PLAINS, GA — Jimmy Carter, the humble peanut farmer who rose to become the 39th President of the United States — and a global symbol of cardigan diplomacy — has passed away at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy of peacemaking, energy conservation, and yes… some delightfully odd personal moments.
While Carter’s presidency was marked by crises — from gas shortages to the Iran hostage ordeal — the man himself remained an unflappable optimist who once proudly declared that Americans should turn down their thermostats and wear sweaters instead of wasting energy. The White House thermostat, in fact, was famously kept so low that aides often worked in parkas.
Carter also drew attention early in his presidency when, during a fishing trip in Georgia, he was attacked by what he described as a “swimming rabbit.” The incident, dubbed “The Killer Rabbit Attack” by the press, led to widespread amusement — though Carter insisted the rabbit was “definitely hostile.”
Ever the hands-on leader, Carter took it upon himself to personally monitor White House maintenance, often checking thermostats, turning off unused lights, and at one point, quietly ordering that wine service be cut from many official functions to save taxpayer dollars.
“He’d come in at 6 a.m., wearing a cardigan, and start adjusting the thermostats,” one former aide recalled. “He cared about energy conservation more than any politician before or since — and probably more than a few HVAC technicians.”
Beyond the quirks, Carter’s true legacy lies in his tireless efforts for peace — brokering the landmark Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, and later becoming one of the world’s most dedicated election monitors and human rights advocates. He also personally led Habitat for Humanity builds well into his 90s, once seen atop a ladder with a hammer at age 95.
As news of his passing spread, tributes poured in from around the world. “We should all hope to age with half as much dignity and twice as many cardigans,” one U.N. diplomat remarked.
In his final public statement, Carter summed up his own ethos: “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something.”
And make it count, he did — thermostats, rabbits, and all.