Jimmy Carter dies at 100: Letters to the Editor — Dec. 31, 2024

· New York Post

The Issue: Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, dies at age 100.

Former President Jimmy Carter certainly had his problems in the Oval Office (“From peanuts to presidency,” Dec. 30).

The one that sticks out to me is when he forgave those who left the country to avoid the draft. I had no problem with people who made that decision to leave, but truly had a problem with them returning, and that was on Carter.

One thing that can be said, however, is that his life before and after his presidency was exceptional. He never used the office to make himself wealthy — unlike most politicians today.

At least his 100-year-long life gave him the benefit of seeing someone worse than him in the Oval Office.

Philip Vallone

Ossining

How symbolic is it that Jimmy Carter died as President-elect Donald Trump is about to be in office again?

Carter tried to be prudent fiscally, but failed to stop inflation. The reaction, in the South and nationally, was voting against him by Reagan Democrats in 1980.

Those mostly poor, less-educated rural whites — now suffering again from rising prices — have since become the loyal Republican base of the populist support for Trump, with similar aspirations to “drain the swamp.”

Internationally, Carter shepherded the Israeli-Egyptian peace accords. Yet he could not settle the Palestinian conflict, a perennial problem for US foreign policy in the Middle East. It also sabotaged Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

Carter’s inability to resolve the Iran hostage crisis doomed his own reelection, much like America’s forced withdrawal from Afghanistan helped Trump.

President Biden must be contemplating this political and diplomatic history as his own long political career is about to end.

Itai Sneh

Manhattan

Not only did Carter live to the age of 100, beating one grave illness after another and surviving an extraordinary length of nearly two years in hospice care — he always lived a life of purpose and example.

Carter was a mild-mannered, dignified gentleman — something that has become more rare in today’s often toxic political climate.

Former presidents have vast opportunities to cash in on their period of government service. That was not the post-presidential path taken by Carter. He stayed in his modest, beloved hometown of Plains, Ga. until the very end and used his many years out of office humbly devoting himself to his church.

Carter was seen as weak and had the misfortune to preside over a period of a great financial challenge marked by astronomical interest rates and a recession.

Regardless, he left us having made our country and our world a better place. May he rest in peace alongside his beloved Rosalynn.

Oren Spiegler

Follow the latest on President Jimmy Carter’s death

Peters Township, Pa.

I mourn the passing of Carter and give thanks for his long, good life.

From his commitment to civil rights in the Georgia state Senate and as governor, to his presidential efforts to protect our national resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama and secure peace between Egypt and Israel — Carter served others to the very end of his career in politics.

Let’s also not forget his post-presidential efforts to support honest elections, advance peace, combat disease and promote democracy, while also founding the Carter Center.

Carter worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world. My prayers are with Jack, Chip, Jeff, Amy and their families.

Paul Bacon

Hallandale Beach, Fla.

During his presidency, Carter’s failed hostage-rescue attempt and the “malaise” speech were infamous for not inspiring the American people. Yet his post-presidency was a road map on how to best serve our country.

Former President Barack Obama, known for his eloquent diction, would do well to duplicate Carter’s compelling life as a man of good deeds.

Peter Cooper

Bronxville

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