NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
While “From a Peanut Farm to the Presidency” often serves as a standard description The political career of Jimmy Carterto reduce his life to those two characteristics does a disservice to a legacy that has penetrated deeply into humanity and a sense of true compassion.
In his attempt to exemplify one of his favorite Bible passages, Ephesians 4:32, which says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another as God has given you in Christ,” Carter stood like a beacon of honesty and decency in our divided American body politic.
At a time when cynicism, division, mistrust and a greater sense of apathy seem to dominate our national discourse, Carter’s life should remind us of what is possible when we lead with principle, tolerance and a firm belief in the power of honest dialogue.
President Jimmy Carter addresses a town hall in Elk City, Oklahoma on March 24, 1979. (Getty Images)
Running for president in the shadow of the Watergate scandal and the eventual resignation of President Richard Nixon, Carter’s 1976 campaign revived hope in government and spread to the electorate a belief in unshakable integrity.
WHAT JIMMY CARTER CAN TEACH US ABOUT LIFE AND OUR HERITAGE
Carter kept his famous promise that he would never lie to the American people, and all at the cost of his re-election in 1980. His honesty, unique to a city where people play politics and twist the truth, was not a political tactic, but an expression of his deeply rooted Christian values.
Many politicians today continue to express these values under the evangelical banner. But for Carter, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a lieutenant in the Navy’s submarine division, the truth was not negotiable. Rather, it was a foundation of leadership that emerged over years in government service.
Carter’s political career began in the Georgia State Senate. There, he, a Plains business owner, father and avid churchgoer, became nationally known for embracing complexity and managing change without losing his sense of self.
JIMMY CARTER CREATED A MODEL FOR POST-PRESIDENTIAL POWER
When Carter ran for governor Georgije, he recognized the deep-rooted divisions in his homeland. He understood the art of politics – not as a tool for manipulation, but as a means of bringing people together. He reached across ideological lines to gain the trust of Georgia’s segregationists, not to uplift, but to create an opportunity for dialogue and, ultimately, transformation.
After taking office, Carter set out to dismantle segregation and fight for civil rights, proving that political courage can coexist with pragmatism. This unique ability to build bridges extended far beyond Georgia and defined Carter’s presidency. Whether he was negotiating the Camp David Accords between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin or promoting human rights on the global stage, Carter showed that diplomacy and talk could achieve what threats and ultimatums could not.
JIMMY CARTER, PIONEER OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT
His belief in dialogue was rooted in faith—faith in God, humanity, and the moral arc of the universe bending toward justice. This faith in the power of the American people prompted Carter to establish the Department of Education and the Department of Energy.
Carter stood up as well and empowered women in government service. He set the stage for President Bill Clinton, decades later, to elevate Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the U.S. Supreme Court and Alexis M. Herman as the first African-American U.S. Secretary of Labor, nominating Ginsburg, then an American Civil Liberties Union attorney, to the Courts of Appeals of the United States and the appointment of Herman, a former women’s and civil rights leader, as director of the Department of Labor’s Women’s Office.
While stagflation and the months-long hostage crisis cost Carter his chance at re-election, he served as a global humanitarian outside the White House, driven by his unwavering faith and unwavering belief in what is possible when people come together.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONS
Driven by purpose and fueled by a belief in equality and justice for all people of the world, Carter, as a global citizen, helped provide treatment for Guinea worm, river blindness, malaria and other diseases. Through his work at the Carter Center, he tirelessly promoted peace, free elections around the world, and dialogue in Haiti and Cuba.
Earnings a Nobel Peace Prize In 2002, Carter taught us all that leadership is not limited to titles and conditions, but is measured by actions and influence.
In today’s polarized political environment, Carter’s life provides a road map for healing. He showed us how to lead with humility and grace, engage in conversations even when they are uncomfortable, and prioritize the common good over personal ambition.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
At a time when compromise is often seen as weakness, Carter’s example reminds us that finding common ground is an act of strength. President Jimmy CarterHis story is ultimately a story of faith – in America, in humanity, and in the idea that we are stronger when we are united.
As we mourn his death, we must also celebrate his legacy by embracing his values – honesty, integrity and a relentless commitment to justice. We must remember that dialogue is not an admission of defeat, but a proclamation of hope.
