I Was Thinking About…Rosalynn Carter
By Andy Lee
I was thinking about…Rosalynn Carter, an American treasure.
The recent passing of Rosalynn Carter at the age of 96 marked the end of a beautiful lifelong love story that spanned over seven decades. Believe it or not, she and her beloved husband Jimmy first met when he was just 3 years old and she was only 1 day old. Their mothers were friends in their tiny hometown of Plains, Georgia. Who could have guessed that these two toddlers would go on to share the longest marriage in presidential history?
“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” the former president wrote in a statement after her passing. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it.”
“As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me,” he added.
Jimmy and Rosalynn grew up just 3 miles apart in rural Georgia. Jimmy’s mother was a nurse who helped care for little Rosalynn. In their small town with few boys around, Rosalynn became best friends with Jimmy’s younger sister Ruth.
Though they were acquainted as children, it wasn’t until 1945 that 19-year-old Rosalynn and 20-year-old Jimmy went on their first date. Jimmy later said he knew right away after that initial date that Rosalynn was the one he wanted to marry.
“I thought he was the most handsome young man I had ever seen,” Rosalynn later wrote in her memoir, First Lady from Plains. She admitted that she had conspired unsuccessfully for years to try to get Jimmy to notice her.
It wasn’t until that fateful date in 1945, while Jimmy was home from the U.S. Naval Academy and Rosalynn had just finished her first year of college, that romance finally sparked between the two Plains natives.
Though they couldn’t recall what movie they saw on their first date, Jimmy always remembered that Rosalynn looked beautiful, shy, and intelligent that night. He captured his memory of falling in love with her in a poem published in his 1995 book, Always a Reckoning:
“I’d pay to sit behind her, blind to what was on the screen, and watch the image flicker upon her hair.”
The morning after their first date, smitten Jimmy told his mother that Rosalynn was the girl he wanted to marry. A few months later, he proposed. But independent-minded Rosalynn said no—she had promised her father on his deathbed that she wouldn’t marry until finishing college.
Rosalynn continued dating other young men while pursuing her degree. But Jimmy was persistent, writing her letters and calling to assure her he was serious about marriage. By the summer, with graduation behind her, Rosalynn accepted his proposal at last. They married on July 7, 1946, and never looked back.
From the very beginning, theirs was a full partnership built on mutual respect. Jimmy credited Rosalynn for her key role in his successful political career, saying he wouldn’t have made it to the Georgia State Senate or the Governor’s mansion without her. When Jimmy decided to run for President, Rosalynn was right by his side every step of the way. She was deeply involved in his campaign and later served as an active First Lady, sitting in on Cabinet meetings and acting as an advisor.
After leaving the White House, the Carters returned to their modest roots in Plains, eschewing the lucrative corporate boards and speaker fees that have enriched other former presidents. Instead, they dedicated their lives to charity, volunteer work, and causes like Habitat for Humanity. The Carter Center, which they established in 1982, has monitored elections, negotiated peace deals, and worked to eradicate diseases in developing countries.
The couple famously built houses for Habitat for Humanity well into their 90s. Jimmy, known for his boundless energy even well into his 90s, said his stamina was thanks to his lifelong partnership with Rosalynn. Their shared hobbies like tennis, skiing, and fly fishing kept them active and young at heart.
In more recent years, as their health declined, Jimmy and Rosalynn looked after each other devotedly. Rosalynn was a constant companion as Jimmy entered hospice care in February 2022. And Jimmy was holding Rosalynn’s hand when she passed away in November 2022 at the age of 96.
Their life together wasn’t without challenges. Rosalynn resented Jimmy’s decision to move the family back to Plains without consulting her after his failed reelection bid in 1980. But their commitment to each other endured. On their 75th wedding anniversary, a frail Jimmy told reporters that the secret to the longevity of their marriage was simple: “I married the right person.”
Jimmy and Rosalynn leave behind an inspiring legacy of lifetime commitment, selfless public service, and simple living. In a country where half of marriages end in divorce, they showed us that true partnership takes work, mutual caretaking, and never forgetting your vows. Jimmy said Rosalynn was his equal partner in everything he ever accomplished. Clearly, she was his as well.
This humble, loving couple from small-town Georgia lived their values and made an enormous impact on the world. The Carter Center alone has improved life for millions. But to me, their greatest accomplishment was demonstrating the transformative power of true lifelong partnership.
In his statement after Rosalynn’s passing, 98-year-old Jimmy said, “I always knew that I was the most blessed person on earth.” Truly, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were a blessing to each other, and to us all. Their extraordinary 77-year love story that began when they were toddlers in Plains is an American treasure.
Stay curious, keep exploring! 😊
I was thinking about... 