Jimmy Carter: 1924-2024

 

Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100.

He was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia.

He was the first US President born in a Hospital.

He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1946.

He married Rosalyn Smith in 1946 and were married until her Death on November 19, 2023 at 96 years old.

They had 3 Sons: Jack, James III "Chip", and Donnel and 1 Daughter, Amy;

He was in the Navy from 1946-1953 and then in the Naval Reserves from 1953-1961.

He was a Member of the Georgian Senate from 1963-1967 where he remained relatively silent on Integration and the end of the Jim Crow Discrimination Laws in Georgia and the rest of the South.

He was Governor of Georga from 1971-1975.

He was the 39^th President from 1977-1981.

During his Presidency he:

1. Issued Proclamation 4483 (on his first day in Office) which pardoned every Man who had refused to serve in the US Military during the Vietnam War from 1964-1973.

The Pardon covered the 2,393 Draft Evaders who were under Indictment, about 9,000 who were convicted or pleaded guilty and who now had their Records cleared, and about 1,200 who were under investigation for alleged violations.

 It also covered all the Men, estimated at Hundreds of Thousands, who simply never registered for the Draft.

2. Signed the Torrijos–Carter Treaties in 1977 which returned control of the Panama Canal from the US to Panama in 1999.

3.  Saw the Camp David Accords signed between Egypt and Israel in 1978 ending their War that had begun in 1948.

4. He Deregulated the Airlines in 1978.

5. Oversaw the U.S.’ continued support of Indonesia as a Cold War Ally, despite Human Rights Violations in East Timor.

The Violations followed Indonesia's December 1975 Invasion and Occupation of East Timor. Under Carter's administration Military Assistance to Indonesia increased, peaking in 1978 (180,000 Soldiers and Civilians were killed during Indonesia’s Occupation from 1975-2002.)

6.  Signed the SALT II Treaty with the USSR in 1979.

7.  He Deregulated the Beer Industry in 1979 allowing Home Brewers to buy malt, hops, and yeast.

8. Oversaw the 1979 Oil Crisis with long lines and rationing of gas across the United States,

9. Saw the First Ever Federal Government Shutdown in 1980 with 1,600 Government Employees furloughed and cost the US Government $700,000 (equal to $2.2 Million in 2024.)

10. Saw the Iran Hostage Crisis where 66 Americans where taken Hostage from the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran in 1979 and held for 444 Days (until they were released when President Reagan took Office in January 1981.)

Following the Hostage Taking Carter remained in isolation in the White House for more than 100 days, until he left to participate in the lighting of the National Menorah on the Ellipse.

He ordered Operation Eagle Claw in 1980 to rescue the Hostages which failed and left 8 US Soldiers killed and 4 Injured.

11. In July 1980, he brought back the requirement that all American Men 18-26 register for the Draft making it a Felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a $250,000 Fine. This still applies today.

The Draft ended in April 1973 and no American Men had to Register from 1973-1980.

Note 1: In the 1976 US Presidential Election he won 297 Electoral Votes.

Note 2: In the 1980 US Presidential Election he won 49 Electoral Votes.

Republicans and Democrats viewed his Presidency as a Failure.

 After leaving Office he worked with Habitat for Humanity.

 Jimmy Carter was the longest-lived President in U.S. History, and the first to live to 100 years of age.