Jimmy Carter turns 100, the first former president to do so

Jimmy Carter celebrates his 100th birthday.

Former President Jimmy Carter is celebrating his 100th birthday, becoming the first ex-president in U.S. history to reach this milestone.

This is an important moment for Carter, who has been receiving hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia, since February 2023. He lost his wife, Rosalynn Carter, in November, after spending 77 years together. The former president was seen in a wheelchair at the memorial service for his late wife.

President Biden conveyed his wishes to Carter, saying, "On behalf of the whole Biden family and the American people, happy 100th birthday!" He described Carter as "a guiding light for our country and the globe... and, above all, a dear friend."

Carter expressed his desire to stay alive long enough to cast his vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election. Early voting is set to start later this month in Georgia, where Carter resides.

"I'm just trying to get to the polls to cast my vote for Kamala Harris," Carter said to his son, Chip, who then shared the message with his grandson, Jason, for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The former president has spent an unusually long time in home hospice care; the typical duration for patients is around 63 days, as per the National Institutes of Health. In contrast, Carter has been receiving hospice care for over 19 months.

Several celebrities honored Carter in a special event leading up to his 100th birthday, as over 4,000 people gathered at Atlanta's Fox Theatre for a benefit concert in mid-September. The occasion, titled "Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song," was held to support the international initiatives of The Carter Center, the organization that Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter established after their time in the White House.

"Everyone is creating history here," said Jason Carter, the grandson. "This marks the first occasion that people have gathered to honor the 100th birthday of a U.S. president."

James Earl Carter Jr. entered the world on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. He was the child of a peanut farmer and a nurse, making him the first U.S. president to be born in a hospital. After completing his education at the U.S. Naval Academy, he served in the Navy before going back to manage the family farm. In 1970, he was elected as the governor of Georgia.

Carter, a member of the Democratic Party, was president for one term between 1977 and 1981. His presidency was marked by unprecedented levels of inflation and various difficulties. One of the most significant events during the final 14 months of his time in office was the hostage crisis in which American citizens were taken from the U.S. embassy in Iran. The hostages were freed on the day Carter completed his presidency in 1981.

Carter, who has dedicated his later life to helping others, gained more recognition after his presidency than during his time in office. When he was still physically capable, he participated in building houses with Habitat for Humanity and traveled around the globe to promote democracy and health programs.

Kathryn Watson covers political news for CBS News Digital and is located in Washington, D.C.