Jimmy Carter At 100: 5 Things You Didn't Know About The Rock & Roll President

After several short hospital stays, former President Jimmy Carter began receiving hospice care in February 2023.

During that time, observers noted how prolific his life was, not only as the 39th U.S. president but as a young man in the Navy up to his becoming a centenarian. 

In honor of Carter’s turning 100 years old on Tuesday, here are five standout moments from his remarkable career.

1. Carter pulled a Spock. Recall 1982’s “The Wrath of Khan,” when Mr. Spock sacrificed his life to save the Enterprise by restoring warp power in a radiation-filled room. Well, 30 years earlier, when a Canadian nuclear reactor malfunctioned and was melting down for real, a young Navy lieutenant named James Earl Carter Jr. volunteered to help despite the risks. He endured 90 seconds of exposure and turned off the valve.
   
2. Wounds didn’t hold him down. In 2019, at age 95, Carter broke his hip. Later that same year, he fell at home. He got a black eye and needed 14 stitches. The following day, he kept his commitment to build homes for Habitat for Humanity to help families in need. “He’s funny and one hard worker,” CEO of Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County Karen Haycox told CBS News. “He’s the first on the site in the morning and very often the last one to leave at the end of the day.”
   
3. Carter: the Grammy winner. Carter has three Grammy Awards in the Spoken Word Album category (he was nominated nine times). The audio recordings that won are of his books "Faith: A Journey for All" (2019), "A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety" (2018), and "Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis" (2006).
   
4. Carter the charmer. Carter once told a joke during a speech in Japan. The audience roared with laughter. Later, he asked what the interpreter said to get the crowd to guffaw. “President Carter told a funny story; everyone must laugh,” the interpreter responded.
   
5. Rock & Roll President. Carter counts Bob Dylan among his closest friends. Gregg Allman and the “Godfather of Soul” James Brown both supported Carter’s run for presidential office. In fact, Carter’s White House served as “a popular stop” for musicians on tour. One famous songwriter even hung out on the roof and enjoyed cannabis with Carter’s son.

Honorable Mention

• Carter: Devoted husband. Carter and his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, were married for 77 years until her death in November 2023. Their families lived next door to each other. When Carter was three years old, his mother helped bring Rosalynn into the world.

Now Read: Carter, The Oldest Living President, Redefines Hospice Care And Enjoys Ice Cream With Wife For Their Anniversary

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