IN MEMORIAM: Jimmy Carter, 39th President
President’s Office
December 20, 2024
Dear SWAGĘÓƵ Community, Colleagues and Friends,
As an institution dedicated to higher education and humanism, it is fitting that we celebrate the legacy of Jimmy Carter, the country’s 39th president, and an avid champion of both education, and humanism. He served as president from 1977 to 1981, and died Sunday, at 100 years of age. Carter had the longest post-presidency in U.S. history and in March 2019 became the longest-living former president.
President Carter was the son of a nurse, and a businessman. He leaves a legacy of globally celebrated humanitarian work. President Carter was considered by many that knew him, as a man of principle, faith, and humility, and a strong advocate of education. He believed that the American people shared a sense of decency, honor, courage, compassion, humility, and strength. He firmly purported that kindness is not weakness.
President Carter was even more active in his post-presidency 5 decades of relentless service to the nation through promoting education for all citizens, environmental consciousness, energy conservation, international peace efforts, prolific writing, building houses for Habitat for Humanity, and religious life. Specifically citing President Carter’s work at the Camp David accords, as a global election observer, and his fight against tropical diseases, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”
Perhaps, President Carter’s greatest legacy was his fervent commitment to education. At his 1971 gubernatorial inaugural address in Atlanta, Georgia, Carter in referring to education said “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Once elected President, he wrote, “Generally, I am opposed to the proliferation of federal agencies,”. “But the Department of Education would consolidate the grant programs, job training, early childhood education, literacy training, and many other functions scattered throughout the government. The result would be a stronger voice for education at the federal level.” In his State of the Union address in January 1978, the president said: “Now it’s time to take another major step by creating a separate Department of Education.” He created the U.S. department of Education prior to leaving office.
Across the nation, many observed a minute of silence this morning to honor Carter. The New York Stock Exchange stopped trading this morning to honor President Carter.
Please join me today in honoring the legacy of this great champion of education and humanism.
Warmest Regards,
Robin