Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter officially celebrated his 100th birthday today, becoming the longest-lived (former) president in U.S. history. He attributes his longevity to strong interpersonal relationships in his life, especially his marriage.
Jimmy Carter served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. In a 2019 interview with People magazine, Carter expressed surprise at reaching such an advanced age, saying, “Living to 95 is difficult.”
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2015, President Carter underwent multiple hospitalizations and had been receiving end-of-life care at home since February 2023.
“I thought I only had a few weeks left, but I unexpectedly felt calm,” he said at a news conference in 2015. “My life has been very fulfilling, I have thousands of friends… so I feel unexpectedly calm, much calmer than my wife.”
What is the secret to his longevity and happy life? It lies in his marriage to the supportive former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Rosalynn passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96.
Carter told People magazine, “The best explanation, I think, is to marry the best spouse: someone who takes care of you, engages with you, challenges you, and keeps you vibrant and interested in life.”
The former president told The Washington Post that in 1949, they met at Plains United Methodist Church in Plains, Georgia, their hometown. They fell in love at first sight, and he asked her to go see a movie. The next morning, he told his mother he was going to marry Rosalynn.
They have four children, 22 grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Carter told People magazine that he and Rosalynn had been married for 77 years and had never thought about longevity, they were just looking for ways to serve the community and connect with each other.
In 1982, they founded the Carter Center, a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving lives. Since then, the center has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build thousands of homes in more than ten countries.
The vibrant couple returned to their hometown and purchased an ordinary house for $167,000, much lower than the median home price in Georgia, according to Zillow data.
In July 2023, the Carter family celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary at their home in Georgia, marking them as the longest-married First Couple in American history.
According to CNBC reports, their grandson Jason Carter said in 2023, “Looking back on their legacy and seeing the support, respect, and love poured out for them is amazing.”
On Tuesday, October 1st, President Joe Biden called Carter to wish him a happy 100th birthday, expressing deep admiration for his predecessor.
Biden referred to Carter as “a moral force for our nation and the world,” praising him as “a voice of courage, conviction, compassion, and most importantly, a dear friend” in a birthday message shared with CBS News.
After leaving office, Carter took on peace missions to Cuba and the Middle East, engaged in negotiations for hostage releases, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He continued teaching Sunday school in his hometown, writing books, and winning a Grammy Award.
According to the Carter Center, in nearly 44 years since leaving office, Carter has helped nearly eradicate Guinea worm disease (GWD). This parasite infected approximately 3.5 million people worldwide in the mid-1980s and by 2023 had affected only 14 individuals.