Former President Jimmy Carter passed away yesterday at his home in the town of Plains, Georgia, according to a statement from family members. Carter was the only US president to live to 100 years old.
A former US Naval officer turned peanut farmer, the Georgia native and Democrat entered politics in 1963 as a state senator, rising to become governor in 1971 while championing civil rights. In 1976 he was elected president, beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford by a 50.1-48.0% margin. Carter's single term in office was marked by an economic slowdown, the Iran hostage crisis, and the aftereffects of the Vietnam War. He ultimately lost the 1980 election to Republican Ronald Reagan in an electoral landslide, 489-49.
A winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, Carter was known for his philanthropic efforts, including his participation in Habitat for Humanity, which he continued into his 90s, among other causes.
See photos from Carter's life here.
Comments