The Southern California home of the legacy of one American president paused to reflect on another this week.
At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Monday, Dec. 30, a display of tribute was erected for former President Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100 on Sunday.
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Visitors to the center, which features a rich collection of historic documents, artifacts and other items documenting Reagan’s presidency, were urged write down their thoughts about Carter, who passed away at his home in Plains, Georgia. A remembrance table was set up in the library’s Air Force One Pavilion.
David Inman from Simi Valley recalled that Carter, who’d become the Carter was the longest-living chief executive in U.S. history, was the first president he’d voted for, back when he’d just turned 18, during the 1976 presidential campaign.
Carter, a former peanut farmer and Georgia governor, won the presidency in 1976 in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War. He subsequently endured a landslide defeat to Reagan four years later.
Carter rebounded from that loss, however, and spent decades redefining life after the White House as a global volunteer, mentor and humanitarian. Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights.
President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections and house the homeless as an example for others.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
