Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Dies At 96

Former First Lady, mental health activist, and humanitarian Rosalynn Carter has died at the age of 96. Two days ago, The Carter Center announced she had entered hospice care after issuing a statement in May that she was battling dementia. https://twitter.com/CarterCenter/status/1726332551449723281 From the Washington Post:

The Carters had been married for more than 77 years, the longest presidential marriage in U.S. history, and spent the final months of their time together at the family home in the town of Plains, in southwest Georgia. 

During her husband’s 1976 presidential campaign, Mrs. Carter acquired the label “steel magnolia,” a reference to her soft-spoken Southern demeanor that disguised an ambitious and resolute nature.

Determined not to be relegated to a ceremonial role, she worked in the tradition of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt to make herself an extension of the president and his policies. She was the first first lady to maintain an office in the East Wing of the White House and only the second, after Roosevelt, to testify in Congress.

“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” President Carter said in a statement. “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.” She is survived by her children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy — and 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Read the full obituary at the Washington Post here. With her passing, I realize I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about her. May she rest in power. In February, former President Jimmy Carter shared the news that he had decided to end medical treatment for an aggressive form of melanoma skin cancer. He is 99 years old. https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1726386119665709170 https://twitter.com/VP/status/1726403821671199125 https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1726401261115715791 https://twitter.com/BillClinton/status/1726373257090089295 https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1726335036155187635 https://twitter.com/BeschlossDC/status/1726346227283882253

Rest in Peace, and my heart goes out to President Carter.

They made a historic couple. And were the best of Americans. pic.twitter.com/vJRz7o8aGz — Powerbeard (@thePowerbeard) November 19, 2023