When a president leaves the White House for the final time, they may be moving out of the grand ol’ house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but they may not necessarily be leaving behind the lavish lifestyle. But there’s one exception – former President Jimmy Carter.
Carter, who is currently the oldest-living former president at 98 years old, has lived a rather modest life ever since he handed over the presidency to Ronald Reagan in 1981.
After serving just one term, Carter and his wife Rosalynn, who celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary this year, moved back to the home they built in the 1960s in Plains, Georgia.
Humble Beginnings
James Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. He grew up in a small town of about 600 people, where his father was a successful businessman and investor in farmland. His mother worked as a nurse. Carter attended the local high school and dreamt of joining the military, just like his father who had served in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps during WWI.
He eventually got the opportunity to attend the Naval Academy in 1943, where he met his future wife, Rosalynn.
A Modest Home
After graduating from the Naval Academy, Carter and Rosalynn got married in 1946. They experienced a lot of moving around as Carter pursued his naval career. But as their family grew with the birth of their fourth child in 1967, they decided to settle down and build a ranch-style house in Plains, Georgia. This house became their perfect home before, during, and after Carter’s involvement in politics.
Staying True to His Roots
When Carter left the White House, he didn’t rush to sign book deals or move into a new luxurious home. Instead, he went back to his hometown of Plains, Georgia. He chose not to capitalize financially on being in the White House, unlike some of his predecessors.
Carter’s main source of income comes from the more than two dozen books he’s written throughout the years and his annual pension of $217,000. With this income, he and Rosalynn are able to live a comfortable life. But they still choose to stay humble and modest.
Living a Modest Life
Carter’s choice to live modestly is evident in his lifestyle. He purchases his clothes at the local Dollar General and often flies commercial instead of private when he travels. He believes that being rich was never his ambition, and he doesn’t see anything wrong with others taking advantage of post-presidential popularity.
While his successors have joined advisory boards, Carter has contributed to his community in other ways. He has been a teacher at Emory University, taught Sunday school at his local church, and dedicated his time to Habitat for Humanity, helping renovate 4,300 houses in 14 countries.
A Return to Small Town Living
Despite experiencing a grandiose life for four years, Carter returned to his roots to live out the rest of his life. He and Rosalynn feel at home in Plains, Georgia, and they are grateful for the support of their community.
Will we ever see another former president embrace small-town living? Only time will tell. But it’s heartwarming to see someone like Jimmy Carter return to their roots and use their influence to continue helping their community. Jimmy Carter continues to be an inspiration to us all.
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