Refer Report

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday on the 1st (local time), becoming the first U.S. president to do so. He said, “I live to vote for Kamala Harris (US Democratic presidential candidate).”

The Associated Press reported on the 2nd, “Former President Carter responded this way to his son Chip Carter’s question two months ago, ‘Are you planning on living to be 100?’” Chip Carter said in an interview with a media outlet, “My father (former President Carter)’s next goal is voting.”

Former President Carter, who suffered from melanoma, a type of skin cancer, and various complications, has been receiving hospice care at home for 19 months since February of last year. If he wants to vote for Harris, he must hold on to his life until the 15th, the day of early voting in Georgia.

The media also reported on the 1st the scene of the ‘100th birthday party’ held by family, friends, and supporters in former President Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia, USA. While a World War II airplane flew over the lawn in honor of former President Carter, nearly 25 family members gathered at his home and enjoyed cupcakes.

“Not everyone lives to be 100,” said former President Carter’s grandson Jason Carter, who serves as chairman of the Carter Center’s steering committee. “Someone lives to 100 and uses that time to do good things for many people.” “If so, his birthday is worth celebrating,” he said, AP reported.

U.S. President Joe Biden, who has a special relationship with former President Carter, sent a congratulatory message on the 29th of last month. When President Biden served as a senator in 1976, he took the lead in expressing support for former President Carter when he declared his candidacy for president. President Biden said, “Carter is one of the most influential politicians in American history,” and added, “Even after leaving office, he showed solid morality through activities such as volunteer work at the Carter Center, Habitat for Humanity (building houses), development of democracy, and disease prevention.”

Former President Carter, born in Georgia on October 1, 1924, was inaugurated as the 39th President of the United States on January 20, 1977, and served as President for four years until January 20, 1981. During his tenure, he recorded low approval ratings due to the economic recession and handed over power to the Republican Party after four years, but after leaving office, he engaged in charity and diplomatic activities and is evaluated as showing the most ideal image of a former president. In 2002, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work as a peace envoy in North Korea-US relations and the Bosnian War.

He married Rosalynn Carter, the daughter of a neighbor in his hometown of Plains, in 1946, and they lived together for 77 years until her death at the age of 96 in November of last year. In 2015, he was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to his liver and brain, and suffered several falls, but has been surviving under hospice care for 19 months since last year.

Reporter Choi Yuna ah@hani.co.kr

Source: Korean