Meet Jimmy Carter’s wife, Rosalynn

Former US President Jimmy Carter became the longest-living president in history in October 2022, when he turned 98 years old.

As news spreads that the former president has decided to forego medical treatment and seek hospice care at his Georgia home, many are curious about the woman he was married to for most of his life.

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Who is Rosalynn Carter?

Rosalynn Smith Carter was born on August 18, 1927.

She was reportedly born to Jimmy Carter’s mother, meaning their lives were intertwined from birth.

Rosalynn has been a political force in her own right since 1962, when her husband was elected to the Georgia Senate.

She would go on to help him win the 1970 Georgia gubernatorial election after losing in 1966.

She started giving speeches for him, and after they won, she threw herself into the mental health cause.

She has made an effort, from volunteering with the Special Olympics to attending mental health facilities across Georgia.

She served on the Governor’s Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped and implemented many key recommendations.

Rosalynn was also a key component in Carter’s 1976 presidential bid.

She campaigned for him across the country, often all alone.

As First Lady, she often attended cabinet meetings.

She said in her memoir: “I was there to be briefed so that when I traveled around the country, which I did a great deal, and was questioned by the press and others about all areas of government, I would know what was loose.”

When did Jimmy Carter marry Rosalynn?

Rosalynn first agreed to date Carter in 1945 when Carter was attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

In 1946 she graduated from Georgia Southwestern College and agreed (after he asked her twice) to marry Carter.

The couple married in July 1946 in Plains, Georgia, where they still live.

On Sunday, February 19, 2023, the pastor of their church in Plains asked for prayers for the President and his family as he entered the hospice.

Jimmy Carter’s biographer, Jonathan Alter, said of the bond: “President Carter decided that he didn’t want to spend the rest of his time away from Rosalynn, and of course when he was in the hospital she couldn’t stay there with him, so he decided.” just that he would spend all the rest of his time with her.”

“They have been married for almost 77 years. They’ve known each other since they were born.”

“She was delivered by Jimmy Carter’s mother.”

“So they’ve known each other for more than 95 years and they have a connection that’s just extraordinary and will last forever.”

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Who are Jimmy Carter’s children?

Jimmy and Rosalynn have four children together.

Their four children are sons John William “Jack”, James Earl “Chip”, Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff” and daughter Amy Carter.

Between the four children they also share 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Most of their children and grandchildren were involved in politics in some way, either at the local or state level.