. I personally feel that women should play an absolutely equal role in service of Christ in the church.” - Jimmy Carter

He is also acknowledged on the GLADD organization's website for his public support of marriage equality.  Carter stands as an example that all of us have the ability to change with the times and embrace new truths no matter what our age.  He didn't think highly of himself, he simply used his visibility to do good, and to inspire others to do good.  May I learn to channel a little of his magic as I move forward into the coming years.

Carter has faced many health challenges in recent years, including a melanoma in 2015 that had spread to his liver and his brain. He surprisingly beat it. In February 2023, however, Carter chose to enter hospice instead of continuing to seek treatment. I wrote this tribute thinking his time was short. Instead he passed 22 months later on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. I for one mourn his loss and hope there is a new role model rising that will be able to step in to take his place. 

Jimmy Carter - You will be sorely missed.