Jimmy Carter becomes the first former US president to turn 100 | Jimmy Carter

Joe Biden led congratulations on Tuesday to Jimmy Carter on his a hundredth birthday, a milestone that makes Carter the primary former US president to change into a centenarian.

Carter entered hospice care at his house in Plains, Georgia, 19 months in the past. His grandson, Jason Carter, has stated the previous president is raring to forged his poll for Kamala Harris, a fellow Democrat, within the presidential election.

The White Home paid tribute with a show of huge lettering declaring “Completely satisfied Birthday President Carter” and the quantity 100 outdoors the north portico. Carter has requested Biden to eulogise him at his state funeral when the time comes.

In a press release Biden, 81, who was the primary sitting senator to endorse Carter’s 1976 election marketing campaign, stated his predecessor has at all times been “an ethical power for our nation and the world”.

He added: “Your hopeful imaginative and prescient of our nation, your dedication to a greater world, and your unwavering perception within the energy of human goodness continues to be a guiding mild for all of us.”

Barack Obama posted a video message on the social media platform X that stated: “Completely satisfied a hundredth birthday, President Carter! Thanks on your friendship, your elementary decency, and your unimaginable acts of service by the @CarterCenter. Michelle and I are grateful for all you’ve executed for this nation.”

About 25 members of the family crammed Carter’s house on Tuesday, the Related Press reported, having fun with cupcakes on the entrance garden whereas second world conflict planes flew over in his honour.

Chip Carter stated his father’s subsequent aim is to make it to election day. “He’s plugged in,” Chip advised the AP. “I requested him two months in the past if he was making an attempt to reside to be 100 and he stated, no, I’m making an attempt to reside to vote for Kamala Harris.”

Tributes flowed all day. Former president Invoice Clinton tweeted: “Jimmy Carter’s lengthy, good life is a testomony to like, work, and religion, and an everlasting beacon to all individuals working to make higher tomorrows. Completely satisfied a hundredth birthday, Mr. President.”

Jonathan Alter, creator of the biography His Very Greatest: Jimmy Carter, a Life, advised the Guardian: “It’s simply fantastic to see that he’s alive for the reassessment that I and others tried virtually a decade in the past after I began this venture. I needed to contribute to a greater understanding of who he’s and what he achieved. He’s lived lengthy sufficient to see that he’s now appreciated.”

Alter added: “As journalists we choose politicians by how they’re doing politically, how well-liked they’re, however as historians we’ve a distinct duty and that’s to guage them by how they modified the nation and the world. And by that latter customary, he’s getting the revival that all of us hoped. It’s good to see and nice he’s lived to see it.”

Carter, who has lived longer than any US president in historical past, served a single time period from January 1977 to January 1981 and was beleaguered by excessive inflation and the Iran hostage disaster. However extra not too long ago historians have argued that his report deserves reappraisal and he was forward of his time in calling for motion to sort out the local weather disaster.

His a long time of humanitarian work after leaving workplace, together with the promotion of human rights and assuaging poverty in nations all over the world, earned him the Nobel peace prize in 2002.

His birthday is being marked by the published of a tribute live performance by stars of nation, rock and gospel music recorded at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre final month. The live performance raised greater than $1m in the direction of the worldwide programme of the Carter Middle, which he based together with his spouse, Rosalynn Carter. The previous president plans to tune in to the live performance on Georgia Public Broadcasting, in accordance with his grandson Jason Carter.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have been married for 77 years. Rosalynn Carter died in November final 12 months and the previous president was final seen in public at his spouse’s funeral, the place he used a wheelchair and appeared frail. He has been identified with most cancers and different well being points, and determined to finish medical intervention and enter hospice care in February 2023.

Carter is predicted to mark his birthday in the identical one-storey house that he and Rosalynn constructed within the early Sixties – earlier than his first election to the Georgia state senate. He taught Sunday faculty at his hometown Baptist church in Plains till a number of years in the past.

Jason Carter, who’s chair of the Carter Middle governing board, advised the Related Press: “Not all people will get 100 years on this earth, and when anyone does, and after they use that point to take action a lot good for thus many individuals, it’s price celebrating.

“These previous few months, 19 months, now that he’s been in hospice, it’s been an opportunity for our household to mirror after which for the remainder of the nation and the world to actually mirror on him. That’s been a very gratifying time.”

Early voting in Georgia begins on 15 October, two weeks into Carter’s one hundred and first 12 months. Jason Carter added: “Once we began asking him about his a hundredth birthday, he stated he was excited to vote for Kamala Harris.”

The Carters have labored with the non-profit group Habitat for Humanity Worldwide because the Nineteen Eighties, and the ex-president has frequently joined different volunteers to assist construct properties for individuals affected by poverty or disasters.

This week, to mark Carter’s birthday, scores of Habitat volunteers, together with nation music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, will construct 30 properties in St Paul, Minnesota.

Jonathan Reckford, Habitat’s chief government officer, stated: “The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Venture serves not solely as a approach to honor the Carters’ legacy, but additionally as a reminder of what’s attainable when individuals from all walks come collectively to work towards one frequent aim.”