Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: The Secrets of Their Long Love

There is sadness around the globe over the death of Jimmy Carter (1924-2024), who died on December 29th at the age of 100. The former US president not only shaped the world through his peace efforts, he also emphasized harmony and loyalty in his private life. He was married to his wife Rosalynn (1927-2023) for 77 years until she died in November 2023. His last public appearance was at her memorial service. He appeared with a blanket over his lap that was embroidered with the couple’s faces. The two have been close since childhood – and there is a lot to be learned from their long relationship.

The couple is said to have met shortly after Rosalynn was born. “She was delivered by Jimmy Carter’s mother, a nurse, and a few days after the baby was born, the nurse, Jimmy’s mother, Miss Lillian Carter, brought her three-year-old son over to see the baby,” biographer Jonathan Alter reported. The families were well acquainted with each other; Rosalynn became best friends with his younger sister Ruth. In 1945 he asked her out on a date at the cinema. “I just felt compatible with her,” he recalled in Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas’ book “What Makes a Marriage Last.” “She was beautiful and innocent, and there was a response. We rode in the jump seat of a Ford pickup – Ruth and her boyfriend in the front – and I kissed her on that first date. I remember it vividly.”

A year later they got married, even though she rejected his first proposal. But Carter persisted. The wedding took place on July 7, 1946 in their hometown of Plains, Georgia, where they lived until the end. The couple had three sons and a daughter. As of October 19, 2019, the Carters’ marriage was the longest in the history of American presidents.

The couple remained close, and Rosalynn Carter supported her husband first during his military career and later in politics. She advised him and he saw her as an equal partner. During his presidential campaign in the 1970s, Jimmy Carter referred to his wife as his “secret weapon.” Of course, she also stood by him when he was sworn in as the 39th President of the United States on January 20, 1977.

They were also united in their faith: the Christians were involved in the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains for decades.

The couple was known for sharing a kiss every time a so-called “kiss cam” panned on them. And that happened a lot over the years at various sporting events in their native Georgia – even in their advanced years, they still busked. The couple also enjoyed hugging each other on other dates, so there are a number of kissing pictures of the two.

Despite all the similarities and the many appearances as a double, the couple also made sure to give each other space. “We have a kind of common strategy,” the Democrat once revealed. “We give each other a lot of freedom to do our own things.” They decided early on to “give each other a lot of freedom. If Rosalynn is interested in something, she does it her own way and accepts my help when she needs it. And she gives me a lot of freedom to work on my own projects But working helps me when I need it.”

But apparently there couldn’t be too much free space either. The Carters liked to find common interests and remained active together even as they got older. So they started skiing when he was 62 years old, he said. “We started bird watching, playing tennis and fly fishing. So we have a lot of things in common that we do together.”

As harmonious as the couple presented themselves – as in other marriages, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. “We discovered a long time ago that disagreements between two strong-willed people are inevitable,” Carter said in “What Makes a Marriage Last.” However, in an interview with PBS on the occasion of their 75th wedding anniversary, he emphasized the important rule: “Before we go to bed, we try to resolve any differences of opinion. We get along and give each other a kiss and we read the Bible every night.”

Her great love probably also led to her old age, he reflected in 2019. “I think the best explanation for this is to marry the best partner: someone who cares about you, is committed and does things that challenge you and keep you alive and interested in life.” Soon the two will be united forever: Jimmy Carter will find his final resting place next to his Rosalynn under a willow tree on the edge of a pond on the property in Plains.