Jimmy Carter offered dignity in failure

He was the peanut farmer from Georgia who rose to become the leader of the free world. Jimmy Carter, who has died at the age of 100, served as president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. While his term in office was not a success, his post-presidency – the longest in American history – was unparalleled in its public service. Uniquely among America’s modern leaders, he will be remembered more for what he did after the White House than what he did in it.

Carter’s long life was characterised by service: service to country as a decorated lieutenant in the US navy just after world war two, service to God as a Baptist Sunday school teacher in his hometown of Plains, and then service to government as a Democratic state senator, governor and finally president. But it was his later service as a statesman, post-presidency, that won him most plaudits.