As former President Jimmy Carter, USNA Class of 1947, marked his 100th birthday on October 1st, the U.S. reached a rare milestone; President Carter became the first American President to attain the rank of a centenarian. As amazing as this achievement is, it’s just one of the many remarkable accomplishments he’s made throughout his life. Since his youth, President Carter has been an exceptional public servant. At the U.S. Naval Academy, he was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate in 2002, and he established himself early on as a valued naval leader. He is the only USNA graduate to have attained the rank of Commander in Chief as the 39th President of the United States thus far. And along the way, he also garnered a number of prestigious honors in service to his country and the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
Carter’s connection to the Naval Academy is profound. He was ranked within the top ten percent of his Academy class, and he honed his leadership skills to become a disciplined, thoughtful midshipman during his time here. After graduation, Carter served in the U.S. Navy’s submarine force, where he worked under the highly regarded Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the “Father of the Nuclear Navy.” This time in the Navy informed his later work, sparking a lifelong interest in the safe use of energy resources. His naval career also laid the foundation for the discipline, dedication, and leadership that would later come to define his presidency and leave a lasting legacy. Carter’s commitment to public service, human rights, and diplomacy has made an indelible mark on American history.
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Carter is especially famous for his trajectory, which took him from the tiny town of Plains, Georgia (where he resides to this day), running his family’s peanut farm, to the Georgia State Senate in 1962, and then the office of Georgia’s governor in 1971. He is most well-known for his campaign in 1976, when he launched an unlikely bid for the presidency and defeated incumbent Gerald Ford to become the 39th President of the United States.
During his 1977-1981 presidential term, Carter achieved a number of historic feats, especially in the realm of foreign policy. His administration brokered the historic Camp David Accords, paving the path to a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979. This landmark achievement earned Carter global recognition for his commitment to diplomacy and peace. While he faced domestic challenges like the energy crisis, rising inflation, and unemployment, his focus on energy conservation and the establishment of the Department of Energy are widely lauded. After he left office, he continued to serve the U.S. in significant ways.
Related: USNA Distinguished Graduate: Jimmy Carter
Many people consider President Carter’s post-presidency work to be among the most remarkable in history. In 1982, he and his wife, Rosalynn, co-founded the Carter Center, an organization dedicated to promoting peace, human rights, and public health around the world, to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope.” Through the Center, the Carters worked tirelessly on initiatives such as eradicating diseases like Guinea worm and river blindness, monitoring elections in fledgling democracies, and advocating for peace and human rights globally.
While President Jimmy Carter has received numerous awards and acclaim throughout his life, perhaps one of his most meaningful also came after his presidency. For his efforts in resolving international conflicts and promoting human rights, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He is also known for his work with the international group Habitat for Humanity, where he and Rosalynn helped build homes for those in need and even hosted annual building events into their 90s. The two were married 77 years until her death in 2023, and the President continues to live in Plains, Georgia, where he has resided for 80 of his 100 years.
Big birthday celebrations marking this milestone have reverberated near and far. At the White House, “Happy Birthday President Carter” and the number 100 adorn the space outside the North Portico. On September 17th, the Carter Center hosted a musical gala in Atlanta, which raised more than $1.2 million for the Center’s programs. It featured a number of different artists and genres, including people who had campaigned with Carter in 1976. In St. Paul, Minnesota, Carter’s Habitat for Humanity program is thriving, as the volunteers pledged to build 30 houses in five days to celebrate his birthday.
Townspeople in Plains also celebrated their hometown hero with a concert at the Plains High School on his birthday. We wish President Jimmy Carter a happy birthday and many more!
Would you like to walk where President Carter once walked? Come visit the place where his service started. When you come to the Yard and take USNA tours, dine in our restaurants, or shop in our stores, you’re supporting the midshipmen that support our freedom. Proceeds help fund extracurricular activities like cultural arts, music, theater, club sports, and more, to foster teamwork and camaraderie within the Brigade. We are honored to be the place where leaders like Distinguished Graduate President Carter and so many more have advanced their legacies, and we look forward to welcoming you here. Go Navy, and Happy Birthday, President Carter!