Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th President of the United States between 1977 and 1981, and his wife of over seven decades, Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, are a synonym for a happy marriage. In fact, the couple are recognized as the longest living presidential couple in the history of the country.
So what makes the relationship between these two so special?
The Carters first met when they were both very young. Jimmy was taking a break from the Naval Academy when he first laid eyes on Roselynn. Both felt like they were meant to be and went on a date. “She was beautiful and innocent, and there was a resonance,” he told People of meeting the love of his life.
However, as she was still in college at the time, her father made her promise him on his deathbed that she wouldn’t get married before she finishes school. Roselynn made sure she kept the promise and only married Jimmy after graduation, when she was 18 and he was 21.
During his presidency, Roselynn wasn’t just a First Lady, but she was her husband’s closest advisor and stood by his side supporting every decision he made as a head of the country.
After leaving the White House, the Carters returned to live in their family house in Plains, Georgia. The house, which according to Zillow is valued at $209,996, was built in 1961, when the Carters welcomed their fourth child in their lives and needed a bigger place. The couple have always led a quite and a very simple life.
He never took any advantage of post-presidential popularity and was reported saying: “I don’t see anything wrong with it; I don’t blame other people for doing it. It just never had been my ambition to be rich.”
Recently, Jimmy and Roselynn celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary and many couldn’t help but wonder how they stayed together for so long. For the former President, the secret is very simple, “We’ve just grown closer and closer together,” he says.
“Jimmy and I are always looking for things to do together.” Rosalynn shared with CBS 42. “Each [person] should have some space. That’s really important.”
“I’ve been very happy,” Jimmy said. “And I love her more now than I did to begin with — which is saying a lot, because I loved her a lot.”
Yay! It’s #NationalRelaxationDay!
President and Mrs. Carter catch some rest after rafting the Salmon River in Idaho during a vacation trip 8/19/78 NAID 180894#Napping #CarterLibrary #PresidentialLibrary pic.twitter.com/Ao2ZRnKV2V
— Jimmy Carter Presidential Library (@CarterLibrary) August 15, 2022
As the couple tend to spend their days in the comfort of their home and don’t go out much, every time they are spotted out in the public is a great news for the media. This week, the two were among people for more than an hour at the unveiling of a giant butterfly statue to honor First Lady Rosalynn’s 95th birthday.
The statue, dedicated by the Friends of the Carter’s group, has eight limbs and 18 butterflies that hover over the greenery and is located in the field next to the home where Rosalynn grew up. It is now part of the Rosalynn Carter Children’s garden.
In October of this year, Jimmy will also reach an important milestone. He will be 98.
“He reads his Bible every day, is engaged in family meetings and chimes in on decisions related to the Carter Center in Atlanta,” said Tim Buchanan, with the Friends of the Carters organization.
We are so glad that even during their golden years, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter live their lives to the fullest.
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