An important anniversary was recently observed by activist Rosalynn Carter and her husband, former politician Jimmy Carter, whom she has been married to for the last seven decades. Once upon a time, the pair discussed intimate details of their marriage, which went on to make history.
According to People, on August 18, 2022, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Carter celebrated her 95th birthday in Plains, Georgia, her birthplace. She was born on August 18th.
A spokesman for the Carter Center had previously disclosed that the aforementioned celebration will be a low-key affair with her husband, the former President of the United States Jimmy Carter, and other family.
The celebration of Rosalynn’s birthday included both a remembrance of her achievements and an acknowledgment of the role she has played in advancing social causes. Dr. Jennifer Olsen, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rosalynn Caregivers Institute, referred to her as a “trailblazer” in a statement:
“Mrs. Carter has never been one to follow the crowd,” they said. Mrs. Carter is a pioneer in many different areas, including the struggle against the stigma associated with mental illness, the advancement of women’s rights, and the promotion of caregiver problems.
In addition, Rosalynn and her devoted husband Jimmy make their home in the same community where they first met following the birth of their daughter. In July 2021, author and biographer Jonathan Alter disclosed the fact that the two individuals had met 90 years earlier:
In reality, they had their first encounter 93 years before, just a few days after Rosalynn Smith was brought into the world. She was delivered by Jimmy Carter’s mother, Miss Lillian Carter, who was a nurse. A couple of days after the baby was born, the nurse, Jimmy’s mother, Miss Lillian Carter, brought her three-year-old son over to visit the baby.”
To this day, Jimmy and Rosalynn have been happily married for more than seventy years. The celebration of her birthday will take place in the couple’s house, which is consistent with the mundane life they lead.
It is stated that the author of “First Lady from Plains” has a daily routine in which she “practices tai chi and meditates in the mornings, while her husband works in his study or swims in the pool.”
After finishing their terms as first couple of the United States, Rosalynn and Jimmy went back to their hometown. The Washington Post states that although though their residence is old-fashioned, it nevertheless has a cozy atmosphere and a familiar feel about it.
The home has one level and is hidden from view by a fence that is owned by the government. This home has an old-fashioned living room, a little kitchen, and a refrigerator. It is estimated that the value of the home with two bedrooms is $167,000. It is stated that Jimmy is the only former president in the contemporary age who has moved back into the house he formerly occupied before entering political life and living there full-time.
JIMMY KNEW HE WANTED TO MARRY ROSALYNN AFTER THEIR FIRST DATE
The pair discussed the beginning of their love journey in an interview that they gave together in the year 2019. Rosalynn divulged the information that Ruth, Jimmy’s sister, was her “best friend,” so granting her entry to their residence.
The author said that she spent a lot of time at Jimmy’s home while he was never there, adding that despite his absence, she fell in love with him:
“We logged a significant amount of time inside of the residence. He was never present at any time. I always stated that the portrait that was hanging on the wall in her bedroom was the reason I fell in love with her.
Jimmy jumped in and said that he had the first movie date with his future wife in front of a Methodist Church. When Jimmy returned home from the Naval Academy at the time, he asked Rosalynn, who was still a young woman, out on a date, and she gladly accepted.
The next day, his mother inquired about the previous evening, and he revealed to her that Rosalynn would be the lady he would eventually wed:
“The next morning, when Rosalynn and I went on our first date, my mother asked me some questions, and I responded by telling her that Rosalynn was the woman I wanted to marry.”
During the course of the conversation, Rosalynn acknowledged that she was unaware that Jimmy had already made a decision about their future together. She said, “I had no idea about it for many years.” Because Jimmy was so head over heels in love with Rosalynn, he came up with the abbreviation “ILYTG,” which stands for “I love you the best.”
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife former First Lady Rosalynn Carter sit together during a reception to celebrate their 75th anniversary Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Plains, Ga.. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, Pool)
The former governor disclosed to People that his parents often repeated the phrase to one another, and he continued the tradition with Rosalynn once they were married. Jimmy said that the unusual term has even become a part of their family ritual, as all of their children now use it:
“These days, all of our children do the exact same thing, which is to ILYTG over the phone or in their emails. In most cases, they will just put the initials. And on occasion, they will modify the acronyms so that you are left guessing as to what they are referring to.
The Carters have followed the practice of reading aloud from the Bible to each other every night before bed for the last six decades, making it one of the family’s most cherished traditions. Despite being physically separated from one another, the pair continues to do the activity.
Jimmy said that it did not make any difference to him where in the world he was since he was always aware that his cherished wife was reading the same bible book that he was.
“Before we go to sleep, it causes us to reflect on the same passages of scripture and admonition from God, as well as instructions from God. Therefore, it is quite helpful,” he said.
THE CARTERS’ BOND CAN ‘NEVER BE BROKEN’
On July 7, 2021, Jimmy and Rosalynn celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary, making them the “longest-married presidential couple” in the history of the United States of America. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library said on Twitter that the couple’s relationship could not be broken:
On this day, 75 years ago, these two youngsters tied the knot and established a connection that will never be severed. They now hold the record for being the presidential pair with the longest marriage! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Carter, on your anniversary!
The statement was accompanied with a vintage black and white photograph of the two young lovers grinning from ear to ear while posed side by side when they were in their earlier years. Rosalynn wore a white dress with black shoes and gloves and a hat, while Jimmy wore his naval uniform. Rosalynn also wore a hat.
In May of 2021, the couple’s grandson, Jason Carter, shared with People that his grandparents intended to mark the occasion by throwing a “big party” with a large number of their friends from throughout the years. Jason Carter’s comments came after his grandparents announced their intention to live to be 100 years old.
During an appearance on “Good Morning America,” Rosalynn and Jimmy disclosed that the aforementioned event will be held at a school located in the Plains neighborhood. The former senator said that in order to accommodate a large number of attendees, they decided to hold the event in a large location.
In addition, as a memento of their time spent together, Jimmy presented his bride with a diamond necklace fashioned in the shape of the number 75.
When asked about the factors that have contributed to the success of his marriage, he said that they allow each other ample room to pursue their unique interests:
First and foremost, we make sure to allow each other lots of room to pursue our own interests, which has contributed to our relationship’s longevity.
According to Rosalynn, the couple “shares as much as [they] possibly can” when it comes to their hobbies and passions, such as “fly fishing throughout the globe,” which occupies a significant portion of their free time.
“We’re always seeking to do things or discover things we can do together, like fly fishing and bird watching and just walking out to the pond, catching a fish,” she said. “We’re always looking to do things or find things we can do together.”
Her husband continued by saying that they had always gone beyond in their love for one another, which Jimmy described as being “amazing.” However, he did acknowledge that even if it only occurred to a select few couples, it had most certainly happened to them. It’s not something that takes place in the lives of a whole lot of couples, but it did take place in ours, he added.