As praises and tributes come in for James Earl Carter Jr., who will turn 100 on Tuesday, you may often hear that he was “a better former president than president” as the most frequent assessment of his life and career.

During his tenure as governor of Georgia, Carter positioned himself as a reformist. He was elected president in 1976 at a time when the nation was fatigued from the prolonged Watergate scandal.

However, his presidency faced numerous challenges, such as an energy crisis that led to shortages and long waiting lines for gas, rising inflation, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the hostage crisis in Iran.

After a significant loss to Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election, Carter departed from Washington, but he remained engaged in politics.

Carter evolved into an elder statesman and established the Carter Presidential Center in 1982, based at Emory University in Atlanta, focusing on conflict resolution, democratic governance, human rights advocacy, and disease prevention.

He volunteered to mediate international disputes, including those involving North Korea and Libya, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his diplomatic contributions.

Carter also became involved with Habitat for Humanity in 1984, beginning a long-standing partnership in which he and his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, actively helped in constructing affordable housing.

Rosalynn Carter, aged 98, passed away on November 19, 2023.

Jimmy Carter served as the 39th president of the United States from January 20, 1977, to January 20, 1981. Here is an overview of his journey to the White House and beyond:

Oct. 1, 1924

Carter is born in Plains, Georgia, to a peanut warehouse owner and a registered nurse.

June 5, 1946

Carter graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy and is assigned to the USS Wyoming as an ensign. He marries Rosalynn Smith in the same year.

July 3, 1947

The Carters welcome their first child, John William, followed by three others: James Earl III (April 12, 1950), Donnel Jeffrey (August 18, 1952), and Amy Lynn (August 19, 1967).

1948

The Carter family relocates to New London, Connecticut, when he enrolls in a six-month submarine officer training course. They later move to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

June 5, 1949

He is promoted to lieutenant (junior grade).

June 1, 1952

Carter achieves the rank of lieutenant.

Oct. 9, 1953

After his father passes away, Carter receives an honorable discharge from the Navy, having served for 7 years, 4 months, and 8 days. He returns to Georgia and spends the next 8 years on the family farm before entering public service.

1962

Carter declares his candidacy for the Georgia Senate. Although he initially loses to Homer Moore, he requests a recount and eventually wins.

Nov. 3, 1970

Carter secures victory in the Georgia governor’s race against Republican Hal Suit.

Jan. 12, 1971

In his inaugural speech, Carter stuns the Georgia audience by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.”

Dec. 13, 1974

Carter announces his presidential candidacy, framing himself as an outsider and a reformer.

October 1976

The public is taken aback when, in a pre-election interview with Playboy magazine, Carter admits: “I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.”

Nov. 2, 1976

Carter triumphs over Gerald Ford in the presidential election, earning 297 electoral votes compared to Ford’s 240. He assumes office as the 39th president on January 20, 1977.

Jan. 21, 1977

Carter issues pardons for those who evaded the Vietnam War draft.

Sept. 7, 1977

Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos formalize the Panama Canal Treaty, which plans to transfer control of the canal to Panama by 2000.

Dec. 31, 1977

Carter meets with Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in Tehran, describing Iran as “an island of stability” in the Middle East.

Sept. 17, 1978

Carter, along with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, signs the Camp David Accords, which is viewed as the administration’s most notable foreign policy achievement. This agreement establishes diplomatic relations between Israel and Egypt and outlines Israel’s gradual withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula.

Dec. 15, 1978

Carter’s administration bestows China with full diplomatic recognition.

June 18, 1979

Carter signs the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALTII) involving the Soviet Union.

July 15, 1979

During a live broadcast, President Carter gives his “malaise” speech, emphasizing the need to restore public trust in the government and its leaders. This speech further contributes to some people’s view of him as an ineffective president.

July 18, 1979

Five members of Carter’s Cabinet resign from their positions.

Sept. 14, 1979

Carter receives the lowest approval rating of any president in the last three decades according to a Washington Post poll.

Nov. 4, 1979

A total of fifty-two American diplomats and citizens are taken hostage in Iran, marking the beginning of a 444-day crisis.

Jan. 23, 1980

In his State of the Union address, Carter introduces the “Carter Doctrine,” stating that any threats in the Persian Gulf will be interpreted as threats against U.S. interests.

April 17, 1980

Carter announces that the U.S. economy is in a recession, with an inflation rate of 10% and interest rates soaring to 18%.

April 22, 1980

In solidarity with Carter’s stance against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the U.S. Olympic Committee decides to boycott the Moscow Olympics.

April 25, 1980

The public finds out about the “Desert One” operation failure, where multiple U.S. military personnel lost their lives in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue hostages in Iran.

June 1980

Carter’s approval ratings hit a low point, marking the lowest for any president since 1945.

Nov. 4, 1980

Ronald Reagan wins a significant victory over Carter in the presidential election, receiving 489 electoral votes compared to Carter’s 49.

Jan. 20, 1981

As Reagan takes office, the Carters depart from Washington. At the same time, the hostages in Iran are released.

July 16, 1982

Plans are initiated for establishing The Carter Center, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting global peace and health. Over time, the center will observe 107 elections across 39 countries.

March 1984

The Carters begin their ongoing involvement with Habitat for Humanity.

Oct. 29, 1996

Carter releases his 20th book titled “Living Faith,” which discusses how his Christian beliefs have shaped his public and private life.

Dec. 10, 1998

For his “international defense of human rights,” Carter receives one of six Human Rights Prizes awarded by the United Nations.

Aug. 9, 1999

President Bill Clinton presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Carters, highlighting the Camp David Accords and their humanitarian work.

Oct. 11, 2002

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2002 is awarded to Carter by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, acknowledging his “decades of dedicated effort to seek peaceful resolutions to global conflicts, promote democracy and human rights, and foster social and economic development.”

June 5, 2004

Rosalynn Carter officially names the USS Jimmy Carter, a Seawolf-class submarine.

Feb. 6, 2006

Carter’s son Jack loses his bid for Nevada’s U.S. Senate seat to Republican John Ensign.

April 1, 2008

Carter publishes his 25th book called “A Remarkable Mother,” a tribute to his late mother, known as Miss Lillian.

August 2015

Carter begins radiation therapy for liver cancer and is later diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, a serious skin cancer that has spread to his brain. He receives an innovative cancer treatment.

March 2016

Carter reports that his cancer treatment has been successful and that he is now cancer-free.

October 2019

Carter celebrates his 95th birthday on Oct. 1. After a fall at home on Oct. 6 that results in a black eye requiring 14 stitches, he still travels to Tennessee later that day to speak to Habitat for Humanity volunteers.

July 2021

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter commemorate their 75th wedding anniversary, becoming the longest-married first couple in U.S. history.

Feb. 18, 2023

At the age of 98, Carter decides to stop further medical treatment and begins hospice care at home following several brief hospitalizations.

Nov. 19, 2023

Rosalynn Carter passes away in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 96.

Oct. 1, 2024

Carter celebrates his 100th birthday.