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Rosalynn Carter, wife of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away at the age of 96 on the 19th (local time).
The Carter Center announced her passing on the same day.
Rosalynn Carter was an indispensable figure when discussing the life of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
As Carter’s wife, she was his friend, lover, and partner who accompanied him through all stages of life, including business, politics, and humanitarian activities after retirement.
Their 96-year relationship is well-known in the U.S.
Rosalynn was born on August 18, 1927, in the small town of Plains, Georgia, the same hometown as Carter.
Their parents were neighbors, and Carter’s mother, a nurse, assisted in Rosalynn’s birth.
According to the Associated Press, a few days after Rosalynn was born, 3-year-old Carter visited with his mother, marking their fateful first meeting.
The two, who were friends from childhood, started dating when Carter, then a Naval Academy cadet, briefly returned home in 1945 and got married in 1946.
After his first date with 17-year-old Rosalynn, Carter reportedly declared to his mother, “She’s the woman I want to marry.”
After their marriage, Rosalynn left her hometown to follow her husband, who was serving in the Navy.
However, they returned to Plains in 1953 when Carter inherited his family’s peanut farm after his father’s death, and she helped run the business with her husband.
Rosalynn was a key figure in the campaign when Carter began his political career by being elected as a Georgia state senator in 1962, and she also contributed to his election as Georgia governor in 1970.
During the presidential election, she traveled separately from Carter to appeal for support, and her quiet and friendly demeanor reportedly won people’s hearts.
She was an active First Lady during Carter’s term (1977-1981).
The White House described Rosalynn as a “skilled speaker and diligent First Lady who managed everyday tasks and special projects from her office in the White House East Wing.”
It also noted that she “attended cabinet meetings and major briefings, often represented the president at events, and visited Latin American countries as a presidential envoy,” highlighting her dynamic activities.
Rosalynn was particularly interested in programs helping Americans’ mental health and served as the honorary chair of the President’s Commission on Mental Health from 1977 to 1978.
After Carter’s term ended, she co-founded the Carter Foundation in 1982 and dedicated herself to issues such as mental health, care, strengthening infant immunity, human rights, and conflict resolution.
The Carter Foundation introduced her as someone who has tirelessly worked for over 50 years to ensure that those with mental illnesses receive proper treatment and lead dignified lives.
Rosalynn, who had been working for those suffering from mental illnesses, also suffered from dementia and had been receiving hospice care since the 17th.
The Carter Foundation announced in May that she was living happily at her home in Plains, receiving hospice care alongside her husband.
Carter has publicly expressed his special love for his wife, Rosalynn, over the years.
Carter always called his wife Rosalynn an “equal partner,” often inviting her up on stage during press conferences revealing his work, and accompanied her on almost all overseas trips because he felt lonely without her.
The couple, known as the ‘longest-serving First Couple,’ celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary on July 7th.
This surpasses the marital life of George H.W. Bush, known as ‘Father Bush,’ and Barbara Bush (died in 2018), making it the longest record among U.S. presidential couples.
On July 10, 2021, at a high school in Plains, Carter said to his wife at their 75th anniversary celebration attended by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, “I want to express special thanks for being the perfect woman for me throughout our marriage,” and “I love her very much.”
Rosalynn, who was sitting next to him at the time, said she had no interest in men growing up and never thought she would get married, drawing laughter, then added, “Then Jimmy Carter appeared, and my life became an adventure,” looking at her husband and saying, “Thank you. I love you.”
In an interview with AP around this time, the couple said, “If you want a long-lasting marriage, marry the right person,” and “We never went to bed without resolving our differences.”
In a past interview, Rosalynn said, “As the years went by, we became not only friends and lovers but also partners,” and Carter also described their relationship as a “complete partnership.”
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