Happy Birthday, Jimmy

Former President Jimmy Carter turns 98

Jimmy Carter

Former President Jimmy Carter celebrates his 98th birthday on Saturday.

Carter, the oldest-living former President in U.S. history, will celebrate privately with close family in his hometown of Plains, Georgia.

He was a peanut farmer and a Naval officer before he entered politics. He served in the Georgia legislature and then ran for Governor of Georgia.

Then in 1976, Gov. Carter pulled off a come-from-behind upset in the race for President, defeating incumbent Gerald Ford to become the 39th President of the United States.

As President, he and his administration championed human rights issues, both at home in around the world. One of the highlights of his presidency was the signing of the Camp David Accords, a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt that the two sides negotiated for nearly two weeks at Camp David, the President’s private retreat in Maryland.

Human rights and humanitarian projects have defined his post-presidency. He and wife, Rosalynn, founded the Carter Center after in 1982. The Carter Center seeks to end global crises such as disease and famine. President Carter has also championed affordable housing. He and Rosalynn have helped find and even build homes as part of Habitat for Humanity.

His humanitarian projects and his support for world peace earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

But as he grows older, he has faced health challenges and has started to limit his public appearances. He managed to beat brain cancer in 2015 but had to undergo brain surgery in 2019. He has also scaled back his famous Sunday school lessons at his church in Plains.

Nevertheless, at 98 years old, Georgia’s favorite peanut farmer continues to embody all of our state’s best qualities. He has a level of grit and determination that many of us can only aspire to achieve.

Happy ninety-eighth birthday, Mr. President. I hope your special day is filled with the same love and care that you have shown others over the years.

Here are 98 ways you can celebrate Jimmy’s big day.