Did you know that Jimmy Carter is 100 years old today?

[exitseven]

Jimmy Carter led an exemplary life. He may have been the smartest president in some respects. He had an extensive background in nuclear physics. He spent decades in service to his fellow man. Ha also was not the worst president in modern times.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[Lliam]

I hadn't heard. I have heard that he is in hospice and probably won't last much longer.
But he will leave behind a legacy built on his humanitarianism.
He was smart, hard working and enterprising. His early life is impressive.

I admire his opposition to racism and segregation. Those views had a cost, especially as a Georgian, but he overcame them and influenced others and the nation in the process.
He also fought corruption.

And he has been loyal to his wife for 78 years. He married her when he was 22 and she was 19.

There were major challenges during his presidency - the OPEC fuel crisis and the Iranian revolution. Reagan dishonestly conspired to use the revolution to keep Carter from winning a second term.

But Jimmy will mostly be remembered for working for Habitat for Humanity throughout most of the rest of his life, doing manual labor alongside normal citizens to build houses for the homeless.

I admire his principles. Rather than living in opulence and relaxing, he lived the life of a humble servant. People would do well to follow his example if this world is to be a better place.

[exitseven]

I agree with all of this. He really was a victim of his times.

[Lliam]

Thanks for the MHO, exitseven.

[FunkyMonkee]

Not the worst, anymore! If Skamala wins, Joey won't even be the worst!!

[nightdrot]

Actually, in my lifetime - I was born at the end of the Kennedy Administration - Mr. Carter was arguably the worst President - with a record to prove it - until Mr. Biden came along. The facts support it.

Under Mr. Carter, in 1979 the rate of inflation hit 14.5% - the highest inflation rate and the first time the USA experienced double digit inflation in peacetime. Then in 1980, the rate of inflation hit 13.1%, the second highest peacetime inflation rate and the first time the USA experienced back-to-back years of double digit inflation in peacetime. This capping out with a prime interest rate - the rate banks charge to their best customers - of 21.5%.

In the international arena, during the Cold War, Mr. Carter spoke of "America's inordinate fear of communism." This the to be followed by the deployment of a Soviet combat brigade in Cuba and - worst still - the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and all that would follow from that. In addition to which came the Iran hostage crisis after Mr. Carter failed to save the Shah's regime and the subsequent bungled rescue operation.

Putting it all together, Mr. Carter's job approval rating dropped to 22% and - suffice to add - he served only one term and was defeated by Mr. Reagan in an electoral vote landslide. Not a good record.

Yet for all that, Mr. Carter had one redeeming virtue. He took his Christian faith seriously and therefore - unlike Mr. Biden - did not allow his rhetoric to slip into vitriol and bitterness. This saving an already volatile national mood that had gone through the tumults of the 1960s and early to mid-1970s.

In this, Mr. Carter did his nation a great favor - in marked stark contrast to the current (and worse) occupant of the White House. Mr. Carter saved a very bad record from becoming a disastrous one with bitter recriminations. In this he deserves credit for his integrity and while he cannot be rated a great President, he could have been far worse.

[OlderAndWiser]

Jimmy Carter was a very good man thrust into a position for which he was not particularly well suited. His presidency was awful but he was still a very good man.

[WindAtMyBack]

I knew he was getting pretty darn old, but I didn't know he hit 100. Good for him!

True, he wasn't the worst president. He wasn't the best. He was neutral. So was Ford. But that is exactly what this country needed at the time. They didn't need controversy or divisive presidents. They needed a cooling off period for everyone to take a deep breath and move past the turmoil of the 60s and 70s.

Back-to-back Ford-Carter gave the country that cooling off period that it severely needed. We need it again now, but I don't see anything like that in sight.

[goaded]

Wow. Respect for giving respect! Yes, he's decent, honest, and a champion for the common person all over the world. (A friend of mine who has met him has been working on Habitat for Humanity for years, if not decades, and says he's a very down to Earth person.)

How you can respect someone who made a fortune off his presidency, I really don't understand.

[DrPepper12]

He's a role model in a society sorely in need of his example. The stagflation, oil embargo, hostage crisis were really just things beyond his control. The camp David accords, green & conservation policies and START treaties are often overlooked as big successes when Soviet leaders had a life span measured in months.

[loves2learn]

Amazing! Good for Jimmy. Definitely one of the good ones.

[Avicenna]

He's a Hamas supporter and the Navy rated him "unfit for command". He is responsible for the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979-81 and his administration was a cluster fuck. Other than that, sure, he's a great guy. Kudos to him living to (at least) 100.

[Kristenxoxo]

Yeah I think was in hospice but know back with his family if I’m not mistaken.

[DryGermanGuy]

I can only imagine the slander, dirt and hatred that today's right fringe protagonists would throw against the man, if he were the current president. Nil nisi bene de mortuis, I guess.

[Jamie05rhs]

Today is a good reminder of what happens when you have a weak President.

(Also ironic that Iran chose today to attack Israel again.)

[Wiredone]

Yes I do know that. He has done a lot with habitat for humanity

[msc545]

Possibly the only moral, honest President we have ever had.

[Dargil]

Didn't agree with his politics, but he was an honest dealer.

[Cubus]

I dont agree with him on most issues but happy to see him live that long

[beefcakebradybatson]

Sure do. Happy 100th birthday, Mr. President !!!

[AviatorTom]

Happy Birthday Jimmy Carter.

[NathanDavis]

damn... impressive

[Snakeyes7]

100 is quite the feat even for former presidents.

[nolabels]

Happy Birthday, Jimmy!

[Paris13]

Yesterday Found Out. God Bless HIM. xxoo

[helva]

I have read about.

[Iron_Man]

Yes, I did. How about that?