There’s been an outpouring of tributes to Jimmy Carter, the former US president who has died at the age of 100
US President Joe Biden describes Carter as “a man of principle, faith, and humility,” while President-elect Donald Trump says Americans owe Carter a “debt of gratitude”
The Democrat’s one term in office, from 1977 to 1981, included brokering a landmark peace accord between Egypt and Israel
He also dealt with a struggling US economy and a disastrous attempt to free American hostages seized in Iran
In later life he became a tireless worker for peace, the environment and human rights, for which he was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002
President Joe Biden has declared a national day of mourning on January 9, 2025.
Almost two years ago, US President Joe Biden revealed that Jimmy Carter had asked him to deliver his eulogy.
At a cancer fundraiser in California in March 2023, one month after Carter began hospice care, Biden revealed, “He asked me to do his eulogy — excuse me, I shouldn’t say that,” BBC’s US partner, CBS news reports.
Biden and Carter were friends – Biden served in the US Senate during Carter’s presidency, and he and Jill visited the Carters to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary.
Events celebrating Jimmy Carter’s life are expected to last for several days, spanning from his small humble hometown of Plains, Georgia, to Washington DC.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden declared that 9 January will be a National Day of Mourning and said there would be a state service held for Carter in the nation’s capitol. Details remain unclear.
In the end, Carter, the 39th president, will be buried in a private ceremony in Plains next to Rosalynn, his wife of 77 years, who died in November 2023.
He is both the oldest living president and the longest living president in US history, with an outsized legacy defined by his human rights and humanitarian work after a presidency during which he was heavily criticised.
