Former President Jimmy Carter, aged 99, has achieved another remarkable distinction as the first living U.S. president honored with an official White House Christmas ornament.
The White House Historical Association revealed the 2024 ornament in tribute to Carter, marking the first time a president has been alive for such an unveiling.
The annual ornament series, initiated in 1981, typically features past presidents. However, this year, the focus is on Jimmy Carter, who served from 1977 to 1981.
Shaped like an anchor to acknowledge Carter’s Navy service, the ornament also includes symbolic elements representing his presidency. Stewart McLaurin, President of the historical association, expressed, “the first time in the history of our ornament program that we’ve been able to feature a living president.”
The ornament portrays doves, a globe, a submarine, and peanuts, symbolizing various aspects of Carter’s four-year term. Doves represent his efforts in peacemaking, highlighted by his role in brokering the Camp David Peace Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978.
The rear of the ornament features the USS Jimmy Carter, the last of the Seawolf class of nuclear submarines named in honor of the former president. Carter is distinguished as the only president who attended the U.S. Naval Academy.
A globe on the back signifies Carter’s commitment to environmental causes and his dedication to global peace, leading to his Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Peanuts and their blossoms at the bottom serve as a reminder of his earlier years as a peanut farmer and businessman in Plains, Georgia.
Carter, currently in hospice care at home, announced in 2023 his decision to forgo medical intervention and spend his remaining time with family. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, passed away in November 2023, six months after being diagnosed with dementia.
Despite health challenges, Jimmy Carter’s legacy is celebrated through this unique ornament, showcasing his contributions to the nation. The White House Historical Association, a nonprofit organization, relies on private donations and retail merchandise sales, including the annual Christmas ornament, to fund its initiatives.
AP
