Peanut farmer Jimmy Carter, who was the 39th President of the United States, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100 years old. Mr. Carter lived longer than any other American president and, after leaving the White House, he earned a reputation as a committed humanitarian.
During his single White House tenure, from 1977 to 1981, Mr. Carter grappled with a poor economy and the Iran hostage crisis, but he made peace between Israel and Egypt and pioneered renewable energy as a cheaper alternative to foreign oil. But, he became the first Democratic president since 1888 not to win re-election.
However, Mr. Carter was widely viewed as a better former president than a president – a position he readily accepted. His decades of dedication to international humanitarian work after leaving the White House earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He led a no-frills lifestyle and will be remembered for his early attention to concerns about climate change and growing divisions in the country.
Here are some facts about this life that may surprise many people.
First American President to be born in a hospital
James Earl Carter Jr., born to Lillian, a registered nurse, and James Earl, a farmer, was born on October 1, 1924, in a 60-bed hospital in Plains. This event, which may seem unusual, was actually historic, as Mr. Carter became the first American president to be born in a hospital, as almost all births at that time were still at home.
was exposed to nuclear radiation
Peanut farmer turned multi-purpose public servant Jimmy Carter’s public life began at the U.S. Naval Academy and served on nuclear-powered submarines. After a year of study in the NROTC program at Georgia Tech, Mr. Carter joined the Midshipmen Brigade and graduated from the Academy in the top 10 of the Class of 1946.
In 1952, when a nuclear reactor exploded in Ontario, Canada, the U.S. Navy deployed a team that included Mr. Carter, then a 28-year-old lieutenant who had helped develop the first nuclear submarine, To assist Canadian authorities in dismantling the partially melted submarine. Corps, according to a report by the Washington Post.
Wearing protective gear, Lieutenant Carter reportedly entered the reactor with two other experts, and in 89 seconds exposed himself to the same amount of radiation that the general population absorbs in a year. He later said that his urine continued to test positive for radioactivity for six months.
First US President to be inaugurated with a surname
When taking the oath of office in 1977, Mr. Carter used his nickname ‘Jimmy’ instead of his actual first name ‘James’, which he rarely used. He was the first American President to do so. Subsequent presidents, including Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, also used their surnames at the White House, but they chose to be sworn in using their full names during their inaugurations.
Diverse appointments were made along racial and gender lines.
During his single term in the White House, Jimmy Carter appointed 57 minority judges and 41 female judges to the federal judiciary. According to the Carter Center, this diversity in appointments was greater than that of all previous presidents. He is credited with appointing the first black woman to serve in a presidential cabinet – Patricia Roberts Harris.
Accused of kissing the Queen Mother on the lips
Mr Carter visits Buckingham Palace after being sworn in as the 37th US President in 1977. Two years after his visit, rumors began to spread in the British press that he had kissed the Queen Mother on the lips. The British media considered it a “reprehensible” invasion of the Queen Mother’s personal space.
However, in his memoir, Mr Carter strongly denied the incident and insisted that his goodnight kiss was given lightly and on the Queen Mother’s cheek.
