Georgia (TDI): Jimmy Carter —who as US president struggled with a bad economy and the Iran hostage crisis but brokered peace between Israel and Egypt and later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work — died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday. He was 100.
US President Joe Biden announced that January 9 will be a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States for Carter, the White House said in a statement.
“I Urge the US people to gather on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay tribute to President James Carter,” Biden said.
Carter, a Democrat, became president in January 1977 after defeating Republican opponent President Gerald Ford in the 1976 election.
His presidency was marked by the highs of the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, bringing some stability to the region of Middle East.
But it was also dogged by an financial crisis, persistent unpopularity and the Iran hostage crisis that consumed his last 444 days in presidency.
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Carter ran for re-election in 1980 but was defeated in a landslide as voters elected Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, the former actor and California governor.
Carter lived longer than any US president and, after leaving the White House, earned an image of a committed humanitarian.
Tribute to Carter
World leaders and former US presidents paid homage to a man they lauded as compassionate, humble and committed to peace in the Middle East.
“His important role in achieving the peace deal between Egypt and Israel will remain etched in the annals of history,” said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a post on X.
The Carter Center said there will be public observances in Washington and Atlanta.
These ceremonies will be followed by a private interment in Plains, it said.
Final arrangements for the ex-president’s state funeral are still pending, according to the center.
In recent years, Carter had experienced several health problems including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain.
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Carter decided to receive hospice care in February last year instead of undergoing additional medical intervention.
His wife, Rosalynn Carter, passed away on Nov 19, 2023, at age 96.
He looked very weak when he attended her memorial service and funeral in a wheelchair.
Carter left office intensely unpopular but worked energetically for decades on humanitarian causes.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in recognition of his efforts to find peaceful solutions to global conflicts, to promote human rights and democracy, and o advance economic and social development.”
