“I hope to live to see Kamala Harris in the White House.” Thus, with his unmistakable humor, Jimmy Carter celebrates his hundredth birthday today. An extraordinary achievement for the former president of the United States, a figure who left an indelible mark on American and world politics. Carter, the man who embraced a life of humility and service, stands out for his integrity and a sense of morality that today seems almost anachronistic in an increasingly polarized political context.
Carter was the outsider par excellence, elected in 1976 as a breath of fresh air after the Watergate scandal that had engulfed Richard Nixon’s presidency. Although his mandate was marked by economic difficulties, energy crises and the complex management of international relations, it is impossible not to recognize his successes. One above all: the Camp David peace agreement, reached between Israel and Egypt in 1978, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
But Carter’s true legacy is not limited to his presidency. The man who returned to his home in Georgia after leaving the White House has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to public service, promoting humanitarian and human rights causes through the Carter Center. He has eradicated disease, monitored elections in unstable countries and continued to speak out about the inequalities that tear America’s social fabric. For many, he is a living example of how a former president can continue to make a difference well beyond his years in power.
Carter embodied a different way of being a leader: calm, deeply religious, and never interested in media hype. His Baptist Christian faith has been a constant guide in his political and personal journey. A faithful churchgoer, Carter taught Sunday school for decades at his small church in Plains, Georgia, and always sought to integrate gospel principles into his public policies. His fight for human rights, dialogue between nations and commitment to social justice are based on this profound religious conviction, which pushed him to promote peace and understanding between peoples.
In a world where ego and appearance dominate, Carter showed us that true strength lies in character. Today, at 100 years old, it remains a point of reference for anyone seeking ethical leadership and a vision of a more just world. His dream of seeing Kamala Harris in the White House might seem like a joke, but it is yet another demonstration of his optimism and his belief that the future, despite everything, can be better.
