Former President Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III praised Carter as a principled leader and champion of human rights and democratic ideals. Carter served in the Navy from 1946 to 1953, eventually attaining the rank of lieutenant before becoming governor of Georgia and then president from 1977 to 1981.
Carter’s military service included working on submarines and developing nuclear-powered submarines. In 2005, a nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Jimmy Carter, was commissioned in his honor. He also played a role in strengthening NATO and other alliances and issuing the Carter Doctrine, which outlined the use of military force to ensure stability in the Persian Gulf. Carter also established diplomatic relations with China and brokered peace between Israel and Egypt.
After leaving the White House, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, founded the Carter Center, focusing on building homes for the poor, fighting disease, and expanding economic opportunity. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden praised Carter’s compassion, moral clarity, and commitment to eradicating disease, promoting civil rights, and advocating for the least among us. Biden proclaimed Jan. 9 as a national day of mourning and ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff for 30 days in honor of Carter’s passing.
Carter’s deep faith inspired his passion for public service, leading him to work as a church deacon, Sunday school teacher, and board member of various community organizations. Biden praised Carter as a man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service made him one of the most influential statesmen in U.S. history. Carter’s legacy includes his dedication to global peace and human rights, as well as his efforts to uplift and change lives around the world through his humanitarian work. Biden’s proclamation honors Carter’s moral clarity, hopeful vision, and his impact on the nation and the world.
