The Daily Populous Tuesday December 31st, 2024 evening edition
Authored by npr.org and submitted by guanaco55

Photos: Former President Carter redefined post-presidency role

Enlarge this image toggle caption Bernat Armangue/AP Bernat Armangue/AP

After leaving the Oval Office with dismal approval ratings, former President Jimmy Carter dedicated the rest of his life to public service.

Carter devoted himself to improving the health of people around the world, promoting democracy and resolving global conflicts.

In the decades that followed, Carter won the approval of the American public by rebuilding homes with Habitat for Humanity and establishing the nonprofit Carter Center, which among other work monitors international elections. Carter's additional work, including his time as a professor at Emory University, and the books he published on democracy and humanitarianism transformed him into a symbol of peace.

Carter also took on the awful Guinea worm when no one else would — and he triumphed.

We take a look through photos at some of his post-presidency achievements.

toggle caption Choo Youn-Kong/AFP via Getty Images

toggle caption Yoav Lemmer/AFP via Getty Images

Enlarge this image toggle caption Sven Creutzmann/Getty Images Sven Creutzmann/Getty Images

Enlarge this image toggle caption Erland Aas/AFP via Getty Images Erland Aas/AFP via Getty Images

toggle caption AFP via Getty Images

toggle caption Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images

Enlarge this image toggle caption Thomas Hartwell/AP Thomas Hartwell/AP

toggle caption Soe Than Win/AFP via Getty Images

nonsense39 on December 31st, 2024 at 16:50 UTC »

He was a great ex-President.

Icy-Computer-Poop on December 31st, 2024 at 16:07 UTC »

Jimmy also dedicated his life to public service while in the office of President. Problem was he told Americans they had to stop being so irresponsible and invest in energy efficiency, and stop driving pointlessly huge vehicles. Americans didn't like being told they had to be responsible, so they hated on the man.

Only reason Mr. Carter's approval ratings were so low was he expected American adults to behave with decency and to take responsibility for their own choices and actions.

wwarnout on December 31st, 2024 at 15:20 UTC »

I'd guess that his 40+ years of public service after leaving office is greater than the last 10 presidents.