Local officials were remembering former President Jimmy Carter Sunday as news spread the Carter had died at age 100, after living longer than any other U.S. president.
Carter died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, according to his son Chip.
“Jimmy Carter’s extraordinary public service didn’t end when his presidency did. He has remained an icon of kindness and humility and a champion of peace,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said on X, accompanied by a photo of her with Carter.
“I had the opportunity to build houses with him for low income families in San Pedro in 2007 when I was on the City Council,” she added. “His legacy will live on for generations to come, not only here but around the world. May he rest in peace.”
Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D-Los Angeles, also remembered Carter’s work for Habitat for Humanity.
“Habitat Humanitarians: The Carters Carter Work Project will always remember President Jimmy Carter for his work with Habitat for Humanity as I served on the Board of Directors in Los Angeles. Rest in peace and rest and power, Mr. President,” Gipson posted on X.
“President Carter was a true public servant, a leader who understood that good works should extend far beyond the walls of elected office,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson posted. “During his presidency, he championed equality, human rights, and conscientious government; afterwards, he continued to dedicate his life to helping others succeed and thrive.
“His legacy stands as a powerful testament to the strength of the American virtues of unity, hope, and peace. The City of Long Beach extends our deep condolences to President Carter’s family and loved ones.”
The Plains native graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1946, and spent seven years as a naval officer before returning to Georgia and entering politics in 1962. He was elected governor in 1970.
When Carter emerged from the pack to claim the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976 he was largely unknown outside his home state. With the nation reeling from the Watergate scandal and the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974, Carter’s outsider status, humble background as a peanut farmer and perceived honesty proved a winning combination in a close election against incumbent Gerald Ford.
Carter’s presidency began with much hope and featured some high moments, most notably his brokering of the 1978 Camp David peace accord between Israel and Egypt. However, the economy was marked by rising inflation and energy shortages, and as Iranian militants seized 52 American hostages and held them for more than a year, Carter began to be perceived by voters as weak and ineffectual.
His stubborn refusal to nurture cooperative relationships with leaders of his own Democratic Party in Congress didn’t help his fortunes either, leading to a primary challenge from Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1980. Carter held off Kennedy, but was helpless to withstand the nationwide tide of conservatism that swept Ronald Reagan into office in November.
Carter’s reputation among historians and the public at large was at a low ebb when he left the White House, but would undergo a historic transformation in the years that followed.
He established the Carter Center in 1982, a nonprofit institution dedicated to promoting human rights and finding peaceful solutions to conflict. He traveled the world tirelessly, monitoring elections and otherwise advocating for peace and democracy.
Back home in the United States he devoted chunks of his time and energy to Habitat for Humanity, and could often be seen wielding a hammer himself helping to build houses for needy families.
He wrote books about faith, family and good works.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for “undertaking peace negotiations, campaigning for human rights, and working for social welfare,” according to the Nobel Committee.
Carter’s health gradually weakened in recent years. In February 2023, Carter’s family announced that he would forego further hospital stays and live out his final time receiving hospice care at home. His wife of 77 years, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, died on Nov. 19 of that year at age 96.
“Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” President Joe Biden said in a statement issued by the White House. “Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend.
“… With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe. … To the entire Carter family, we send our gratitude for sharing them with America and the world,” Biden continued.
” … And to all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning — the good life — study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility. He showed that we are great nation because we are a good people — decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”
Biden added that he would be ordering an official state funeral for Carter to be held in Washington, D.C.