Jimmy Carter's Life in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Jimmy Carter.Photo: Getty

Born on Oct. 1, 1924, in rural Plains, Ga., to deeply religious Baptist parents, a youngJimmy Carterbegan working at his father’s peanut store at age 10.His family life and surroundings in the segregated Deep South shaped his thinking in his childhood and early 20s, giving way to more liberal views and a desire to spend his life giving back.“I had only one life to live, and I wanted to live it as a civilian, with a potentially fuller opportunity for varied public service,” Carter wrote in his 2010 memoir,White House Diary.Through most of his life, Carter did give back through his political career and in the years following, working with Habitat for Humanity alongside his wife, Rosalynn, into his 90s.He and Rosalynn entered hospice in 2023;she died in November of that year, but Carter lived another year to see his centenary birthday.On Dec. 29, Jimmy’s son James E. Carter III confirmed that the former president died at home in Plains, Ga., perThe Washington Post. The Carter Center also announced his death in a post onX(formerly Twitter).In honor of his remarkable life, take a look at Jimmy Carter’s life in photos.

Born on Oct. 1, 1924, in rural Plains, Ga., to deeply religious Baptist parents, a youngJimmy Carterbegan working at his father’s peanut store at age 10.

His family life and surroundings in the segregated Deep South shaped his thinking in his childhood and early 20s, giving way to more liberal views and a desire to spend his life giving back.

“I had only one life to live, and I wanted to live it as a civilian, with a potentially fuller opportunity for varied public service,” Carter wrote in his 2010 memoir,White House Diary.

Through most of his life, Carter did give back through his political career and in the years following, working with Habitat for Humanity alongside his wife, Rosalynn, into his 90s.He and Rosalynn entered hospice in 2023;she died in November of that year, but Carter lived another year to see his centenary birthday.

On Dec. 29, Jimmy’s son James E. Carter III confirmed that the former president died at home in Plains, Ga., perThe Washington Post. The Carter Center also announced his death in a post onX(formerly Twitter).

In honor of his remarkable life, take a look at Jimmy Carter’s life in photos.

01of 12Jimmy Carter’s Military ServiceJimmy Carter in the Military.PhotoQuest/GettyIn 1943, Carter was accepted at the highly competitive Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and studied engineering. An ace student, he graduated in the top 10 percent of his class three years later.

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Jimmy Carter’s Military Service

Jimmy Carter in the Military.PhotoQuest/Getty

In 1943, Carter was accepted at the highly competitive Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and studied engineering. An ace student, he graduated in the top 10 percent of his class three years later.

02of 12Jimmy Carter’s FamilyJimmy Carter and Rosalynn with three children, Chip, Jack and Jeff.GettyThat same year he graduated college, Carter married Rosalynn Smith, a childhood pal (aftertheir first date, he told his mother, “She’s the girl I want to marry.") By 1952 they had three sons, Jack, Chip and Jeff; their daughter, Amy, was born 15 years later.

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Jimmy Carter’s Family

Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn with three children, Chip, Jack and Jeff.Getty

That same year he graduated college, Carter married Rosalynn Smith, a childhood pal (aftertheir first date, he told his mother, “She’s the girl I want to marry.") By 1952 they had three sons, Jack, Chip and Jeff; their daughter, Amy, was born 15 years later.

03of 12Jimmy Carter, from Peanuts to PoliticsJimmy Carter on the peanut farm.Hulton Archive/GettyIn the Navy, Carter became a submarine specialist and received assignments all over the country, including Hawaii and Connecticut. But upon his father’s death in 1953 he cut short his naval career and took over the family’s peanut business.Being an entrepreneur ignited his interest in local politics and, in 1955, Carter won a seat on the local board of education.

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Jimmy Carter, from Peanuts to Politics

Jimmy Carter on the peanut farm.Hulton Archive/Getty

In the Navy, Carter became a submarine specialist and received assignments all over the country, including Hawaii and Connecticut. But upon his father’s death in 1953 he cut short his naval career and took over the family’s peanut business.

Being an entrepreneur ignited his interest in local politics and, in 1955, Carter won a seat on the local board of education.

04of 12Jimmy Carter in the State SenateJimmy Carter in the State Senate.GettyForging an identity as a new breed of Southerner who was anti-segregation and pro-civil rights, Carter ran for Georgia state Senate in 1962 and won. He served two terms and gained a reputation for being tough and independent.

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Jimmy Carter in the State Senate

Jimmy Carter in the State Senate.Getty

Forging an identity as a new breed of Southerner who was anti-segregation and pro-civil rights, Carter ran for Georgia state Senate in 1962 and won. He served two terms and gained a reputation for being tough and independent.

05of 12Jimmy Carter as GovernorJimmy Carter as Governor of Georgia.GettyAfter losing in his bid for governor in 1966, the liberal politician adopted a more conservative ideology when he ran again four years later. Once he won the election, however, he returned to his more progressive agenda, which emphasized ecology, efficiency in government and the removal of racial barriers.“The test of a government is not how popular it is with the powerful and privileged few,” he said at his1971 inauguration, “but how honestly and fairly it deals with the many who must depend upon it.”

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Jimmy Carter as Governor

Jimmy Carter as Governor of Georgia.Getty

After losing in his bid for governor in 1966, the liberal politician adopted a more conservative ideology when he ran again four years later. Once he won the election, however, he returned to his more progressive agenda, which emphasized ecology, efficiency in government and the removal of racial barriers.

“The test of a government is not how popular it is with the powerful and privileged few,” he said at his1971 inauguration, “but how honestly and fairly it deals with the many who must depend upon it.”

06of 12Jimmy Carter Becomes PresidentJimmy Carter Becomes President.GettyIn 1976, after a tight race against incumbent Gerald R. Ford, Carter was elected the 39th president of the United States. “To be true to ourselves, we must be true to others,” he said his inaugural address. During his four years in office, his administration created nearly 8 million jobs, decreased the budget deficit and made major strides in energy efficiency, environmental causes and education. But in his presidency he also battled inflation and record-high interest rates.

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Jimmy Carter Becomes President

Jimmy Carter Becomes President.Getty

In 1976, after a tight race against incumbent Gerald R. Ford, Carter was elected the 39th president of the United States. “To be true to ourselves, we must be true to others,” he said his inaugural address. During his four years in office, his administration created nearly 8 million jobs, decreased the budget deficit and made major strides in energy efficiency, environmental causes and education. But in his presidency he also battled inflation and record-high interest rates.

07of 12Jimmy Carter on Foreign AffairsJimmy Carter in the Oval Office.Corbis/GettyCarter had many successes overseas, including the Panama Canal treaties, the peace accords between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II treaty and the establishment of U.S. diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. “We have no desire to be the world’s policeman. But America does want to be the world’s peacemaker,” he said in a State of the Union address in 1979.

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Jimmy Carter on Foreign Affairs

Jimmy Carter in the Oval Office.Corbis/Getty

Carter had many successes overseas, including the Panama Canal treaties, the peace accords between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II treaty and the establishment of U.S. diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. “We have no desire to be the world’s policeman. But America does want to be the world’s peacemaker,” he said in a State of the Union address in 1979.

08of 12Jimmy Carter’s Diplomatic WorkFormer President Jimmy Carter in 2019.The organizer/China News Service/Visual China Group/GettyAfter losing his reelection bid toRonald Reaganin 1980 (admittingonLarry King Livehe felt “a sense of relief” to be free of presidential duties), Carter devoted much of his attention to diplomacy and advocacy overseas in controversial places like Haiti and North Korea.

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Jimmy Carter’s Diplomatic Work

Former President Jimmy Carter in 2019.The organizer/China News Service/Visual China Group/Getty

After losing his reelection bid toRonald Reaganin 1980 (admittingonLarry King Livehe felt “a sense of relief” to be free of presidential duties), Carter devoted much of his attention to diplomacy and advocacy overseas in controversial places like Haiti and North Korea.

09of 12Jimmy Carter Earns the Nobel Peace PrizeJimmy Carter Earns the Nobel Peace Prize.Pool Photo/GettyIn acknowledgment of his contributions to furthering human rights and democracy around the world, the ex-commander in chief was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2002. “The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices,” he said whileaccepting the award. “God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to work together for peace … and we must.”

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Jimmy Carter Earns the Nobel Peace Prize

Jimmy Carter Earns the Nobel Peace Prize.Pool Photo/Getty

In acknowledgment of his contributions to furthering human rights and democracy around the world, the ex-commander in chief was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2002. “The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices,” he said whileaccepting the award. “God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to work together for peace … and we must.”

10of 12Jimmy Carter’s Later YearsJimmy Carter’s Later Years.Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto/GettyA prolific author with dozens of books to his credit, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, traveled around the globe building houses and fighting river blindness in developing countries like Nepal and South Sudan with theCarter Center, which focuses on issues close to the former president’s heart: establishing health and agricultural programs in poor nations, and helping to prevent and resolve conflicts and monitor elections.Until recently, Carter remained active in his community, teaching Sunday school and even volunteering with Habitat for Humanityshortly after he turned 95.The former president suffered three falls throughout 2019, and shortly after the last, which resulted in a pelvis fracture, he was hospitalized againfor bleeding on the brain. He recovered, however,and at 100 years oldis the longest-living former POTUS in history, and the only to make it to 95.On Feb. 18, 2023, the Carter Center announced he’d recently had a “series of short hospital stays” andwas receiving hospice care at home. Not long after, the organization announced Rosalynn’s dementia diagnosis.In a 2023 interview,their grandson Jason told PEOPLE, “This is animportant part of his faith journey, and it’s one that you don’t get to experience at any other time in your life except for the very end. And so in that way, I think this has been a really meaningful time for him, and it’s been a really reflective time for him.”

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Jimmy Carter’s Later Years

Jimmy Carter’s Later Years.Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto/Getty

A prolific author with dozens of books to his credit, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, traveled around the globe building houses and fighting river blindness in developing countries like Nepal and South Sudan with theCarter Center, which focuses on issues close to the former president’s heart: establishing health and agricultural programs in poor nations, and helping to prevent and resolve conflicts and monitor elections.

Until recently, Carter remained active in his community, teaching Sunday school and even volunteering with Habitat for Humanityshortly after he turned 95.

The former president suffered three falls throughout 2019, and shortly after the last, which resulted in a pelvis fracture, he was hospitalized againfor bleeding on the brain. He recovered, however,and at 100 years oldis the longest-living former POTUS in history, and the only to make it to 95.

On Feb. 18, 2023, the Carter Center announced he’d recently had a “series of short hospital stays” andwas receiving hospice care at home. Not long after, the organization announced Rosalynn’s dementia diagnosis.

In a 2023 interview,their grandson Jason told PEOPLE, “This is animportant part of his faith journey, and it’s one that you don’t get to experience at any other time in your life except for the very end. And so in that way, I think this has been a really meaningful time for him, and it’s been a really reflective time for him.”

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Jimmy Carter Turns 100

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 2016.Neil Hall-WPA Pool/Getty

Neil Hall-WPA Pool/Getty

The former president officially reached his 100th year.

And while Carter has accomplished much in his life, he still hasone more feat he’d like to achieve: Voting forKamala Harrisin the 2024 presidential election.

According to his grandson Jason, Carter recently said, “I’m only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris,” theAtlanta Journal-Constitutionreported.

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Jimmy Carter Dies

Jimmy Carter.Drew Angerer/Getty

Drew Angerer/Getty

On Dec. 29, Jimmy’s son James E. Carter III revealed that the beloved 39th president had died at his home in Plains, Ga., perThe Washington Post. The Carter Center also announced his death in a post onX(formerly Twitter).

source: people.com