Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, served from 1977 to 1981. His presidency included several notable achievements, including brokering peace between Egypt and Israel through the Camp David Accords, transferring control of the Panama Canal to Panama via the Panama Canal Treaty, reaching a strategic arms agreement with the Soviet Union, and establishing formal diplomatic relations with China. Carter also worked to make the government more inclusive, appointing more women, African Americans, and Jewish Americans to official positions and judgeships than all previous presidents combined. Additionally, he created the Departments of Education and Energy and prioritized environmental protection. A staunch advocate for human rights, Carter placed them at the center of U.S. foreign policy. Despite these accomplishments, his presidency faced significant challenges, including the Iran hostage crisis and a struggling economy. Likewise, as a political outsider, Carter took pride in prioritizing principle over political maneuvering, but this approach often made it difficult for him to achieve legislative goals in Washington.
After leaving office, Carter and his beloved wife Rosalyn, his partner throughout his political and public service career, embarked on a journey of humanitarian and peacemaking efforts that would define his legacy. In 1982, they founded The Carter Center, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to “waging peace,” promoting human rights, and alleviating human suffering. The Center has been instrumental in advancing health initiatives, notably contributing to the near-eradication of Guinea worm disease.
Carter's commitment to peace extended to diplomatic missions worldwide. He played a pivotal role in mediating conflicts and promoting fair elections in various countries. His efforts in North Korea in 1994 led to a temporary freeze of the country's nuclear program. Additionally, Carter's work in the Middle East, particularly his advocacy for Palestinian rights, showcased his dedication to finding peaceful solutions to complex international issues.
Carter's humanitarian work was also exemplified through his involvement with Habitat for Humanity. He and Rosalynn began volunteering with Habitat in 1984, actively participated in building and repairing homes for those in need. This commitment led to the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, an annual home building blitz organized by Habitat and its affiliates. It generally takes place in the United States one year, and an international location the next. Since its inception, the Carter Work Project has built 4,447 homes in 14 countries and involved over 108,000 volunteers.
Carter's post-presidential work earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, for “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” For Carter, though, his dedication to service was not about receiving accolades but simply a way to live out his faith. He stated, “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. I’m free to choose that something. That something—the something that I’ve chosen—is my faith. My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.”
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