The Democratic Party icon, who became the longest-living president in U.S. history, served as the nation’s 39th president from 1977 to 1981. After leaving office, he enhanced his global reputation by earning the Nobel Peace Prize and founding the Carter Center, a prominent organization advocating for democracy, human rights, and conflict resolution worldwide.
Amid health challenges, President Carter chose last year to cease medical treatment and receive hospice care at home. Tributes poured in following his passing, led by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, who praised him as an “extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres recognized President Carter’s leadership during his presidency, particularly his dedication to international peace and security. Mr. Guterres highlighted pivotal achievements such as the 1978 Camp David Accords, which forged a lasting peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II) of 1979, which curbed nuclear proliferation alongside the Soviet Union. He also noted President Carter’s role in the Panama Canal Treaties, which facilitated the return of the canal’s control to Panama in 1999.
Following his presidency, Carter devoted himself to addressing critical global issues such as inequality, human rights, housing insecurity, and social justice. “President Carter’s commitment to international peace and human rights found full expression after he left the presidency,” said Mr. Guterres, adding that he made significant contributions in conflict mediation, election monitoring, democracy promotion, and combating diseases.
A Champion of Peace and Human Rights
Carter’s post-presidency efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His work often advanced the mission of the United Nations, and he co-founded The Elders, a group led by global figures—including South Africa’s Nelson Mandela—dedicated to promoting peace and human rights.
Secretary-General Guterres remembered President Carter as a symbol of compassion, grace, and unwavering commitment to the common good. “He will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in our shared humanity,” Guterres said, offering condolences to the Carter family and the American people.
Guterres concluded by affirming that Carter’s “legacy as a peacemaker, human rights champion, and humanitarian will endure.”
President Carter is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, who passed away in November last year.
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