A life of public service
Published 9:42 am Wednesday, October 3, 2018
This week, America’s 39th president, Jimmy Carter, celebrated his 94th birthday.
While his White House tenure is not generally regarded as a success by historians, due to the Iran hostage crisis and a failure to turn around the economic stagnation he inherited from his predecessors, Carter has more than made up for it in the legacy he has built after leaving office, reinventing himself as one of the world’s most renowned diplomats and human rights activists.
His post presidency, the longest in U.S. history, has seen him author 30 successful books and become a respected figure on the international stage, regularly consulted as an elder statesman on foreign policy.
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His establishment of the Carter Center has made him a leader in efforts to alleviate human suffering, particularly in the developing world. The nonprofit has focused on the eradication of diseases, such as Guinea worm disease, onchocerciasis, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and malaria, through treatment and awareness campaigns.
With his wife, Rosalynn, he has been a proponent and participant in Habitat for Humanity for more than 30 years, focused on providing affordable housing for those with low incomes.
Carter’s commitment to public service spans more than seven decades, beginning with his Naval service in the 1940s, and is detailed in the 2007 documentary “Man From Plains” by director Jonathan Demme.
Carter has shown no signs of slowing down, even after his battle with melanoma found in his brain and liver in 2015.
Just this year, the Carters participated in one of their annual Habitat work projects in Indiana.
His remarkable life and humanitarian accomplishments, which continue to to this day, are inspiration to all and a testimony that everyone can remain a vital contributor to our world, no matter their age.