Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981, won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, championed human rights, and advocated for women’s leadership, has passed away at the age of 100.
Following the death of Jimmy Carter, the feminist website The Meteor published a tribute titled “Carter’s Legacy: A President’s Quest for Peace,” which described him as follows:
President Jimmy Carter served just one term—facing challenges with inflation, Ronald Reagan, and other factors—but he dedicated the second half of his life to pursuing peace globally. Together with his wife Rosalynn Carter, he monitored elections in dozens of countries, built homes with Habitat for Humanity, and worked on public health initiatives, making significant contributions to reducing disease rates.
In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, President Carter stated: “War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn to live in peace by killing each other’s children.”
Beyond his presidency, Carter demonstrated remarkable leadership, never ceasing his work for global solidarity, health, and human rights.
Karin Ryan, who worked with Jimmy Carter at the Carter Center for many years, shared a photo from 2009 of Carter protesting with Mary Robinson against the eviction of Palestinians in Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, noting that “President Carter was always an activist at heart.”
Former UN Women President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said, “The world is poorer without him. May he rest in peace and continue to inspire all who fight for a just world.”
Pat Mitchell, spokesperson for Connected Women Leaders and author of “Dangerous Woman,” highlighted Carter’s commitment to women’s leadership. She highlighted that women leaders carry the torch he lit with his dedication to justice. She argued that his belief in feminist leadership is needed for true justice everywhere.
Jimmy Carter: The American Presidency and Beyond
During his presidency, Carter brokered peace between Israel and Egypt through the Camp David Accords, marking a significant diplomatic achievement in the Middle East. However, the Iranian Islamic Revolution and the subsequent hostage crisis at the U.S. consulate became one of his administration’s greatest challenges.
The 444-day hostage crisis of 52 Americans at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran severely weakened Carter’s popularity both domestically and internationally, contributing significantly to his loss to Ronald Reagan in the next presidential election.
In response to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, Carter announced the Carter Doctrine, declaring U.S. commitment to protecting its interests in the Gulf and supporting Afghan ‘mujahideen.’ However, this intervention later contributed to regional instability.
2002 Nobel Prize
Although Carter emphasized human rights and peace during his term, his policies weren’t always considered consistent. He distanced himself from certain Latin American governments and limited aid to regimes involved in human rights violations, such as Argentina’s military dictatorship. However, he also pursued interventions prioritizing U.S. interests in the Middle East and Afghanistan, leading to criticisms of his foreign policy.
In his post-presidency years, he emerged as a different figure. Through the Carter Center, established in 1982, he led election monitoring, disease control, and humanitarian aid projects.
Carter, who won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, became one of the most interesting and influential figures in American history.
*This article was compiled by Gülseren Onanç, Founder of SES Equality and Solidarity Association and member of Connected Women Leaders.