Former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29 at the age of 100, leaves behind a legacy of service, kindness and moral leadership that will be remembered for generations. Known for his dedication to helping others, Carter’s impact went far beyond his time in office.
Born in Georgia, Carter became the 39th president in 1977. His biggest achievement in office, was the Camp David Accords in 1978, a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. At Carter’s funeral, his son Jason Carter expressed his opinion of his father’s presidency.
“He had the courage and strength to stick to his principles, even when they were politically unpopular,” Jason said. “As governor of Georgia half a century ago, he preached an end to racial discrimination and an end to mass incarceration. As president in the 1970’s, as you’ve heard, he protected more land than any other president in history.”
His presidency faced challenges, including the Iran Hostage Crisis, that led to the downfall of his administration. Carter’s focus on human rights and justice was a major part of his presidency. Carter reflected upon the Iran Hostage Crisis after his presidency, in which he expressed guilt at his failure to retrieve the American hostages being kept in Iran sooner.
“I guess my biggest failure was not getting reelected,” Carter said. “[The loss taught me] not to ever let American hostages be held for 444 days in a foreign country without extracting them. I did the best I could, but I failed.”
After leaving office, Carter continued his work through the Carter Center, which was established in 1982. It focuses on global health, peace and democracy. Carter’s efforts through the Carter Center eventually won Carter the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, in which he gave a speech where he spoke about his beliefs.
“We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children,” Carter said.
For the rest of Carter’s life, he remained active working with Habitat for Humanity and spoke out for the poor. His life showed that true leadership comes from helping others and standing up for what’s right.
Carter’s legacy will continue to inspire people to make a difference. His commitment to kindness and peace is something future leaders will likely follow.
