Atlanta, Georgia —
People have gathered at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta since Saturday (30/9) to prepare to celebrate former President Jimmy Carter’s 99th birthday.
The 39th president celebrated his birthday at the presidential library and museum in Atlanta on Sunday (1/10).
Carter’s birthday party was moved up one day to anticipate the possibility of a partial shutdown of American government operations, which was averted after Congress approved a budget bill which was then sent to the president Saturday night.
Thousands of Carter’s well-wishers and admirers wrote birthday cards, which were taken to Carter’s home in Plains.
Carter has been hospitalized since February, and spends most of his time with his 96-year-old wife, Rosalynn, who suffers from dementia, as well as other family members.
Carter is America’s longest living president.
Rosalynn Carter was also the longest-lived first lady, and was only one year behind Bess Truman who died at the age of 97.
Residents who gathered in Atlanta on Saturday watched a video tribute to Jimmy Carter from figures and celebrities, including President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Barbara Streisand, Bill Gates and others.
Residents also compete in rounds of trivia highlighting little-known details of Carter’s life and how much the world has changed since his existence.
Discounted tickets of 99 cents allow residents access to the museum, which includes a replica of the Oval Office as it looked during Carter’s 1977-1981 tenure in the White House.
People who line up early will get birthday cakes decorated in green, the color Carter chose for his presidential campaign materials in 1975, reflecting his environmental priorities. (em/hour)
