Former US President Jimmy Carter turns 100 today, October 1, marking a longevity milestone no other US president has achieved.
Carter celebrated this historic birthday at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he has been receiving hospice care for the past 19 months.
Born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, Carter was elected as the 39th president of the United States in 1976.
“I’m only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris,” Carter joked, as his grandson Jason Carter shared with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Before his presidency, Carter served as both a Senator and governor of Georgia. In 1976, he sought the Democratic nomination for president, positioning himself as a centrist reformer during a time when the nation struggled with trust in government following the Watergate scandal.
Carter and his vice-presidential running mate, Walter Mondale of Minnesota, defeated incumbent President Gerald Ford, securing a win of 297 to 241 electoral votes.
During his single term in office from 1977 to 1981, Carter oversaw the Camp David Accords, which brought peace between Israel and Egypt, made human rights a core part of US foreign policy, and took a firm stance against the Soviet Union.
After losing his re-election bid to Ronald Reagan, Carter dedicated himself to humanitarian efforts, notably helping to grow Habitat for Humanity into a global force for good. He also established the Carter Center, which focuses on promoting human rights, a mission that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
At 100 years old, Carter has far surpassed his closest contender for the longest-living former president, George H.W. Bush, who passed away in November 2018 at the age of 94.
Other former presidents, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, both lived to 93, while John Adams and Herbert Hoover reached the age of 90.
Carter’s centennial celebration comes just days after his life and legacy were honored at a star-studded concert at Atlanta’s Fox Theater. Performances included “Love Shack” by Georgia’s own B-52’s and covers of The Allman Brothers’ most iconic songs.
Not present at his 100th birthday celebration was his beloved wife, Rosalynn Carter, who passed away last November at the age of 96.
