Former President Jimmy Carter.Photo: John Bazemore, Pool/AP
Former PresidentJimmy Carterhas turned 98 years old, and people all over the world are joining in the celebration.
Carter, who currently reigns asAmerica’s oldest living president, has had abusy four decadessince he left the White House, continuing his philanthropic efforts throughThe Carter Center, which he founded in 1982 with former first ladyRosalynn Carter.
In honor of Saturday’s milestone occasion, marking the highest age a former U.S. president has ever reached, the Carter Center team has created anonline bulletin boardwhere admirers of the 39th president can post a message of appreciation. (The nonprofit organized a similar celebration forRosalynn’s 95th birthdayin August.)
“As the longest-living president in U.S. history, President Jimmy Carter has had a remarkable life of service that deserves worldwide celebration,” said Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center, in a statement. “Whether here in Georgia or in hard-to-reach regions around the world, millions of people have benefited from President Carter’s commitment to making the world a better place.”
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The former first couple’s grandson Jason Carter now serves as chair of the Carter Center board of trustees, and says he’s “honored” to be a part of carrying on his grandparents' legacy.
“It’s been awe-inspiring to watch my grandfather live out his values for all these decades,” he tells PEOPLE. “My earliest memories are from his years in the White House, and I’ve grown up witnessing and learning from his faith and his belief in equal treatment and respect for all people.”
Jason adds that President Carter has “always been known for his honesty, his work ethic, for asking tough questions, and for his persistence.” (He notes that Rosalynn prefers to call that last part “stubbornness.")
Those traits, Jason says, are a large part of why the Carter Center has been successful since its conception, working on “everything from observing elections to resolving conflicts to nearly eradicating Guinea worm disease — which will be only the second human disease ever eradicated!”
As for how Jimmy and Rosalynn will celebrate the president’s 98th birthday, PEOPLE anticipates that they will enjoy a quiet day at home, as they’ve done for otherrecent momentous occasions. Seventy-six years into their marriage — “a true power couple,” Jason says — the Carters continue to reside in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where the president was born.
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Though their lifestyle has slowed a bit in recent years, Jimmy and Rosalynn continue to speak out on important issues while their foundation’s team of about 3,000 employees worldwide work on the ground.
source: people.com
