Much has been written about Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States who served from 1977 to 1981, and died at 100 on Dec. 29. People will tell you he was a decent, honest and ethical man. One of the best. He was thoughtful, balanced, compassionate, caring and someone who owned his mistakes.
Carter could and did talk to anyone. He held farmers, veterans and war protesters in the same regard as the pope and billionaires. A person of any color, culture or income level, too.
He treated everyone equally.
What stands out to the Herald’s editorial board is Carter’s dedication and commitment to advancing democracy worldwide.
Hailing from Plains, Georgia, with a population of fewer than 550 in the 1920s and 775 today, Carter represents the faded American dream: that of equality of opportunity, that one’s highest goals and aspirations can be accessed and achieved by any American, that anyone, even a peanut farmer from the Midwest, can become president.
His small-town background and Christian faith influenced Carter’s version of progressive politics: meeting the basic needs and improving the lives of every American, especially those living on the margins.
Carter knew that civil society – organizations that work for the common good outside of, though ideally in partnership with, government and business – require a healthy democracy, a government of, by and for the people.
A talented athlete, he had notoriously bad fashion sense, wearing black socks, white shoes and cut-off jean shorts during campaign summer softball games with his staff and Secret Service detail, often with the press as opponents. Carter’s concerns were elsewhere.
He renewed the use of the presidency to mediate disputes among nations. With the 1978 Camp David Accords, Carter brought Israel and Egypt together and became one of the great peacemakers of his generation.
Though his accomplishments were many, he may have done more in four decades post presidency than four years in office. He took great interest in international affairs, peacemaking, poverty and public health. He helped countries interested in developing their democracies do so.
In 1980, amid multiple crises at home and abroad, Carter invited Robert Mugabe, then-president of Zimbabwe, to the White House soon after the country achieved independence and adopted democracy. Though that did not last, Carter believed Africa was a long-neglected continent, and continued his work there through the 1982 founding of the Carter Center with Rosalynn, his wife of 75 years, and Emory University. The center works to “prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.”
Carter believed in using fair elections as a means to achieve global peace and prosperity. Since its founding, he led many nonpartisan election observation trips, which were continued by the Carter Center that since its founding has monitored over 100 elections in 40 countries and three tribal nations. They have also developed international voting standards that are recognized by over 300 countries.
In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “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.”
In 2005, at age 80, Carter agreed to co-chair with James Baker, former treasury secretary under Ronald Reagan and secretary of state under George H.W. Bush, a 21-member Bipartisan Federal Election Reform Commission. Its 87 recommendations are described as the gold standard on how to restore public confidence in elections.
Carter’s character, idealism and legacy, especially on the international stage advancing democracy, is one worth learning from.
In response to news of Carter’s death, President Joe Biden said: “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.”
The state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter and a National Day of Mourning will be held Thursday, Jan. 9, at which time all executive departments and federal agencies will be closed, including the U.S. Postal Service.
