Former US President Jimmy Carter Dies at the Age of 100
2024-12-31
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1Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100.
2His presidency was marked by rising inflation and unemployment.
3He helped negotiate a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.
4He returned the Panama Canal to the Central American country, recognized mainland China, and signed an arms limitation agreement with the former Soviet Union.
5However, in 1979, Iran took U.S. embassy workers hostage in Tehran.
6The Iran hostage crisis dominated his final years in the White House and contributed to his defeat by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election.
7Carter liked to say the end of his presidency in 1981 was the beginning of a new life.
8He traveled around the world "fighting disease, building hope, and waging peace," he said.
9In 2002, the former president received the Nobel Peace Prize.
10The White House released a statement from President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Sunday, calling Carter "a dear friend."
11Biden also declared January 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning in honor of Carter and directed flags at public buildings to be displayed at half-staff for 30 days.
12President-elect Donald Trump posted a message on Truth Social: "...He did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude."
13Carter was born on October 1, 1924, in the small town of Plains, Georgia.
14Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 and married Rosalynn Smith in the same year.
15As an officer in the U.S. Navy, he helped in the development of nuclear submarines.
16But he returned to his hometown in 1953 to run the family peanut-farming business.
17He entered politics in the 1960s as a member of the Democratic Party.
18Carter served two terms as a Georgia legislator before becoming the state's 76th governor from 1971 to 1975.
19The Democratic Party chose Carter as its presidential candidate for the 1976 presidential election.
20Carter ran against Republican President Gerald Ford who was completing the term of President Richard Nixon.
21Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal.
22Carter narrowly defeated Ford to become president.
23The high point of Carter's presidency came in 1978.
24He brought Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to Camp David, a presidential vacation home in rural Maryland, to negotiate a peace treaty.
25Carter said: "When I became president, there had been four wars between Arabs and Israelis in the previous 25 years...we had success in getting a treaty between Israel and Egypt...not a word of which has ever been violated."
26Carter negotiated a treaty turning control of the Panama Canal over to the Panamanian government.
27He also normalized diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, recognizing the communist government in Beijing.
28But in 1979, Carter's administration had to turn its attention to Iran.
29A revolution in that country led by religious clerics ousted the government of the U.S.-supported Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
30The U.S. then permitted Pahlavi to receive treatment for cancer in the country.
31On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants, unhappy with U.S. action, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 66 Americans hostage.
32Thirteen were released weeks later but the hostage crisis extended through the rest of Carter's presidency.
33Five months into the crisis, in April 1980, Carter ordered a complex military operation to free the remaining hostages.
34The operation was aborted when several aircraft developed problems.
35Eight U.S. military members and one Iranian civilian died.
36Walter Mondale, Carter's vice president, told VOA that that day was the lowest point of their administration.
37The failed mission damaged Carter's standing with the American public.
38It took place seven months before the 1980 presidential election, which Carter lost to Reagan.
39Carter said, "That was the number one issue that caused me to fail."
40Other major events during Carter's presidency included the invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union.
41As a response, Carter ordered a boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow.
42In 1981, Carter returned to Plains. His plan for a presidential library and museum became the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
43Under his direction, the Carter Center observed more than 80 elections around the world and aimed to negotiate disputes.
44They included a dispute over nuclear weapons with North Korea in 1994 and a peace agreement between Uganda and Sudan in 1999.
45The center also aims to support health and fight disease in poor countries.
46In one of many interviews with Voice of America, Carter said the greatest parts of his legacy were not the things he did serving the American people as U.S. president or the Nobel Peace Prize.
47He said his greatest accomplishment was the eradication of Guinea worm disease.
48As a result, there were only 13 cases of Guinea worm recorded in 2022.
49Carter led an active life until the age of 99, surviving brain cancer in 2015.
50He last appeared in public during the funeral services for his wife, Rosalynn, in November 2023.
51Carter said of his hopes for the country: "I would like to see the United States in the future strive to be the number one champion in the world of peace and human rights and environmental quality, and...treating everyone equal."
52Carter lived longer than any U.S. president, and his 76-year marriage to Rosalynn is the longest of any president and first lady.
53He is to be buried on the grounds of his home in Plains, Georgia.
54I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. 2His presidency was marked by rising inflation and unemployment. He helped negotiate a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. He returned the Panama Canal to the Central American country, recognized mainland China, and signed an arms limitation agreement with the former Soviet Union. 3However, in 1979, Iran took U.S. embassy workers hostage in Tehran. The Iran hostage crisis dominated his final years in the White House and contributed to his defeat by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election. 4Carter liked to say the end of his presidency in 1981 was the beginning of a new life. He traveled around the world "fighting disease, building hope, and waging peace," he said. 5In 2002, the former president received the Nobel Peace Prize. 6The White House released a statement from President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Sunday, calling Carter "a dear friend." 7Biden also declared January 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning in honor of Carter and directed flags at public buildings to be displayed at half-staff for 30 days. 8President-elect Donald Trump posted a message on Truth Social: "...He did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude." 9Early life 10Carter was born on October 1, 1924, in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 11Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 and married Rosalynn Smith in the same year. As an officer in the U.S. Navy, he helped in the development of nuclear submarines. But he returned to his hometown in 1953 to run the family peanut-farming business. 12He entered politics in the 1960s as a member of the Democratic Party. Carter served two terms as a Georgia legislator before becoming the state's 76th governor from 1971 to 1975. 13The Democratic Party chose Carter as its presidential candidate for the 1976 presidential election. Carter ran against Republican President Gerald Ford who was completing the term of President Richard Nixon. Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal. 14Carter narrowly defeated Ford to become president. 15The high point of Carter's presidency came in 1978. He brought Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to Camp David, a presidential vacation home in rural Maryland, to negotiate a peace treaty. 16Carter said: "When I became president, there had been four wars between Arabs and Israelis in the previous 25 years...we had success in getting a treaty between Israel and Egypt...not a word of which has ever been violated." 17Carter negotiated a treaty turning control of the Panama Canal over to the Panamanian government. He also normalized diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, recognizing the communist government in Beijing. 18But in 1979, Carter's administration had to turn its attention to Iran. A revolution in that country led by religious clerics ousted the government of the U.S.-supported Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The U.S. then permitted Pahlavi to receive treatment for cancer in the country. 19On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants, unhappy with U.S. action, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 66 Americans hostage. Thirteen were released weeks later but the hostage crisis extended through the rest of Carter's presidency. 20Five months into the crisis, in April 1980, Carter ordered a complex military operation to free the remaining hostages. 21The operation was aborted when several aircraft developed problems. Eight U.S. military members and one Iranian civilian died. Walter Mondale, Carter's vice president, told VOA that that day was the lowest point of their administration. 22The failed mission damaged Carter's standing with the American public. It took place seven months before the 1980 presidential election, which Carter lost to Reagan. Carter said, "That was the number one issue that caused me to fail." 23Other major events during Carter's presidency included the invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union. As a response, Carter ordered a boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow. 24Life after politics 25In 1981, Carter returned to Plains. His plan for a presidential library and museum became the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. 26Under his direction, the Carter Center observed more than 80 elections around the world and aimed to negotiate disputes. They included a dispute over nuclear weapons with North Korea in 1994 and a peace agreement between Uganda and Sudan in 1999. The center also aims to support health and fight disease in poor countries. 27In one of many interviews with Voice of America, Carter said the greatest parts of his legacy were not the things he did serving the American people as U.S. president or the Nobel Peace Prize. 28He said his greatest accomplishment was the eradication of Guinea worm disease. As a result, there were only 13 cases of Guinea worm recorded in 2022. 29Carter led an active life until the age of 99, surviving brain cancer in 2015. He last appeared in public during the funeral services for his wife, Rosalynn, in November 2023. 30Carter said of his hopes for the country: "I would like to see the United States in the future strive to be the number one champion in the world of peace and human rights and environmental quality, and...treating everyone equal." 31Carter lived longer than any U.S. president, and his 76-year marriage to Rosalynn is the longest of any president and first lady. 32He is to be buried on the grounds of his home in Plains, Georgia. 33I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 34Kane Farabaugh reported this story for VOA. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. 35_________________________________________ 36Words in This Story 37dominate -v. to mainly control or to take up all of one's energy 38contribute -v. to help cause something to happen 39half-staff -adj. when the U.S. flag is positioned halfway on the flagpole to show a national state of mourning 40abort -v. to stop a process or task before it is completed 41eradication -n. the process of completely ending or removing something 42strive -v. to try to do something with great effort 43We want to hear from you. 44Our comment policy is here.