Former US president Jimmy Carter recently celebrated his 99th birthday months after announcing his decision to enter hospice care. Carter, who now holds the title of the oldest living former USA president, celebrated the milestone with friends and family at his Plains, Georgia residence.
In the spirit of celebration, Carter’s grandson Jason Carter, who is also the president of The Carter Center Foundation, commented on Carter’s new age while revealing the secret to his longevity despite several health challenges.
Jason Carter reveals the secret to his grandfather Jimmy Carter’s longevity
During a video interview with Time magazine, the 48-year-old shared that exercise contributed to his grandfather’s extended lifespan. Jason also detailed that the 99-year-old fell in love with cycling. “If he got to a new city that he had never been to before,” Jason admitted. “Whether there was Secret Service or not, he would say, ‘Hey, is there a bike?’”
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While Jason credits his grandfather’s remarkable longevity to his active lifestyle, he speculated that the former president might have a contrasting perspective. He explained that Carter would likely attribute his enduring years to his loving wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, a belief supported by a 2015 interview held at the Carter Center in Atlanta, where the former President shared his deep and enduring connection with his wife. “The best thing I ever did was marry Rosalynn,” Carter said. “That’s the pinnacle of my life.”
Former United States President Jimmy Carter speaks to students at George Washington University on his controversial book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid”.
Photo by Ron Sachs-CNP-PHOTOlink.net
Jason Carter says his grandfather was a visionary
During the discussion, Jason also reminisced about his grandfather’s remarkable presidential tenure. He expressed his belief that Jimmy Carter was a visionary leader who was significantly ahead of his time. Jason further emphasized that his grandfather’s forward-thinking initiatives laid the groundwork for addressing contemporary issues such as environmental conservation, energy efficiency, and human rights.
“If we had listened to his presidency when they started talking about climate change,” Jason confessed to the news outlet. “When they started talking about changing the way that we consume energy, solar and alternative sources — we would be far, far ahead of where we are now.”