Not Only a Global Power Couple, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were also Best Friends and Life Partners.

Remembering the Timeless Love Story of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter

As a future U.S. president, Jimmy Carter had his first encounter with a newborn Rosalynn, his life partner and future first lady, when he was not much older himself. Their chance meeting in Plains, Georgia, evolved into a powerful partnership, building a rich legacy that includes triumphs in the Georgia governor’s office, the White House, and four decades of global humanitarianism.

On November 19, Rosalynn Carter passed away at 96, leaving behind her beloved husband, Jimmy Carter, the 39th president who is currently 99 and in hospice care. Throughout their life together, the couple had always been each other’s best friends and confidants.

“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Jimmy Carter acknowledged in a statement released by The Carter Center, which the couple co-founded in 1982 after leaving Washington. “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.”

Rosalynn Carter: A Fierce and Independent Political Ally

In their political journey, Rosalynn Carter campaigned independently from her husband to maximize their reach. She served as an official diplomat during his presidency, attended Cabinet meetings, and engaged in efforts to build The Carter Center in Atlanta after their stint in the White House. Together, they met with world leaders, monitored elections, and fought disease in developing nations.

The couple remained close and affectionate throughout their life, reading the Bible together every night and often holding hands, whether at home, in church, or in public.

A Love Story That Began with a Picture

Rosalynn first fell in love with Jimmy’s picture hanging on his sister’s bedroom wall. During the summer of 1945, when he returned home from the U.S. Naval Academy, Ruth Carter persuaded her brother to go on a date with Rosalynn. The morning after their first date, Jimmy announced to his mother his intention to marry Rosalynn Smith.

They tied the knot on July 7, 1946, and embarked on their life journey together. When Carter Sr. passed away in 1953, the couple moved back to Georgia, where they started managing their peanut farming operation together.

A Bond Forged Through Mutual Respect and Healthy Competition

Jimmy and Rosalynn’s relationship thrived on mutual respect and a friendly sense of competition. They often raced to finish their latest books, and kept score as they fished.

Eventually, this competitiveness evolved into mutual care as the couple entered their nineties. The couple’s son, Chip Carter, shared that in Rosalynn’s final days, Jimmy asked to be alone with her. He stayed by her side until the end.

“They were never alone, really, during their time on this earth,” noted their grandson, Jason Carter. “They always had each other.”