Statement from the Carter Center:
ATLANTA (Nov. 19, 2023) — Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a passionate champion of mental health, caregiving, and women’s rights, passed away Sunday, Nov. 19, at 2:10 p.m. at her home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 96. She died peacefully, with family by her side.
Mrs. Carter was married for 77 years to Jimmy Carter, the 39thpresident of the United States and the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who is now 99 years old.
“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” President Carter said. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”
A long life, and a well lived one, by all accounts. The Carters were unique in their post-presidential lives, living simply and focusing on making the world a better place. We’re unlikely to see their like again.
May Ms. Rosalynn Carter rest in peace, and may her memory be a blessing and a comfort, especially for her beloved husband, who must feel lost without her.
Open thread.
Omnes Omnibus
A well lived life. My condolences to the Carter family.
Another Scott
The Carters have had an amazing run. They both did a lot of good with the time they had, were and are wonderful examples for the rest of us, and will be long remembered.
Peace and comfort to Jimmy and all who knew and loved her.
Cheers,
Scott.
TaMara
Rest in peace dear lady.
A beautiful love story for the ages…
I wonder if President Carter has willed himself to stay around to look after her and will now feel it’s okay to be with her in the next life.
Quinerly
I am listening to MSNBC from the Tune In app. I hope they rerun the last 20 minutes for all to hear. It’s a great retrospective on Mrs. Carter.
Quinerly
@TaMara: my first thought when I heard the news a few minutes ago.
My second thought was that I am glad that Trump is not president.
hells littlest angel
She was a good one.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
Condolences to the Carter family
Brachiator
She was a special lady. Condolences to Jimmy Carter and his family.
Alison Rose
Rest in peace. And my heart goes out to Jimmy, now alone after so many years by her side. I hope all the kids and grandkids and great-grandkids are spending as much time with him as they can
Also, if you scroll down a ways on the NYT obituary, they have a photo from their wedding day, Jimmy in his Navy uniform looking as happy as can be, and Rosalynn as a very lovely young woman, only 18.
Lapassionara
@Quinerly: I’m glad Trump is not president for a host of reasons, but one is his complete lack of seriousness at times of mourning.
dmsilev
That’s very sad to hear. A life well lived.
dmsilev
@Lapassionara: When President Carter inevitably passes on, I hope Trump skips the funeral. If nothing else, it’ll give all other Presidents the excuse they need to skip *his*.
lowtechcyclist
She and Jimmy have had a long and good life together. May she rest in peace.
moonbat
Bless her and her husband for living their values every day in their relationship and in their dealings with the world. R.I.P.
lowtechcyclist
@dmsilev:
Fixed.
Lapassionara
@dmsilev: I assume the Carter family won’t invite him. 🤞
Quinerly
@Lapassionara:
I probably didn’t word that right. I went back to edit and was running out of time. I loathe Trump. I was afraid during his entire presidency for many reasons….but I also knew how upsetting it would be if the Carters passed while he was in office.
West of the Rockies
Compare the positive impact and effect of her lovely wife to that of a Trump, Jordan, MTG, DeSantis, Shapiro, Owens, etc.
p.a.
RIP. Wonderful a legacy.
Fair Economist
A long and well lived life, granting blessings to us all. I hope I do as well. My condolences to President Carter.
geg6
She had a wonderful life and leaves a great legacy. My sympathies to the former president and their entire family. RIP.
hells littlest angel
@dmsilev: He’ll schedule a fucking rally, compusive shit-head that he is.
Harrison Wesley
I think it would be OK to invite Trump as long as he’s in prison. After all,it’s the thought that counts.
brantl
I always wonder what she thought, having the Trash-Twins moving into the White House after them; my bet was “There goes the neighborhood!” .
hedgehog mobile
May her memory be a blessing. Peace and condolences to Jimmy.
Dan B
She was a Christian who followed Jesus and not the hate fueled pastors who claim to be Christian. She walked the walk joyfully
Jimmy may be bereft but I hope he was prepared and his family holds him close.
Villago Delenda Est
Condolences to the entire Carter family. Rosalynn was one of the best first ladies of my lifetime.
@lowtechcyclist: Barbara Bush made that ABUNDANTLY clear.
Villago Delenda Est
@Dan B: She was “woke” before “woke” was a thing. As was Jesus Himself.
satby
@TaMara: I wouldn’t be surprised.
A true love story and a very accomplished life. Not the least of which was raising a family of normal, down-to-earth people under the intense scrutiny of the public. Suaimhneas síoraí Mrs. Carter.
Splitting Image
A sad day, but not unexpected. When I heard she had gone into hospice I knew the news was coming.
96 years is a good run, but damn. Jimmy is likely to follow her soon and we’ll never see their like again. End of an era.
Dangerman
No chance he gets an invitation.
I expect Jimmy will join his wife extremely soon; he’s in Hospice, they were married 77 years, he will know it’s time to check out.
Hospices are interesting places; my Uncle was in one from 1/26 to 5/4 one year. You see things that make you go …. hmmm. I visited every day. Sometimes for a little while, other times much longer (this Hospice was in the Redwoods and a lovely place to be).
Once you see a Miracle, it’s easy to take the next step and see the World differently.
bbleh
A life well lived, and that’s what matters. It’s always sad when someone passes, but at 96, it’s not necessarily tragic. My mom wasn’t enjoying life much at all this last year or two. Focus on the life.
And sorry for getting all political, but to my mind a comparison of recent Democratic First Ladies (Carter, Clinton, Obama) to Republican First Ladies (Reagan 😬, Barbara Bush 😧, Trump 😱) seems, well, instructive. And Betty Ford and Laura Bush demonstrate amply that it doesn’t have to be that way …
Uncle Cosmo
FYI, whenever you want to edit a post and you’re running out of time to do so, make one small edit (e.g., change one character) and hit update – FYWP will then reset the time remaining for the next edit to the full amount (4 minutes and change IIRC) and you then have that interval to edit further. If you still need more time, hit update before the edit window closes, re-enter the edit window and continue. Lather, rinse, repeat. EZPZ!
Lapassionara
@Dangerman: “being in hospice care” doesn’t necessarily mean going to a facility. Hospice personnel can come to a person’s home. I’ve assumed (without really knowing) that Jimmy Carter is in his home, and hospice is coming to him.
TriassicSands
I have no doubt that Jimmy Carter was the best human being ever to serve as president of the United States, and after 77 years of marriage, I have to believe that Rosalynn was his match as well as his mate. There are too few truly good, kind, and generous people in the world and the loss of one is still very sad even it was inevitable. I can’t imagine anything remotely adequate to say to the former president after he has lost his partner of 77 years. I’d guess that being a sincerely religious person, Jimmy “knows” in his heart that he will be with Rosalynn again soon and then, for all eternity. I hope that belief is comforting to him while he’s still alive. For their sake, I wish I could believe it would happen.
EarthWindFire
Rosalynn Carter was the best of America. While it was expected, it’s terribly sad to lose her at a time that the worst of America is so prevalent. RIP.
Parfigliano
@dmsilev: I hope Trump is barred at the door from Carter funeral.
brendancalling
I wouldn’t be surprised if Jimmy leaves us soon, given their relationship. Sure wouldn’t blame him. What a great relationship.
On a happier note—and since it’s an open thread, AND since Jimmy and Rosalynn did the distance—my gal and I did the Philly Marathon today. This was my second marathon since 2017 (Cape Canaveral) and I beat my previous time by 11 minutes. It was her first and she beat me by 1 second (we crossed the finish line holding hands, awwwww). 05:17:02 for me and 05:17:01 for her.
FWIW, I’m 53, she’s 49. We’re both pretty sedentary right now. Also, I woke up with a bad head cold Thursday, and had to fight the thing off to run today. But we got it done, and in good time. My medal has a Liberty Bell that actually rings!
JPL
What a life well lived. As much as she did for those suffering from mental health problems, Reagan undid.
It’s okay to remember that the guy that followed Carter shut down help and now Reagan can be remembered for the increase in homelessness. ha MSM has different ideas though.
JPL
@brendancalling: Congrats.
Dan B
@brendancalling: Congratulations! A full marathon is a big deal.
Elizabelle
Godspeed, Rosalynn Carter. You and President Carter made such a positive difference in the world. Habitat for Humanity, your work on mental illness, and advocating Hospice care. You were both committed and actual public servants. Rest well.
Elizabelle
@Lapassionara: that is exactly right. JEC entered hospice care at home in February so he could avoid all the hospital trips, and be there for his beloved Rosalynn.
EarthWindFire
@brendancalling: Congratulations! I wouldn’t call you sedentary with a full marathon under your belt.
TriassicSands
@bbleh:
There is one criticism, if one were so inclined, that can be leveled at all of the Republican first ladies you mentioned — their choice of husband.
Ford was a mediocrity and jerk. For many years in the House his big thing was trying to impeach SCOTUS justice William O. Douglas. That was ideological. If he were alive today, I’m sure he would have no interest in impeaching any of the corrupt right wing justices on the current court. And he pardoned Nixon!
Reagan? He made it fashionable to hate the government and believe it is the enemy. Reagan should have been impeached and removed from office for Iran-Contra.
GHW Bush should have been impeached and removed from office for Iran-Contra.
Jimmy and Roalynn Carter set an standard that no other former presidents have any chance of meeting. History books may not be kind to Jimmy’s presidency, but I hope they emphasize his human qualities. And there doesn’t seem to be any doubt that Rosalynn was always an equal part of that.
Trump? It’s pointless to even begin. Worst president in history. A fascist who threatens
GW Bush? After eight years in office, I considered him a contender for worst president ever. He failed on 9/11 and failed in his response to it.
evap
So sorry to hear this, condolences to the family. My Rosalyn Carter story: I live near the Carter Center and there is a bike/walk path that runs next to it. I was out running near there about 20 years ago and I saw two fit younger men jogging with an older man and woman behind. As I got close, I saw that it was Jimmy and Rosalyn. I assume the two in front were secret service. I gave them a cheery hello, and Rosalyn (but not Jimmy) said hello back!
BeautifulPlumage
RIP
So glad they had time to enjoy their retirement in Plains where the community clearly loved them. Condolences to President Carter and family.
Van Buren
@Dan B: This times a thousand
SiubhanDuinne
I had the enormous privilege of knowing both President and Mrs. Carter, and often worked closely with The Carter Center as a welcome and exciting part of my job with the Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta for 25 years.
In the spring of 2012, there was a book launch of a Canadian tribute volume to the Carters. The book was compiled by an historian at McGill. We arranged an event on the grounds of the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm in Plains, with 80-100 local McGill alumni. Both Carters were there, in good form — Jimmy in his most winsome story-telling mode. I sat next to Rosalynn during lunch and the speeches. At one point, the bugs were annoying me and I was swatting at them vainly when she opened her purse and handed me a miniature spray bottle of insect repellent. I used it (it worked!), handed the bottle back, only to have her wave me off. “I always carry plenty of them to give to people,” she said; and indeed, she showed me her purse which had probably half a dozen of the little bottles. “The gnats and mosquitoes are just awful this time of year!”
The next day was Sunday, and I had always wanted to hear Jimmy teach a Sunday School lesson, so before leaving Plains I went to Maranatha Baptist Church. Rosalynn saw me as I entered the church and beckoned to me to sit next to her in the Carters’ pew, right up front and smack under Jimmy’s watchful eye.
She was a lovely person, and a good person. I have nothing but sweet memories of her. I’m sad that she’s passed, and I agree with those who think Jimmy might not want to hang around much longer without his partner of 77 years. My heart is with him, and all the children, grandchildren, and greats.
Rest in Power, dear lady.
Suzanne
I have shared the story of how I went to see President Carter at a book signing, and I wasn’t supposed to talk to him, and then he looked straight at me and I just blurted out “Hello”, and he smiled and greeted me right back. And then I clapped my hand over my mouth because I wasn’t supposed to talk and a spell had come over me or something.
Somehow I got the Carter family Christmas card last year. I still have it.
I admire them both so much and I hope Mrs. Carter is resting at peace. I don’t expect President Carter to stay long now. That’s okay.
TriassicSands
@Parfigliano:
I can’t imagine that Trump will have any interest in attending a funeral for either of the Carters. After all, the self-proclaimed “best president ever,” who would be, if he weren’t the most tragic victim in all of history, serving in his second term as president, preparing to not leave office in January 2025. As a “two-term” president, why would Trump want to associate himself with a one-term loser or his wife?
Protocol may dictate that Trump be invited, at least to Jimmy’s funeral, which I hope doesn’t take place until Jimmy has finally had enough and decides to move on to be with Rosalynn. However, I hope, if protocol requires an invitation to all former presidents, that his invitation gets lost in DeJoy’s degraded postal service.
Dan B
@TriassicSands: Plus Reagan promised the Iranians he would give them a good deal if they would hold the hostages until after the election.
TriassicSands
@Dan B:
Oh, the list against Reagan is too long to even make a dent in here. But you are right and that is among the worst things he did.
SiubhanDuinne
@TriassicSands:
I don’t want to hear the names of Jimmy or Rosalynn Carter in his mouth. He’d best not try to invoke them on his failing social media platform, or in a rally speech, or anywhere else. He’s not fit to share the planet with them.
zhena gogolia
@SiubhanDuinne: That is so sweet. What a great experience.
TriassicSands
@SiubhanDuinne:
You were fortunate to have known them. I would love to have helped build a Habitat for Humanity home with Jimmy.
Kathleen
@brendancalling: Congratulations!
Ruckus
@moonbat:
Bless her and her husband for living their values every day in their relationship and in their dealings with the world. R.I.P.
Perfect.
I’ll never do better than this so I hope you don’t mind that I repeated it.
artem1s
unless Jimmy has it in his wishes to have a state funeral, it will be private. there will be no automatic invites to heads of state past or present for his funeral. ex-presidents spouses don’t get state funerals. I find it very hard to believe the Carters will have any wish for a lavish production. I imagine it will be a very private affair.
Betsy
@Dan B: My family members went to one of their Sunday School lessons they would hold in Plains. Jimmy and Rosalynn did this for decades. There was a special classroom building to hold all the people who came from around the world to learn how to be better Christians from the Carters, who truly practiced what they preached.
brantl
@bbleh: Betty Ford was a nice old airhead. Laura Bush killed a man by running a stop sign and hitting him with a car when she was you, and then had the balls to say that it was unfortunate that people chose to ask her about it, didn’t have the decency to be ashamed.
SiubhanDuinne
@TriassicSands:
A number of people on the ConGen staff did exactly that. I was recovering from quadruple bypass surgery at the time, so couldn’t participate in the Habitat event. But I did once talk our Consul General into letting all but a handful of employees take the day off so we could volunteer to package thousands of medical kits for the folks on the ground doing Guinea worm eradication. We got a special commendation from The Carter Center for that!!
brendancalling
@SiubhanDuinne: Reagan was garbage. Hot garbage.
brantl
@TriassicSands: He didn’t just fail in it, he failed SPECTACULARLY. Attacked a country that didn’t even attack us, and killed a MILLION of them, there’s a war crime for you. You’re really in trouble when a Cheney is the brains of your outfit.
Dan B
OT: The polls have closed in Argentina so we’ll soon know if it’s the Trumpian one or the reasonable one.
Baud
@Dan B:
🤞
Mai Naem mobile
RIP Mrs Carter. I figured they were getting us prepared when they mentioned she had entered hospice a few days ago. 77 years is an amazing run at a marriage. There is no way TFG is at the funeral. At worst I’m sure some Georgia or NY pol will make sure TFG has to be at some court date on the date of the funeral.
Ohio Mom
Sad news but not unexpected. I feel most for Jimmy, what a love they shared!
I don’t think Rosalyn’s death will register in that maelstrom that is Trump’s brain.
Dan B
@Baud: Ditto!
Ruckus
@brendancalling:
I worked in motor vehicle racing and Ironman racing. The motor vehicle racing was faster but the Ironman stuff is a whole bunch of levels harder and better.
Congrats on finishing a marathon. Crossing the line together was great, and “letting” your wife beat you – that’s class.
West of the Rockies
@Dangerman:
If you care to share, I’d love to hear more about your experience. It sounds like you saw some very interesting things. My father was in hospice care for just two days be checking out.
Ruckus
@SiubhanDuinne:
Wow.
That’s the comment.
Wow.
Matt McIrvin
She lived to the same age as my grandmother. If my daughter lives that long she’ll see the year 2102. I often think about that.
Suzanne
@brendancalling: WOOHOO! That’s so great. Congratulations!
lowtechcyclist
@SiubhanDuinne:
I remember he said he wanted to outlive the last Guinea worm.
ETA: According to the Carter Center, they’re getting close – only 13 cases reported in 2022 – but it doesn’t look like Jimmy will get his wish, unfortunately.
SiubhanDuinne
@brendancalling:
That is very cool indeed. Congratulations! And I love the mental image of you and “your gal” finishing hand-in-hand!
SiubhanDuinne
@lowtechcyclist:
Yup. It was almost like a big personal animosity for him. He hated those motherfucking worms, and having seen too many close-up videos of the damage they do, I can’t blame him.
Also, they are just totally repulsive and disgusting and icky.
Ruckus
@SiubhanDuinne:
He’s not fit to share the planet with them.
This.
Absolutely This.
bbleh
@SiubhanDuinne: THAT is a VERY cool story.
@brendancalling: ah excellent! Weather was VERY nice for it. And a lot of that marathon is very scenic. Good on ya!
Blah blah hydrate blah electrolytes blah. And remember that the second day after is worse than the first.
zhena gogolia
@SiubhanDuinne: But enough about the Trumps.
MazeDancer
She was the first FLOTUS to have an office and staff that tackled issues.
And she was beloved by Mr. Carter to such a degree you could see him looking lovingly at her in almost every picture of them together.
Have to imagine he is grateful that she went first.
moonbat
@Ruckus: No problem.
SiubhanDuinne
@zhena gogolia:
LMAO!!!
SiubhanDuinne
@MazeDancer:
I have seen that before, and I guess I’m always a bit surprised that Eleanor Roosevelt wasn’t the first. ER certainly wasn’t shy about tackling issues, but maybe most of that was after she was widowed and out of the White House
brendancalling
@Ruckus: there was no lettting, she got across a split second before me. She earned that win!
BretH
@TriassicSands: can’t find any words better than this. Thanks.
Ruckus
@brendancalling:
I figured that but didn’t want to embarrass you………..
Congrats either way, a marathon isn’t like watching TV for five hours….
SiubhanDuinne
@Ruckus:
You’ve never seen John Cole binge Game of Thrones, have you?
jackmac
@SiubhanDuinne:
A wonderful story about Rosalyn Carter and your connection with the Carters. Thanks for sharing.
TriassicSands
@brantl:
I agree, but I don’t know if the word “spectacularly” is adequate. “Criminally” might work though.
CarolPW
@TriassicSands: If it could happen for anyone, it would happen for them.
Alison Rose
Really lovely tribute from Michelle Obama:
TriassicSands
@SiubhanDuinne:
He’s not fit to share the planet with Ebola. Somehow, if he were invited to attend a service for either Jimmy or Rosalynn, I feel like it would taint the whole event. However, I don’t think he would go. He is only interested in things about himself and being the center of attention.
Craig
I had the pleasure to work with the chief of the Carter Center a month ago in ATL. We bonded over a picture she said that Mrs. Carter had on her desk of Phyllis Shlafly in front of the White House protesting the ERA. She said Mrs. Carter kept it there to remind her that ‘there is still a lot of important work to do’. I’ve respected the hell out of that woman my whole life. RIP.
TriassicSands
@CarolPW:
I agree. There have only been a few political figures in my lifetime that I thought were really special. That doesn’t mean they were flawless, but that there was/is something unusually positive about them and their personal qualities. Carter is one. Nelson Mandela was another.
Carter’s post presidency life can’t be compared with any other president of my lifetime or any I know about in history. Carter would be doing something positive, helpful, generous, or uplifting for others as long as he was physically able to do so. His post-presidency rises to the level of greatest.
Madeleine
My sympathy to President Carter and their family. I, too, am sad about her loss.
Geminid
@SiubhanDuinne: Eleanor Roosevelt was very active outside the White House during her husband’s Presidency. She also pushed him, with mixed success, on civil rights for African Americans.
Eleanor Roosevelt had a reputation for activism. I saw an old New Yorker cartoon showing two coal miners with head lanterns, with another head lantern approaching. One miner is gesturing behind him and telling the other, “It’s Mrs. Roosevelt.”
WaterGirl
@brendancalling: Wow!
Ruckus
@SiubhanDuinne:
No. I thankfully have not…..
Have you seen the finish of a marathon?
Or tried to even get close to prepared to run one? I’ve done both.
I’d bet good money JC binging G of T isn’t close to either one……
Betty Cracker
@SiubhanDuinne: What a great remembrance — thank you for sharing it.
Ruckus
@SiubhanDuinne:
He’s not fit to share the planet with them.
Absolutely this.
Oh and also, he’s not fit to share the planet with us. Even as most of us trail the Carters by too many miles to count.