Jimmy Carter, oldest of all US presidents, dies aged 100

Former US President Jimmy Carter has died aged 100, the centre he based has confirmed.

The previous peanut farmer lived longer than any president in historical past and celebrated his one hundredth birthday in October.

The Carter Middle, which advocates for democracy and human rights all over the world, mentioned he died on Sunday afternoon at his house in Plains, Georgia.

The Democrat served as president from 1977 to 1981, a interval beset by financial and diplomatic crises.

After leaving the White Home with low approval rankings, his status was restored by means of humanitarian work which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.

“My father was a hero, not solely to me however to everybody who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” his son, Chip Carter, mentioned in a press release.

“The world is our household due to the best way he introduced folks collectively, and we thanks for honouring his reminiscence by persevering with to reside these shared beliefs.”

Carter – who previous to turning into president was governor of Georgia, a lieutenant within the US navy and a farmer – is survived by his 4 kids, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

His spouse, Rosalynn, who he was married to for 77 years, died in November 2023.

Since 2018 and the loss of life of George HW Bush, he was the oldest surviving US president.

Carter stopped medical remedy for an undisclosed sickness final 12 months and as a substitute started receiving hospice care at his house.

President Joe Biden and First Woman Jill Biden mentioned the world had “misplaced a rare chief, statesman and humanitarian”.

Describing him as “an expensive good friend” and “a person of precept, religion and humility”, they added: “He confirmed that we’re an amazing nation as a result of we’re a great folks – first rate and honorable, brave and compassionate, humble and robust.”

“The challenges Jimmy confronted as president got here at a pivotal time for our nation and he did the whole lot in his energy to enhance the lives of all Individuals,” President-elect Donald Trump wrote on social media.

“For that, all of us owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Carter’s presidency will likely be remembered for his struggles in coping with acute financial issues and several other international coverage challenges, together with the Iran hostage disaster, which ended with the deaths of eight Individuals.

There was, nevertheless, a notable international coverage triumph within the Center East when he helped dealer an accord between Egypt and Israel, signed at Camp David within the US in 1978.

However that appeared a distant reminiscence two years later, when voters overwhelmingly selected Republican Ronald Reagan, who had portrayed the president as a weak chief unable to take care of inflation and rates of interest at close to document highs.

Carter misplaced the 1980 election by a landslide, successful solely six US states plus Washington DC.

Within the aftermath of such a heavy defeat, Carter was incessantly held up by Republicans for example of liberal ineptitude.

In the meantime, many in his personal occasion both ignored him or seen his presidential shortcomings as proof their model of Democratic politics or coverage was a greater means.

At present many on the proper nonetheless deride the Carter years however because the many years handed, his humanitarian efforts and easy way of life started to form a brand new legacy for a lot of Individuals.

After leaving the White Home, he turned the primary and solely president to return full-time to the home he lived in earlier than politics – a humble, two-bedroom ranch-style house.

He selected to not pursue the profitable after-dinner speeches and publishing offers awaiting most former presidents, telling the Washington Submit in 2018 that he by no means actually wished to be wealthy.

As a substitute, he spent his remaining years making an attempt to deal with international issues of inequality and illness.

He additionally teamed up with Nelson Mandela to discovered The Elders, a bunch of world leaders who dedicated themselves to work on peace and human rights.

In accepting his Nobel prize in 2002 – solely the third US president to obtain it – he mentioned: “Probably the most severe and common drawback is the rising chasm between the richest and the poorest folks on Earth.”

In a press release, former President Invoice Clinton and spouse Hillary Clinton mentioned he “labored tirelessly for a greater, fairer world”, noting his humanitarian, environmental and diplomatic efforts.

“Guided by religion, President Carter lived to serve others – till the very finish,” they added.

Former President Barack Obama paid tribute to Carter’s “decency” and mentioned “he taught all of us what it means to reside a lifetime of grace, dignity, justice, and repair”.

Republican former President George W Bush, in the meantime, mentioned Carter “dignified the workplace” and that “his efforts to go away behind a greater world did not finish with the presidency”.

President Biden mentioned a state funeral can be held in Washington DC.