PERSONAL: 'He was just Jimmy Carter' - President's longtime friend reflects on his life

Record ID: 1893537

  • Title: PERSONAL: 'He was just Jimmy Carter' - President's longtime friend reflects on his life
  • Date: 30th December 2024
  • Summary: PLAINS, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 30, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SANDRA WALTERS, 85, LONGTIME FRIEND OF PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, SAYING: "When he walked in the door, in my front door, back door, I never thought about him being a president. And it didn't... I mean, he was just Jimmy Carter" VARIOUS OF WALTERS SHOWING SCRAPBOOK OF NEWS HEADLINES SHE MADE DUR
  • Embargoed: 13th January 2025 18:59
  • Keywords: AMERICA CARTER FARMER GEORGIA JIMMY PEANUT PLAINS PRESIDENT ROSALYNN UNITED STATES
  • Location: PLAINS, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES
  • City: PLAINS, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: North America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA006012130122024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Loved ones of Jimmy Carter, the Georgia peanut farmer who became U.S. president, reflected on his life and legacy after the 100-year-old passed away at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday (December 29).
    "Thank you, Lord, for letting him live a hundred years and do all the things that he wanted to do," said Sandra Walters, 85, who was Carter's friend for over 55 years.
    During his term, Carter struggled with a bad economy and the Iran hostage crisis, but he brokered peace between deal Israel and Egypt, and later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.
    But for Walters, he was just a friend.
    "He would come down here to my house," said Walters. "I would have a dinner, I had a taco soup supper every night... every Christmas."
    Her late husband, C.R., and Carter grew up together in Plains.
    "I never thought about him being a president," said Walters. "I mean, he was just Jimmy Carter."
    The White House confirmed Monday (December 30) that the official state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter will be held January 9th at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
    (Production: Eric Cox)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register