President Carter

Only 2 months after his 100th birthday, President Carter has died.  Of all presidents, he had the longest post-presidency by far.  He was an ex-president for 43.9 years.  His nearest competitor, Herbert Hoover, lived to the age of 90, having been ex-president for 31.6 years.  His record cannot be beaten for at least another 20 years.  If Bill Clinton makes it to 98, he could outdo Carter.  George W Bush would have to make it to 106, which seems unlikely.  Next, Barack could surpass Carter in 36 years, at age 99.  Trump and Biden aren't in the running unless something really amazing happens in longevity research.

In many ways, Carter was an unusual president.  As mentioned in a recent blog, he never chose a justice for the Supreme Court.  His predecessors did not burden him with an ongoing military conflict, and he didn't start any during his term.  Yes, Iran and Afghanistan became major issues, but the US didn't go to war.  Carter tried to resolve foreign conflicts with peace talks and boycotts rather than tanks and soldiers.  Commendable, but of questionable effect.  He is one of four presidents to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Jimmy Carter was the first president I recall.  When I was in the 4th grade, a TV was rolled into the classroom and we watched the inauguration.  One is not usually politically aware at that age, but it was from that point that I could always answer the question: Who is the president of the United States?

RIP