Former US presidents remembered Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady, who died at the age of 96 on Sunday.
99-year-old President Jimmy Carter's wife died at her home, surrounded by her family, just a few days after it was officially announced that due to her deteriorating health, she and her husband would be receiving hospice care at their home. Her husband, Jimmy Carter, officially entered hospice care last fall.
President Joe Biden and his wife remembered the former first lady in a statement: they wrote that Rosalynn Carter "was a champion of the equality of women and girls", an advocate of mental health and well-being.
In front of reporters on Sunday, Joe Biden called the Carters an "incredible family" who have brought great "pleasure to the office of the president." The sitting president added that he had spoken with members of the Carter family, from whom he learned that his predecessor, Jimmy Carter, who served from 1977-1981, was among his loved ones.
Former President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on social media, writing that Rosalynn Carter deservedly earned the admiration and recognition of the country.
"With her time as a Navy wife, her time as a governor's wife, her years as first lady, her work at the Carter Center and her volunteerism, she leaves behind an exceptional legacy," Donald Trump wrote.
In her farewell message, former first lady Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama, recalled the occasions when she met at regular lunches at the White House with Rosalynn Carter, who provided her with several pieces of advice about what it means to play the role of the president's wife.
Former President George W. Bush wrote that there was no greater advocate for President Jimmy Carter than his wife, and their partnership is a wonderful example of loyalty and faithfulness.
In a statement, Bill and Hillary Clinton called the former first lady, who died on Sunday, a champion of human dignity.
The memoirs published in the American press highlight Rosalynn Carter's time in the White House, that she was also one of her husband's closest office advisers, whom the White House advisers referred to at the time as the "co-president". As an example, the press recalls that just a few months after Jimmy Carter took office in the spring of 1977, he traveled to Latin America to inform the leaders of the military dictatorships that the United States would withdraw its military support if they did not respect human rights.
During their time in office, they made many changes in the customs of the White House, such as, for example, burning spirits were not served at official events, Americans were preferred among the wines, and they preferred picnic-like programs to large-scale ballroom events.
Rosalynn Carter's home with her husband was Plains, Georgia, where she was born in August 1927.
MTI
The former First Lady passed away on Sunday
Source: Facebook/The Carter Center
