Jimmy Carter's Remarkable Life

     As a Democrat, I am not afraid to admit that the presidency of Jimmy Carter was not a successful one. His term was wrought with the energy crisis, a number of nuclear disasters, the Iran Hostage Crisis, and an economic downturn that impacted millions of Americans and left an understandably-sour taste in the mouths of voters. Despite his years of military service and work as governor of Georgia, he was not prepared to handle the national trajectory.

     However, Jimmy Carter the retired president has been nothing short of a hero. His retirement is almost 40 years long thusfar, the longest of any president. At the age of 96, he is the longest-living president, the only president from Georgia, and the longest-married president, with his 75th anniversary to his fantastic wife Rosalynn coming next year. He has beaten the odds and survived brain cancer. 

     Aside from his personal successes and struggles, his professional work has been the most impactful of his life. He has taught at Maranatha Baptist Church and Emroy University; he successfully sought a statue for poet Dylan Thomas; he has built nearly 1,000 homes with Habitat for Humanity; he has powered half of his town with solar panels; he has served as an envoy to a dozen countries and successfully negotiated safety for numerous Americans; he has written dozens of books.

     His most important work began in 1982 when he and Rosalynn founded the Carter Center, which has successfully worked to monitor elections for the purpose of democracy and is poised to make Guinea worm the second disease successfully eradicated. For all of his efforts, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, a crowning achievement of a lifetime of dedication to public service.

     May we all wish a belated "Happy Birthday!" and many more successful and happy years for one of the most remarkable Americans in history.