The Death of Jimmy Carter; From the Loser of the Hostage Crisis in Iran to a Global Peace Activist

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, whose presidency was marked by adverse economic policies and the Iranian Revolution and its aftermath, passed away on Sunday, January 9, at his home in Georgia. He was 100 years old at the time of his death. Among Carter's most significant actions as President was the announcement of a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics in response to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. He also declared that the United States would use military force if necessary to protect its interests in the Persian Gulf, a policy known as the "Carter Doctrine." A member of the Democratic Party and former governor of Georgia, Carter entered the White House in 1977 at the age of 53. His administration granted asylum to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, which angered the newly established government in Tehran and led to the 444-day hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Following his failure to secure a second term and defeat by Ronald Reagan in the November 1980 elections, Carter increasingly turned to humanitarian efforts and decades later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his long-standing efforts in advocating peaceful solutions to international crises and promoting democracy. In 2002, when receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, he stated, "War may sometimes be an unavoidable evil; but regardless of how unavoidable it is, it is always evil and never good. We will not learn to live in peace and harmony by killing each other's children." Through numerous travels around the world, Carter continued to promote and support human rights, including overseeing free and fair elections, advising peace negotiators, and launching the international project "Habitat for Humanity," thus establishing his name as one of the "most successful" and "most active" former presidents in U.S. history. The hostage crisis in Tehran began with the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy in Iran in February 1979, leading to the establishment of the Islamic Republic under the leadership of Ruhollah Khomeini. Amid these historical developments, Jimmy Carter's government granted political asylum to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, who was ill. In response to this approach by the U.S. President, on November 4, 1979, a radical group known as "Students Following the Line of Imam" stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 52 of its staff hostage. They demanded the extradition of the Shah and an apology from the U.S. government for its actions in Iran in exchange for the release of the hostages. However, Jimmy Carter announced that the U.S. government would "not yield to the hostage-takers," and thus, the crisis continued for 444 days. In one of his speeches at that time, Carter stated that "the protection of the lives and security of diplomats and other citizens in a foreign country is vital for the United States and all countries of the world." He also emphasized that Washington would not allow "terrorism and hostage-taking to be used to impose political demands" and that "no one should underestimate the resolve and determination of the U.S. government and people in this matter." After negotiations with Iran proved fruitless, Jimmy Carter ordered U.S. special forces to execute a military operation to rescue the American hostages. This operation tragically failed in the spring of 1980, resulting in the deaths of eight U.S. military personnel in an incident that reportedly occurred due to a "technical failure" in equipment in Tabas. In the spring of 1980, Jimmy Carter announced new sanctions against Iran in response to the hostage-taking of U.S. embassy staff in Tehran. When announcing the news of the operation's failure, Carter told the American people, "I share in the feelings of despair of the American people over the failure of the rescue operation. I also share in the sorrow of the people over the deaths of American soldiers during the effort to free their fellow citizens who had been hostages for a long time. But at the same time, I share in the pride of the commitment, courage, integrity, competence, and determination of those who went on this mission." The hostage-taking of American diplomats and what was perceived as Carter's "inability" to resolve this crisis became the main issue of the 1980 election campaign, and Ronald Reagan, a former Hollywood star who had activated the Republican Party with his mild and intelligent demeanor and promises of economic reforms, easily defeated Carter. The Islamic Republic of Iran released the American hostages on January 20, 1981 – coinciding with the day Carter left the White House and Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the new president, which some commentators and analysts interpreted as adding salt to Carter's wounds. Carter's Achievements and Legacy Throughout his political career, Carter never forgot his social and economic roots as a child of a modest, low-income family. He was born in 1924 in Georgia, in the southeastern United States. His father was a peanut farmer from a small town, and his mother was a nurse who, in the 1920s, broke racial boundaries and taboos to provide medical advice and services to Black women. After earning a master's degree in nuclear physics from the U.S. Naval Academy and working briefly on the country's nuclear submarine program, Carter returned to his family farm and turned it into a thriving peanut business. Soon after, he entered local politics, was elected to the Georgia State Senate, and served as the governor of the state from 1971 to 1975. Carter, who was relatively unknown outside his home state, took a significant step in 1976 and secured the Democratic Party's nomination for the U.S. presidency. He narrowly defeated his Republican rival Gerald Ford, as Ford was in a weak position due to the poor state of the U.S. economy, which was unprecedented since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the fallout from Richard Nixon's resignation and subsequent pardon. Carter's presidential inauguration took place in January 1977. From the outset, Carter declared that the primary mission of his presidency was to defend the global values of human rights worldwide. In one of his first speeches, he said, "I see a hopeful world; a world whose primary concern is strengthening the demand for freedoms and fundamental rights and higher standards for human life. We eagerly want to participate in shaping such a world." Although some describe Carter's presidency as a "great failure," his achievements and victories cannot be overlooked. He established and implemented a national and effective energy policy. He played a significant role in creating about eight million job opportunities, albeit at the cost of rising inflation. At the same time, he improved the performance of federal government institutions through administrative reforms. From a peacemaker in the Middle East to a supporter of human rights, Carter's most significant achievement during his presidency was the 1978 peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, signed at Camp David, the retreat and summer home of U.S. presidents. Later, Anwar Sadat, the then-President of Egypt, and Menachem Begin, the then-Prime Minister of Israel, received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to achieve this agreement. Carter's continued activities after his presidency have been praised primarily for his focus on global peace and defense of the rights and dignity of the oppressed. He initially engaged as an election observer and mediator in regional crises, and after establishing the "Carter Center" in 1982, he solidified his position as a prominent and effective advocate for human rights worldwide, which ultimately led to him receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Jimmy Carter never ceased his efforts to improve the conditions of ordinary people. Numerous images have been published showing this veteran politician participating in humanitarian projects or holding tools alongside other volunteers in various parts of the U.S. and the world to help build homes for those in need. In the final years of his life, Carter suffered from various illnesses, including melanoma – a malignant skin tumor that had spread to his brain and liver. The Carter Center announced late last February that he would no longer continue medical treatment and instead would spend the rest of his life in a small hospice set up in his home in Georgia. A few months before Jimmy Carter's death, his wife Rosalynn, who had lived with him for over 75 years, passed away on November 19, 2023, at the age of 96.