Jimmy Carter’s Life: Spanning the Century.

By Bill S. Mikhail

The death of President Jimmy Carter on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the age of one hundred is an opportunity to revisit the life of this American statesman and the years when he served as President. There are many lessons to learn from the long life of President Carter. He teaches us that the life of a politician is not limited to the time they hold public office but is defined by the length and impact of their public service to their nation. Carter spent more time outside politics than within, showcasing a broader perspective on service.

Jimmy Carter’s life also underscores the importance of preparation before pursuing elected office. Graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1946, he joined the U.S. Navy and witnessed its transformation into a nuclear force. After retiring from the military to manage his family’s peanut farm following his father’s death in 1953, he entered politics. Carter served as a Georgia state senator from 1962 to 1970 and later as Governor of Georgia from January 1971 to January 1975. Throughout his political career, he remained deeply connected to the South, advocating for racial equality and viewing segregation as a historical, political, and ethical anomaly that needed to be eradicated. His efforts coincided with the rise of the New South in the United States, and he positioned himself as an outsider untainted by Washington politics.

When Carter ran for President, he emphasized the need for high ethical standards in Washington, condemning the Watergate scandal as indicative of an ethical crisis in American politics. He narrowly defeated President Gerald Ford in the 1976 election. During his presidency, Carter championed several domestic initiatives, including deregulating the aviation industry, introducing solar panels to the White House, and establishing two new federal departments: the Department of Education and the Department of Energy. His response to a nuclear reactor issue in Pennsylvania in 1980 highlighted his concern for national resilience, though his famous “malaise” speech was controversial.

Carter’s foreign policy legacy is the hallmark of his presidency. He negotiated the transfer of the Panama Canal to Panama, normalized relations with China, and signed the SALT II Treaty with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev (though it was later shelved after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan). Carter hosted the 1978 NATO summit, supporting a dual-track strategy of missile deployment and negotiations with the Soviets. His most celebrated achievement was the Camp David Accords, where he mediated peace between Egypt and Israel, resulting in their historic treaty in 1979.

However, Carter’s foreign policy faced significant setbacks. The Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the Sandinista movement’s rise in Nicaragua challenged his administration. The failed attempt to rescue American hostages in Tehran further damaged his presidency and reelection prospects. Torn between the dovish advice of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and the hawkish stance of National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, Carter ultimately adopted a more assertive posture, declaring the “Carter Doctrine” in January 1980 to defend U.S. interests in the Persian Gulf.

Carter lost his reelection bid to Ronald Reagan in 1980. In his farewell speech, he expressed his contentment in returning to the role of a private citizen. Post-presidency, Carter dedicated his life to humanitarian causes. Through the Carter Center, he monitored elections worldwide, worked to eliminate diseases, and built homes for the poor through Habitat for Humanity. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and authored numerous books, including works on American values, aging, and peace in Palestine.

A deeply religious man and a Baptist, Carter combined his faith with his commitment to diplomacy and service. Historians have increasingly reevaluated his presidency, offering more positive assessments of his achievements and leadership during the Cold War. Historian Douglas Brinkley’s book The Unfinished Presidency aptly describes Carter’s enduring influence.

Jimmy Carter was a great Cold War leader and a remarkable post-Cold War humanitarian. His aspiration to make the world safe for America—and America safe for the world—defines his legacy as a statesman, diplomat, and pioneer of peace.

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