President Jimmy Carter is celebrating his 98th birthday today.
He’s my idol.
I met President Carter and First Lady Rosalyn Carter in 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. He’s an extraordinary man who’s done amazing things in this world. Here are just a few:
Jimmy Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. He was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for work to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.
He negotiated the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, which provided for the return of the Panama Canal to Panama in 1999. In an effort to end the Arab–Israeli conflict, he helped arrange the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt.
In his final months in office, Carter was able to push through important legislation that created Superfund to clean up abandoned toxic waste dumps and that set aside some 100 million acres (40 million hectares) of land in Alaska to protect it from development. Carter would also be remembered for his inclusion of women and minorities in his cabinet, including Andrew Young, the African American former mayor of Atlanta, who played a prominent though controversial role as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
He considers one of his greatest achievements, the near-eradication of Guinea Worm Disease. According to the Carter Center:
- Incidences of Guinea worm disease have been reduced from an estimated 3.5 million in 1986 to 15 in 2021. The disease has been eliminated in 17 countries.
- The Guinea worm eradication campaign has averted at least 80 million cases of this devastating disease among the world’s poorest and most neglected people.
- The campaign has helped to establish village-based health delivery systems in thousands of communities that now have networks of health personnel and volunteers who provide health education and interventions to prevent other diseases. Source: The Carter Center
Happy birthday, President Carter!
“We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
Gardening Nirvana 
What an honor! Lovely, lovely pictures. I did not know about the stunning success of the guinea worm eradication campaign. Finally, I was so moved by the ending quotation.
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Thank you, Laurie! I signed up for the Guinea worm updates a few years ago, and I always look forward to the latest news. It’s absolutely extraordinary what they’ve accomplished. It was a thrill meeting the Carter’s, spending time in the presidential library, and also meeting other like-minded people who are interested in improving the social condition world-wide. I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Laurie.
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I certainly did!
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A heartfelt tribute to a wonderful man I didn’t know much about
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Thank you, Derrick.
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One of the few presidents I have truly admired. A great man.
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Likewise, Eliza!
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Another thing this great man has done is make Habitat for Humanity a household word (well, 3 words actually!) I wonder how many more home HfH has been able to build because of the recognition he has brought to this great organization?
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Jewels, agreed. Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful organization, highly successful and meaningful to all who participate. I saw a photo of President Carter a week after a fall, head bandaged as he swung a hammer. He’s remarkable.
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In a world full of not very upstanding leadership President Carter stands a giant among them if for no other reason than his unfailing example as a kind, godly, humble man with a great love for others. Happy Birthday sir.
Sweet post Alyson. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you, Amy. It’s hard to fathom how far we’ve fallen in terms of honesty, integrity, and kindness. It’s hard not to despair.
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It is difficult to hang on to hope some days but as Andy Dufresne said, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.” Keep up your good work Alys. You make such a difference in this world for so many. Kindness has a way of spreading even when we think not. Take care.
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A wonderful tribute Alys. I doubt that he could even imagine during his term that American could elect such a bad president later on. Needless to say, he was one of a kind, I’m glad you got to meet a hero 🧡
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I’m glad I got to meet him, too. He’s looking frail, but he’s still sharp and engaged. I’m sure he’s appalled at the state we’re in.
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He’s in good company, Alys. You are at least as kind and caring. He’s my favorite President too. The man himself is profoundly kind and caring as is Rosalyn. They make a dynamic team as do you and Mike. Beautiful tribute to a giant of a man. Wish we had more like him.
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I knew none of that. Thank you.
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A man of honor and integrity! Definitely one of my favorite Presidents!
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Yes! It’s in short supply these days.
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Jimmy Carter was the first President that I was aware of, although I was a little too young to understand the purpose of the Camp David agreement (that is what I remember of his presidency). A shame about who followed him.
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