PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Longtime associates, household and followers of Jimmy Carter milled round his hometown of Plains to rejoice his one hundredth birthday on Tuesday, the first time an American president has lived a full century and the newest milestone in a life that took the Depression-era farmer’s son to the White House and throughout the world as a Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian and advocate for democracy.
Living the final 19 months in residence hospice care, the thirty ninth president retains defying expectations, simply as he did by way of a exceptional rise from his household peanut farming and warehouse enterprise to the world stage. The Democrat served one presidential time period from 1977 to 1981 after which for 4 many years led The Carter Center, which he and his spouse Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope.”
“Not everybody gets 100 years on this earth, and when somebody does, and when they use that time to do so much good for so many people, it’s worth celebrating,” his grandson Jason Carter, chair of The Carter Center governing board, mentioned in an interview.
“These last few months, 19 months, now that he’s been in hospice, it’s been a chance for our family to reflect,” he continued, “and then for the rest of the country and the world to really reflect on him. That’s been a really gratifying time.”
James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924 in Plains, the place he lives in the identical one-story residence he and Rosalynn in-built the early Nineteen Sixties, earlier than his first election to the Georgia state Senate. The former first girl, additionally from Plains, died final November at 96.
About 25 relations crammed his residence Tuesday, having fun with cupcakes on the entrance garden whereas vintage World War II planes flew over in his honor. At evening, they deliberate to assemble round the TV to observe the vice-presidential debate.
Chip Carter mentioned his father’s subsequent objective is to make it to Election Day.
Former President Jimmy Carter greets attendees as he departs the funeral service for his spouse, former first girl Rosalynn Carter, at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., Nov. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool, File)
(*100*) Carter mentioned in an interview. “I asked him two months ago if he was trying to live to be 100, and he said, No, I’m trying to live to vote for Kamala Harris.”
Chip Carter sat in the entrance row of a naturalization ceremony held yearly on his father’s birthday for 100 new residents at Plains High School, which his father attended. The constructing is now a museum.
Jill Stuckey, superintendent of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park, recalled {that a} instructor as soon as advised Carter’s class that one of the college students can be president sometime. She mentioned Carter “took it heart.”
“One thing I’ve learned is to never underestimate Jimmy Carter, because if you do, he will prove you wrong,” Stuckey mentioned.
President Joe Biden, the first sitting senator to endorse Carter’s 1976 marketing campaign, praised his longtime buddy for an “unwavering belief in the power of human goodness.”
“You’ve always been a moral force for our nation and the world (and) a beloved friend to Jill and me and our family,” the 81-year-old president mentioned in a tribute video, recorded in entrance of Carter’s White House portrait. Carter requested Biden to eulogize him at his state funeral when the time comes.
But even on Carter’s one hundredth birthday, Donald Trump couldn't cross up repeating his longstanding jab at the Georgia Democrat. Trump labeled Biden “the worst president,” and mentioned Carter is “the happiest man because Carter is considered a brilliant president by comparison.” It was hole reward for the one-term president who was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980 however went on to turn out to be a revered world determine.
Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, for his half, declared Tuesday “Jimmy Carter Day” to acknowledge his legacy as the state’s 76th governor. Other birthday occasions have included a musical gala in Atlanta with dozens of artists, airing Tuesday night on Georgia Public Broadcasting, that has raised greater than $1.2 million for The Carter Center. Townspeople in Plains deliberate one other live performance Tuesday night.
And Habitat for Humanity volunteers are devoting this week to construct 30 homes in his honor in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Carters served as ambassadors for the group, hosted annual constructing tasks into their 90s.
Minister Barbara Green and Deacon William Le Green of Americus got here to Main Street in Plains to honor Carter, who helped construct their Habitat for Humanity residence in the early 2000s. Le Green recalled how Carter gave the couple hammers to maintain, together with their keys.
“He didn’t mind getting his hands dirty, or anything of the kind,” Le Green mentioned.
Jimmy Carter was final seen publicly practically a 12 months in the past, visibly diminished and silent as he used a reclining wheelchair to attend his spouse’s two funeral companies. Jason Carter mentioned the household hadn’t anticipated to take pleasure in his one hundredth birthday after she died. The former president’s hospital mattress had been arrange so he might see and speak to his spouse of 77 years in her ultimate days and hours.
“We frankly didn’t think he was going to go on much longer,” Jason Carter mentioned. “He’s really given himself over to what he feels is God’s plan. He knows he’s not in charge. But in these last few months, especially, he has gotten a lot more engaged in world events, a lot more engaged in politics, a lot more, just engaged, emotionally, with all of us.”
He mentioned the centenarian president, born 4 years after ladies have been granted the constitutional proper to vote and 4 many years earlier than Black ladies gained poll entry, is keen to solid his 2024 presidential poll for the Democrat who can be first girl, second Black particular person and first particular person of south Asian descent to succeed in the Oval Office.
“He, like a lot of us, was incredibly gratified by his friend Joe Biden’s courageous choice to pass the torch,” the youthful Carter mentioned. “You know, my grandfather and The Carter Center have observed more than 100 elections in 40 other countries, right? So, he knows how rare it is for somebody who’s a sitting president to give up power in any context.”
Early voting in Georgia begins Oct. 15, two weeks into Carter’s a hundred and first 12 months.
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Barrow reported from Atlanta.
