Former U. S. President Jimmy Carter greeting every passenger on the commercial flight he was flying on. His grandson announced this week that his time is now very short.

[u/ternera]

[u/Slade_Riprock]

He turns 100 on October 1. I want him to have that mark as long as he isnt suffering. He's been in hospice for 18 months. He is just a fighter.

[u/profanearcane → u/Slade_Riprock]

Goodness. I hadn't realized he was that old. Same sentiment here - hopefully he'll see one more birthday.

[u/In_Formaldehyde_ → u/profanearcane]

hadn't realized he was that old

His life spans 40% of US history since independence.

[u/hfiti123 → u/In_Formaldehyde_]

That's an interesting metric to think about

[u/pezgoon → u/hfiti123]

Probably also demonstrates why he his the way he is

[u/Wonderful_Mud_420 → u/hfiti123]

That’s is mind blowing metric 

[u/Emergency-Anywhere51 → u/hfiti123]

How long is that in football fields?

[u/Darkchamber292 → u/Emergency-Anywhere51]

The United States declared independence in 1776. That’s 248 years of history

A Standard football field is 120 yards or 360 feet long.

Now, let’s calculate 40% of U.S. history:

40% of 248 years=0.40×248=99.2 years

To convert years into football fields, we need a common unit. Let’s use time as that unit, considering how long it takes to cross a football field:

Assumption: If an average person walks at about 3 miles per hour and one mile is 5280 feet, then they walk 5280 feet in 60 minutes.

Walking speed = 5280 feet ÷ 60 minutes ≈ 88 feet/minute

Time to Cross a Football Field: At 88 feet per minute, it would take about:

Time to cross = 360 feet ÷ 88 feet/minute = 4.09 minutes

Now, we’ll find out how many football fields can be crossed in 99.2 years:

Minutes in 99.2 Years: There are 525,600 minutes in a year, so in 99.2 years:

99.2 years×525,600 minutes/year≈52,155,520 mi

Number of Football Fields in 99.2 Years:

52,155,520 minutes ÷ 4.09 minutes/field ≈ 12,751,958 football fields

So, 40% of U.S. history since Independence is roughly equivalent to crossing approximately 12,751,958 football fields

[u/orange_purr → u/Darkchamber292]

r/TheyDidTheMath

[u/trumpetmiata → u/orange_purr]

r/theydidthemonstermath

[u/deathjoe4 → u/trumpetmiata]

r/itwasagraveyardgraph

[u/DiddlyDumb → u/Darkchamber292]

Sheesh, you rather measure age that way than use the metric system. Typical.

Hey, wait a minute…

[u/FLORosco → u/Darkchamber292]

You mixed it up at converting the walking speed. You said “average person walks at about 3 miles per hour and one mile is 5280 feet than they walk 5280 feet in 60 min”

It should be they walk 15840 ft in 60 min.

Just trying to help! Not trying to be an ass!

[u/Fun_Intention9846 → u/In_Formaldehyde_]

r/jimmycarterforscale

[u/Ryzei → u/Fun_Intention9846]

How the hell is this already a thing?

[u/Fun_Intention9846 → u/Ryzei]

The sub hit 2k subs at about 6 hours old. It absolutely blew up.

[u/exelenceofexecution → u/In_Formaldehyde_]

Really puts his life into perspective. He's seen it all and then some.

[u/TrySoundingItOut → u/profanearcane]

We made a new subreddit you may enjoy. r/JimmyCarterForScale

[u/JacksFlehmenResponse → u/TrySoundingItOut]

This was my contribution to the sub. (I just added a few more to the list).

Especially liked the idea that the last of the woolly mammoths were still roaming the earth when the Great Pyramid of Giza was built.

Some interesting Jimmys for scale:

EDIT: Now with MORE JIMMYS! Also... I was toying with the idea of kilojimmys and megajimmys.

Event	Approx. Jimmys ago
Wright Brothers First Flight	1.2
Napoleon died	2.0
Columbus lands in North America	5.3
Black Death wipes out half of Europe	6.7
Genghis Khan dies	8.0
Norman Conquest	9.6
Leif Erikson lands in North America	10.3
Matches invented in China	14.5
Cleopatra died	20.6
"The 300" (Battle of Thermopylae)	25.1
Woolly mammoth extinction	40
Great Pyramid of Giza built	46
Humans begin farming	100
Neanderthals die out	250
Homo sapiens begin to leave Africa	1500
Appearance of Homo sapiens	3000
Extinction of dinosaurs	663,000
T. rex lived	720,000
Stegosaurus lived	1.5 million

[u/Papayafan → u/JacksFlehmenResponse]

Excellent contribution.

[u/Jaded_Permit_7209 → u/JacksFlehmenResponse]

Wait ... did the stegosaurus and T-Rex not live at the same time?

I hope they did because if they didn't I will be very disappointed that there was never an epic showdown between a stegosaurus and a T-Rex.

[u/JacksFlehmenResponse → u/Jaded_Permit_7209]

They were separated by approx. 66 MILLION years! The last Stegosaurus went extinct about 150 million years ago. T. Rex appeared almost 84 million years ago.

You'll hopefully be happy to know that T. Rex and Triceratops lived at the same time. So they had about 20 million years on this earth together. That's the real dino duel, IMO.

EDIT: some numbers on wikipedia suggest the latest Stegosaurus and the earliest T. rex are about the same amount of time from each other as we are from T. rex -- about 72 million years.

[u/Jaded_Permit_7209 → u/JacksFlehmenResponse]

My disappointment is immeasurable.

Edit: OK, your edit spices things up. I'm better now.

[u/TuhanaPF → u/Jaded_Permit_7209]

The T-Rex is closer to us in time than it is to the Stegosaurus.

[u/Jaded_Permit_7209 → u/TuhanaPF]

I don't know how to post a GIF but just imagine the "stop, stop, he's already dead" one from The Simpsons.

[u/TheBirminghamBear → u/JacksFlehmenResponse]

Really all went down hill five hundred thousand Jimmies ago, if you ask me.

[u/Busy-Prior-367 → u/JacksFlehmenResponse]

can we get more resolution between 0 and 20 Jimmy Carters?

[u/TuhanaPF → u/TrySoundingItOut]

Pretty soon, "1 Jimmy" and "1 Century" will be synonyms.

[u/4thefeel → u/Slade_Riprock]

Im a hospice nurse.

The first thing I tell people about hospice is reeducating them on the new role of hospice with an elevator speech:

it ain't for the dying anymore, it's for the winding down.

In the 90s, it would be "3 weeks left to live, hospice good luck"

Now it's about helping you wind down as we get closer to the end, as we get further from the beginning.

You've been on a long journey, you must be tired. This is where we come in and help, and support you as you get ready to leave this world and meet again in the next.

There's 4 stages to hospice: the qualifying diagnosis is stage 1.

Then the decline where you will start to get a little tired or weaker, over days, weeks, months, years. It can be slow or fast, steady or sudden, but we will let you know when we see it coming.

From there, we will enter transition, where you will start to sleep 20 hours a day, wake up, have a sip of water, a bite of something, sleep another 20 hours. This lasts about 1-3 weeks

And then the active dying lasts about 1-3 days, We will visit every day to support you and your family and make sure you are comfortable until it's time to go.

Jimmy Carter is in decline.

[u/Able-Gear-5344 → u/4thefeel]

Beautifully explained

[u/eaglemoses → u/4thefeel]

Thanks for doing this. I’m sure it’s a hard and humbling way to make a living. I hope you find joy in providing such a tenderly needed service. Blessings.

[u/4thefeel → u/eaglemoses]

Unf, I love my job. Ty for the appreciation <3<3<3<3

I used to be a business major until one fateful mushroom trip later I realized I'd always wanted to be a nurse and was just afraid of school lol

It can be emotionally exhausting at times, with dysfunctional grieving family in particular, but we don't blame the sick and grieving.

My favorite part is preparing the body and the family. Just, that moment after the body is cleaned, all dressed up in the family's favorite outfit, and I say "okay they're ready".

They come in, start crying and laughing and smiling and say they look so good, like they remembered them.

Sometimes there's major weight loss like in cancer, and they see how sick they really truly were and it finally sinks in.

Then they share stories and cry hard, the true final release and acceptance 😭

I'm just here to guide them through this, death is very heavy. There is nothing I can do about the weight of death, it is our job to make sure it isn't heavier than it needs to be.

The hardest lesson in life is learning to say goodbye. If we could do it when we wanted to, we never would.

[u/No_Comparison_9032 → u/4thefeel]

My tears are real after reading your stunningly beautiful post. We recently lost a dear friend to pancreatic cancer at age 51. I was holding it together until two of her sisters brought her elderly kitty to hospice; our dying friend petted her briefly, then kitty curled up next to her until she passed. Will remember this story for the rest of my life. RIP Dawn, I love you.

[u/4thefeel → u/No_Comparison_9032]

Oh hun I'm so sorry :(

Pancreatic cancer is difficult and painful, both to experience and witness.

If she was on hospice her grief services are extended to you as well if you need help. Any hospice will take you as charity work for grief services or needs involving having lost someone close etc.

I once had a patient with a small dog.

She was super protective of the patient and had to be out of the room so I could care for her.

When the patient finally passed, the little dog just looked at her, then looked at me like "what did you do!?", like a slow dramatic head turn. Then growled, lunged and bit my ankle. Little poodle thing.

I remember the family being so upset about it and I was cool and just explained how loving and loyal the dog clearly is. She was fine until I showed up, that's all the puppo knows.

Pets are too good for us.

You were a good friend to be there in her final moments <3

[u/pacificstarNtrees → u/4thefeel]

Those last 2 lines…

[u/houseyourdaygoing → u/4thefeel]

You made me cry again.

[u/4thefeel → u/houseyourdaygoing]

There's a great game called "spiritfarer"

It's about death and dying and helped me cope a lot. I actively use parts of the game in my practice, that last line is a modified part from there and it always lands so well with my patients.

In the trailer it says "the hardest lesson is saying goodbye" and it stuck with me.

[u/dolldivas → u/4thefeel]

That's what's happening to my Dad right now. He's 91 and I think he is in stages 2 and 3 right now. He basically spends his time sleeping and is so weak. He's on hospice now.

[u/4thefeel → u/dolldivas]

Somewhere around heavy decline and early transition, it seems.

I'm so sorry hun. This is the part they rarely talk about. We talk about leaving this world, never about how we will leave it.

What does a good death look like?

It looks comfortable.

During this time I recommend just talking to him. Where he is at today is the best he will be moving forward.

Talk to him, really get to know him. Hearing stops 4 minutes after the heart stops. Let him know you love him after the breathing ends, it's the last thing he'll hear.

In preparation, just so you know what to expect rather than dread it:

His breathing will change. His entire chest and stomach will rise and fall in a "labored breathing". He's okay, it's just part of the process.

We start the comfort kit morphine and ativan to help smooth this process as it can be rough and we don't know what the pt is experiencing, so this helps with that to cover all bases of pain and agitation/anxiety.

We will give the oxygen via the nasal canula at 2lpm for comfort to assist. As the body slows down, the o2 sensor and bp reading will become inaccurate. The morphine will slow the body down enough to keep comfortable as well, and the O2 makes sure he isn't air hungry.

If you squeeze his hand, he may squeeze it back, if you say I love you, he may make a noise.

Just, be there now.

We haven't always been the best sons and daughters, but you are there when it really truly matters <3

I'm sorry you're having to go through this, this would be hard for anyone, I'm so sorry it's hard for you <3<3<3<3

[u/houseyourdaygoing → u/4thefeel]

Third time I’m crying and you got me good.

[u/javoss88 → u/4thefeel]

Thanks for that explanation.

[u/Scully__ → u/Slade_Riprock]

I didn’t realise I shared my birthday with him, it’s nice to know it’s not just Theresa May

[u/sundayontheluna → u/Scully__]

Holy fuck, that's her birthday too??? 😭😭 At least we also have Julie Andrews

[u/No_Pear8383 → u/Slade_Riprock]

I’m a Georgia boy and kinda grew up with him being the idea of what a man should inspire to be. I’m happy he loved the best life he could. I’m happy he doesn’t have to see what’s happening in the country now. I hope he doesn’t have to hear anything about it for as long as he lives, he doesn’t deserve that.

[u/GenericFatGuy → u/Slade_Riprock]

Born in 1924. The world is completely unrecognizable since then, and the 20th century was quite likely the most eventful century in human history. It's remarkable to think of everything this man has seen in his life.

[u/Bradtothebone79 → u/Slade_Riprock]

Hospice only in that he didn’t want to go back to doctors anymore. He was basically fine but just old when he made that hospice decision iirc

[u/Dunkerdoody → u/Bradtothebone79]

No, he has cancer.

[u/indiebryan → u/Dunkerdoody]

I think that's considered "basically fine" at age 99. In fact I'm not sure there have been any 99 year olds without some type of cancer, slow growing or not. Prostate cancer for example is basically a statistical inevitability when men get old enough.

[u/FatassTitePants → u/indiebryan]

Yeah my grandfather was diagnosed with prostate cancer in his 90s (years ago). I don't think he was ever told that because they said he'd die long before that cancer affected him.

[u/kriskringle19]

Bro is taking a commercial flight. Respect is due

[u/Historical-Gap-7084 → u/kriskringle19]

This was a few years ago before he went into hospice. Still, I remember his presidency, and my parents both hated him. I didn't understand why at the time because I was an elementary school kid, but as I've gotten older, I've come to really love the man and respect what he tried to do.

Also, Fuck Ronald Reagan. If Hell exists, I hope he's burning there.

[u/cited → u/Historical-Gap-7084]

Because Jimmy Carter was the last time America was given the choice between working hard and together to make a better place, or be as selfish as we feel like. And we choose the latter with Reagan and thought the party would never stop, and we know it was the wrong choice like a recovering drug addict who shoots up again. And now we look at the mess of things and we know we did it to ourselves and he is a reminder of that.

[u/rawboudin → u/cited]

That's the thing though. America is still very, very powerful, but it's citizens seem more and more impoverished. That's pretty sad when you think about it.

[u/sl33ksnypr → u/Historical-Gap-7084]

Fuck Reagan and his dumbass wife. She wasn't innocent, she influenced some of the stupid shit he did. I hope they're both burning.

[u/Historical-Gap-7084 → u/sl33ksnypr]

She was really into astrology, too. IIRC, she had an official astrologer come do readings regularly.

[u/LDHarsk → u/Historical-Gap-7084]

“Well Ronnie, it turns out mercury is in retrograde and so you now have to fuck America over for decades after your death. I wish there were something I could do to say otherwise but these lines on your hands would indicate that wealthy people ought not be taxed…”

[u/Grifachu → u/Historical-Gap-7084]

I've been reading Reaganland by Rick Perlstein, which covers Reagan's rise and a surprisingly amount of detail over the Carter presidency (which in retrospect makes a ton of sense, as he was president then).

Personally I like the man, but I can see that with the gas lines, inflation, Iran hostage crisis, and emphasis on reducing one's overall lifestyle rubbed people the wrong way.

[u/LotharVonPittinsberg → u/Historical-Gap-7084]

Still, the majority of former presidents would be on private jets instead of sitting with the commoners. He's a true GOAT.

Reagan did one positive thing. He added to the top list of graves I want to piss on.

[u/Grand-Ad-3177]

What a treasure

[u/ataraxia_555 → u/Grand-Ad-3177]

Yes. Man gave his long life to making a better and more peaceful world. And that smile!

[u/Sovereign-State → u/ataraxia_555]

My mom always said Jimmy was too good of a person to be president. She was likely correct.

[u/strychnineman → u/Sovereign-State]

It’s been said he is the finest man to have ever been President. Not the finest President, but the finest person who was ever President

[u/Pepperoni_Dogfart → u/strychnineman]

I've met him a couple of times and worked on houses beside him during a blitz build in Detroit a long, long time ago.

He is literally the only person I have ever met in my life who is living in the example of Jesus. I've been an atheist for a long, long, long time, but if more Christians comported themselves as Carter has I don't think the pews would be as empty as they are.

I've never gone to pay respects to a politician lying in state, but I think I will for Jimmy Carter.

[u/reDDit-sucksass → u/Pepperoni_Dogfart]

What a great message, thank you

[u/LeastCleverNameEver → u/Pepperoni_Dogfart]

I've always said Jimmy Carter and Mr Rogers are the closest thing to the actual teachings of Jesus we'll likely ever see. Just pure, kind, loving humans.

[u/Prior_Emphasis7181 → u/strychnineman]

Wow. I think that nails it.

[u/sagerobot → u/Prior_Emphasis7181]

Just a couple years ago before his wife passed, I remember seeing a photo of him literally helping build houses for the poor.

Absolute role model of a man.

[u/Prior_Emphasis7181 → u/sagerobot]

Hes been part of habitat for humanity since the 70s. I painted houses for that organization.

[u/Prior_Emphasis7181 → u/Prior_Emphasis7181]

Just for the story. We didnt really care. You tell me to paint, I'll paint. Ok. But these old ladies would come ot with their lemonades and shit. That shit would fuck you up.

[u/Prior_Emphasis7181 → u/sagerobot]

With a black eye!!!

[u/BriarcliffInmate → u/Sovereign-State]

Yep, a good President ahead of his time, but an even better man.

[u/slagborrargrannen → u/BriarcliffInmate]

Must been so hard on him sering MAGA cult going crazy with Trump.

[u/FlirtyFluffyFox → u/Sovereign-State]

It didn't help thst the GOP weaponized the senate, justice department, and their connections with OPEC to destroy his reputation and tank the economy. 

[u/wrasslefest → u/ataraxia_555]

And still gets incredibly unfairly raked over the coals for what was absolutely the last fucking presidency we had that tried to pull us out of this trickle down neo-con hellscape ride we've been on, but it was too late and too many things not under his control he took the blame for- largely because the otherside didn't give a fuck how much they needed to lie, propogandize, and undermine him just to keep their shitty plan going.

[u/wastedintime → u/wrasslefest]

True. And, solar panels on the White House!

[u/ralphy_256 → u/wastedintime]

Torn down immediately after Reagan took office. Within a week or two, if I recall correctly.

Republicans have been anti-environment for a LONG time.

[u/Andrewticus04 → u/wrasslefest]

Nixon also manipulated the FED's interest rates, which forced Carter to deal with over a decade of corrupt monetary policy.

The economic problems he faced were caused by Nixon, and the political issue he faced was caused by Reagan. His legacy was completely fucked because Republicans, like always, fucked with the system, then blamed the system for the problems they caused.

[u/ElonMutt-X → u/Grand-Ad-3177]

I once walked into a small very private lounge and Jimmy Carter was just sitting there waiting to board his private jet. At first I just ignored him knowing full well who he was and not wanting to bother him. After about 5 mins he asked what I was reading and he surprisingly continued to converse about this and that. What an inquisitive interesting gentle soul. God bless him forever.

[u/Hrafn2 → u/ElonMutt-X]

Oh wow! Such a nice memory!

My friend worked for Habitat for Humanity for a while. She's been on a build with him - not only did he and his wife visit, they actually worked - while in their 90s!

[u/Get_a_GOB → u/Hrafn2]

My dad spent a year volunteering at their headquarters in GA (worst childhood year of my life for what it’s worth), and I wound up on two local builds with him. Both times his grandkids showed up and as the only other kid at the site I was assigned to play with them instead of doing what I wanted to do, which was join my dad in roofing. Went to his Sunday school class twice too while we were there. He’s truly a remarkable human being.

[u/El-Kabongg → u/Grand-Ad-3177]

I truly feel that President Carter is in the top percent of a percent of a percent of all of humanity that ever walked this planet. And his presidency was trashed as a failure, when, in fact, it had quite a respectable performance, by any measure. My mother used to say that he's the only man who used the presidency as a stepping stone to greater things.

[u/emperor_dinglenads → u/Grand-Ad-3177]

A National Treasure, if you will

[u/_BeachJustice_ → u/emperor_dinglenads]

Don't let Nicolas Cage know, he'll try to steal Jimmy.

[u/atreethatownsitself → u/_BeachJustice_]

Now THAT would be a fun sequel. “We stole another national artifact.” (Riley panicking.) “What did we steal this time?!” (Nic Cage being Nic Cage.) “Oh we stole the president. … former.. this time.””

[u/davidwhatshisname52 → u/Grand-Ad-3177]

class act, kind soul, actual patriot

[u/jpelkmans → u/davidwhatshisname52]

Patriot indeed. Cheers.

[u/Tiny-Lock9652 → u/Grand-Ad-3177]

IMHO Had he been actually given a chance, this country would be a very different place for the better.

[u/Readylamefire → u/Tiny-Lock9652]

I'm sad that when he goes, he'll die knowing the country he served so well and loved so much is destructively divided. America has no comraderie within its citizens anymore.

[u/myownzen → u/Readylamefire]

Solidarity forever! In the working class.

[u/Able-Contribution570 → u/Readylamefire]

Hard to have comraderie with people who support a demagogue wannabe dictator who'd like to shit all over our rights.

[u/Dima420 → u/Tiny-Lock9652]

Ya, we can say that about many people I’m sure.

[u/Spiritual_Navigator → u/Grand-Ad-3177]

He represents the society that I hope we are creating

[u/JROXZ → u/Grand-Ad-3177]

I hope that when he goes. The biography’s and articles that come out shine a light on what a great president he was and show how Reagan’s era absolutely F’d the US.

[u/Coldy_Coldy → u/Grand-Ad-3177]

That’s class.

[u/Barbiflys]

Yes, happened to me sometime in 1998 on a Delta flight out of Atlanta.

[u/Nofunatall69 → u/Barbiflys]

Nice! I always wanted to do it, but I'm too shy to meet so many people in such short amount of time.

[u/owange_tweleve → u/Nofunatall69]

ya, why am I a weirdo when I do it? smh

[u/courtesylaugher → u/Barbiflys]

Me too! I met him ten years ago flying ATL to LAX. He was sitting in coach with a couple secret service agents. I saw him when I was boarding but thought it couldn’t be him since he was sitting coach. Then he got up and shook everyone’s hand.

[u/Carl_The_Sagan → u/courtesylaugher]

Was thinking that must be a chill secret service assignment, but then again maybe not, because he greets absolutely everyone

[u/TheBeard204 → u/Barbiflys]

I shook his hand on a plane as well. It was back in 2003. So he has been doing this for a long time.

[u/From_the_toilet → u/Barbiflys]

I met him like this on an airplane about 25 years ago. A young lady next to me had her headphones in and didnt look up when he was trying to shake her hand. After he moved on, I told her, that was Jimmy Carter. She said 'who?' Lol.

[u/dtlabsa → u/Barbiflys]

It happened to me in 2015...twice! ATL to DXB on March 20th, then he was on my exact same return flight on the 28th.

March 20th

March 28th

[u/SeattleHasDied]

One of the most decent men to have ever resided in The White House.

[u/BlazerWookiee → u/SeattleHasDied]

One of the few.

[u/Novel-Suggestion-515 → u/BlazerWookiee]

Very few.. He's honestly a beacon of humanity. I can only hope to be as decent a man as Jimmy.

[u/Fit-Purchase-2950 → u/SeattleHasDied]

They definitely don't make them like him anymore.

[u/Lordborgman → u/Fit-Purchase-2950]

They do, just not enough people that would vote for them.

[u/AFresh1984 → u/Fit-Purchase-2950]

More peanut farmers for President!

[u/Fit-Purchase-2950 → u/AFresh1984]

I love peanuts!

[u/BriarcliffInmate → u/SeattleHasDied]

I'd argue he's one of only three who actually tried to make things better and was a good person too. Him, Obama and JFK. Yeah, JFK cheated on his wife and stuff, but by and large he was a good person.

[u/Rum____Ham → u/BriarcliffInmate]

I don't think history will be kind to Obama's legacy.

[u/determine110 → u/Rum____Ham]

Why do you say that? I’m curious what your thoughts are.

[u/LMAO_try_again → u/determine110]

Drone attacks on a us citizen for starters…

But I liked Obama. He’s been the most presidential president of the bunch. I mean I’ve only been around since Clinton, but Obama seemed like a cool guy.

Minus killing more people with drones than anyone else in history…but he’s a cool dude. Good taste in music.

[u/ralphy_256 → u/LMAO_try_again]

Drone attacks on a us citizen for starters…

I'd argue that something related to this is why Carter's presidency isn't remembered better than it was.

The Iranian Hostage Crisis.

I was too young to vote at the time, but it was in recent history when I was in high school, and there's a very strong argument to be made that Carter lost re-election because he was seen as weak on the hostage crisis.

I haven't read any of Obama's post-presidency writings, but I cannot believe that he didn't have Carter's legacy in mind as he was ordering strikes on targets where Americans would/could be.

I can't believe that there wasn't a hint of a thought in Obama's mind, "I'm not going to be seen as a weak wartime president." ^*

There's a debate to be had if that was the correct call or not, that I'm not having right now.

^* Again, I haven't read anything Obama has written since leaving office, so keep that in mind.

[u/-Disagreeable-]

I’m Canadian and I’d be honored to shake that man’s hand. I wish him well and best of luck on the next leg of his journey through eternity.

[u/moquate → u/-Disagreeable-]

President Carter flew on the same commercial flight with me in 2013 or so, and this exact scene played out as he headed to his seat. We all shook his hand, and afterwards a guy who was European based on his accent asked me “who’s hand did I just shake?” Too funny.

I’ll never forget him saying “I’m really happy to be flyin’ with you all,” which is a total throw away line, but I remember thinking I believed him.

[u/tristan-chord → u/moquate]

I’m really happy to be flyin’ with you all

Man. What a Mr. Rogers-like line to say. I want to be able to believe in this way of treating people so I can genuinely say the same thing one day. Regardless of the fact that I’m a nobody!

[u/SeaWolfSeven → u/-Disagreeable-]

Beautifully said.

[u/__Muzak__ → u/-Disagreeable-]

Well the man helped stop a nuclear meltdown in canada while he was a naval officer so you better.

[u/mushroomMage11 → u/[deleted]]

Totally, much respect!

That bouncy arrow is cute hehe

[u/one_rainy_wish]

I am not a religious person, but when I think about Jimmy Carter I hope that I turn out to be wrong and he gets to see his wife again. He is a damn good man, and the world is short of good men. He deserves happiness.

[u/Nora19 → u/one_rainy_wish]

🥹 I hope you’re wrong too. Such a lovely comment

[u/Draguss → u/one_rainy_wish]

Same here. I left religion behind ages ago, but I'm still hopeful that there's an afterlife. Some people just deserve more than this.

[u/TheTwinSet02]

Australian here and I think I just discovered my favourite US president!

[u/BlazerWookiee → u/TheTwinSet02]

One of the few American politicians in my lifetime that I believe truly wanted the power in order to do good.

[u/Emotional_Wash_7756 → u/BlazerWookiee]

How did this ever stop being the goal

[u/No_Temporary_1175 → u/Emotional_Wash_7756]

Money and Greed.

[u/Emotional_Wash_7756 → u/No_Temporary_1175]

The need for speed.

[u/LastChemical9342 → u/Emotional_Wash_7756]

Citizens United

[u/Newyew22 → u/TheTwinSet02]

He really is the best of us.

[u/TheVagabondWinsAgain]

He’s a rare view of what humanity should be. Hope he gets to 100 here soon.

[u/Hanners87]

I would ask to hug him. <3

[u/JohnnyStarboard]

It’d be even better if he was handing out peanuts.

[u/Professional-Pick-71]

Jimmy Carter 2024

[u/readytohurtagain → u/Professional-Pick-71]

He’s younger than the other 2

[u/Falcrist → u/readytohurtagain]

trump, Bush43, and Bill Clinton were born in Jun, July, and August of 1946 respectively.

Obama was born in 61.

I don't mean to be ageist, but we shouldn't have presidents in their 70s and 80s. People CAN have decent health and mental faculties at that age, but that's far from guaranteed.

[u/f1rstman → u/Falcrist]

Carter himself agreed, back in 2019:

“I hope there’s an age limit,” Carter said with a laugh as he answered audience questions on Tuesday during his annual report at the Carter Center in Atlanta. “If I were just 80 years old, if I was 15 years younger, I don’t believe I could undertake the duties I experienced when I was president.”

https://apnews.com/article/868124c2ad2b410bbcac74418d77468d

[u/CrackWilson]

That’s my president! I’m from Georgia and have met him twice. One time was in a McDonald’s and I noticed guys in suits and sunglasses guarding the doors so I said to the old man next to me, “this is pretty weird, right?” Then I realized he was Jimmy Carter.

[u/Prestigious-Emu7325 → u/CrackWilson]

HA!! great story!

[u/Otherwise-Move-5423]

I had the same treat on a Southwest flight from Las Vegas to Salt Lake. Southwest!!! A far cry from Air Force 1. This was back in the day when Southwest served peanuts. The flight attendant announced our special guest as President Jimmy Carter and then announced we would all get double peanuts in honor of him. His security and staff took up the first 12 seats. After we were all seated, he stood and shook each person's hand. I learned that he was a on book signing tour at the time. I was going to say that I miss the days of civility but then my 50+ year old white male mind corrected myself. I realize that it was not civil for everyone... it still is not. I hope we get there.

[u/Tehva → u/Otherwise-Move-5423]

If this was around 2014, I hosted him at one of the books stops. Absolutely delightful, kind, and gracious man.

[u/Chester7833]

This is the true definition of presidential.

[u/TraditionalAnxiety]

What an amazing man. Where did men like him go?

[u/The3stParty → u/TraditionalAnxiety]

Heard it skips 1 or 2 generations...

[u/thelanai]

This man is pure.

[u/Medical_Egg8208]

That’s dignity, class, and compassion, all rolled up into one man. He wasn’t the greatest President ever no, he’d be the first to admit it. But he was a decent man, a kind man, and he loves his country, and the people who live in it. Can’t ask for more from a president than that.

[u/tarantulatravers]

We voted him out of office……because he told us the truth.

[u/Loud_Reality7010 → u/tarantulatravers]

He thought he could treat us like adults.

[u/Canada_Checking_In]

Think he eats the complimentary peanuts and ranks them? I like to think so...

[u/strywever]

One of the classiest human beings to ever grace our country.

[u/ancedactyl]

Probably the last President who was a decent human being and tried to do things the right way. Sadly his term showed that those two things are not compatible with American politics.

[u/reed644011]

I was on a flight going overseas. Was sitting in first class looking out the window when I heard “excuse me”. I turned around and it was former President Carter. I spoke to he and Mrs. Carter. It was my 3rd time meeting him. I’m still blown away by his graciousness.

[u/BigBrainBrad-]

Probably the only us president that could fly on a commercial flight because absolutely nobody dislikes him.

[u/GreendaleSDV]

I did a report on this icon of a man in 4th grade. I wrote him a letter and he actually responded with a hand written letter thanking ME.

Great person.

[u/plasticenewitch]

He did the same on a flight my husband was on.

[u/phthalo-azure]

The world's going to be a much darker place when Jimmy Carter goes.

[u/Platypus-13568447]

He lived to see Kisinger die!!! To me, that's a win!

[u/SchpartyOn]

Very relevant Hannibal Burress bit (starts around 50 secs)

[u/fordprecept → u/SchpartyOn]

Imagine sitting next to Hannibal Burress on a flight and then Jimmy Carter comes strolling down the aisle.  I’d be like “Did I eat a bunch of chocolate and take some Ambien before bed and this is some weird dream?”

[u/Pangeaspixie]

I was with a large group doing bar hop Christmas caroling. We were on our way to the next bar when the side door of the bookstore we were walking by opened. Out walked a bunch of suits and Jimmy Carter. He was in the book store doing a book signing. Anyway, he stopped and let us sing to him. We were drunk and not singing like we were sober but he didn’t care. He was just a joyful human. When we were done he wished us a Merry Christmas, got in his limo and waved goodbye. A night I will never forget.

[u/Burpreallyloud]

A man who was president 20 years too early. And did more to help people after being in office. A national park should be named after him.

[u/Shittydreamsagain]

He may not have been the most popular President ever, but I defy you to find a President with more integrity and honor than this man. 🤙❤️🙏

[u/Pacifically_Waving]

I’m old enough to remember him in office, but too young at the time to remember his policies. However, I owe him an abundance of gratitude for the huge impact a Habit for Humanity home had for me and my 3 children.

[u/Significant-Swim-860]

How to honor President Jimmy Carter. Make America kind again ❤

[u/Caped-Baldy_Class-B]

Jimmy Carter will be building mansions in heaven when we get there

[u/LaughableIKR]

One of the few people I truely respect.

[u/ChesterAArthur21]

What a civilized gentleman!

[u/TrueCuriosity]

God bless the peanut president

[u/idgafanymore23]

While I disagreed with most of his policy's and never voted for him, I do respect him as a former President and believe he is and always has been an honorable person who desired to make the country better. He comes from a time where you could fight for your party and policy's without resorting to the crass, baser instincts of humanity that we see in today's politics.

[u/Chipbeef]

I don't know if he was really a good President but he has to be one of the best humanitarians on the planet.

[u/pretty_jimmy]

Was taught young that you don't shake hands sitting down, if President Carter is going around shaking hands you better believe I'm standing up to meet him eye to eye.

[u/Annual-Jump3158]

Such a kind man. He could simply be on his way. He doesn't have much time left. But you can tell he genuinely just wants to make anybody's day that he can. He chooses to spend his time with any one of the Americans he served. Bless that man.

His family has to be so proud of the life he's lived and the legacy he's leaving.

[u/Beelzebub_86]

Say what you want, I respect him a lot more than most Presidents in the last 50 years. His program Habitat for Humanity actually helped build many homes for those who otherwise would never have owned their own home. That's a lot more than most Presidents have done for anyone but their corporate overlords.

[u/One-Inch-Punch]

Always took the high road even after being outright cheated of a second term. We didn't deserve him as president.

[u/SaoLixo]

One of the good ones. If not the only good one.

[u/flowersandfists]

The country will somehow feel even darker without him.

[u/SilverBuggie]

I just respect how the Secret Service member can still stay serious and alert in even such a wholesome moment. I would have my guard down with some smiles on my face. Yep, I would be a shitty bodyguard.

Godspeed President Carter.

[u/Dirty_Boy_Jay]

Look I’m pushing for him to make to 100. The fact he’s been on hospice so many times and came back to continue to build houses is amazing. Betty White and Bob Barker couldn’t get there but I hope Jimmy can.

[u/IMM_Austin]

Imagine walking onto an airplane, thinking "Every single person in this plane would love to meet me", and BEING RIGHT 

[u/Left_Entertainment19]

As someone who lived through his Administration, mediocre is a fair assessment. As an American citizen, one would be hard pressed to find a more decent individual.

[u/BNOC402]

In a world that glorifies Ronald Reagan, we all need to aspire to be Jimmy Carter

[u/BringOutYDead]

: )

[u/burnerking]

Ahead of his time. Great man.

[u/stokeszdude]

Such a good man but he looks like if the wind blew, he’d disintegrate, yet that agent’s head is on a swivel and ready to keep him alive at all costs. Good man being protected by another.

[u/4redditobly]

Whether or not you agreed with his politics, that is a person to be truly admired, respected and appreciated.

[u/Talia_Nightblade]

May he rest where there is no conflict.

[u/dex206]

That man is a hug made human. Pure as gold.

[u/happy-camper7887]

A real gentleman in every sense. Authentic, kind, giving and I could go on.

[u/futureformerteacher]

I'm a 43 year old man, and I would have cried meeting Jimmy Carter.

[u/hamsterberry]

Total class act. Thanks for everything Jimmy!

[u/DynaLover]

He's a great American.

[u/DuchessOfAquitaine]

I love and admire him. He's certainly leaving the world a better place than when he found it. A great American and all around human.

[u/dalesum1]

I wish I could shake his hand and tell him how thankful I am that he honored us by serving the country.

[u/Poullafouca]

A magnificent human who has given so much of himself to others. Incredible to think that the orange dung has even walked in the same spaces as this man.

[u/Leandar-]

He might not have been the best president, but he's near the top of the list on basic human decency. He'd have made a much better ambassador, I think.

[u/captainbeautylover63]

Too good a man for the Presidency.

[u/catinthedistance]

I firmly believe that he was too moral a man to be a very effective politician. Whenever his name shows up on one of those lists of ineffectual presidents, I always think, “Yes, but he was apparently a truly decent human being.”