Jimmy Carter Got 'the Thing He Wanted' for His 100th Birthday, Grandson Says

Mar. 15, 2025

Jimmy Carter.Photo:ALEX BRANDON/POOL/AFP via Getty

ALEX BRANDON/POOL/AFP via Getty

Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday wish came true.

The longest-living president celebrated his centennial on Oct. 1, and according to one of his grandsons,Josh Carter, he got “the thing he wanted.”

Speaking with PEOPLE editor-in-chief Wendy Naugle during a panel in honor of the 34th United Nations International Day of Older Persons on Monday, Oct. 7, Josh recalled the family-filled festivities that marked his grandfather’s milestone birthday, which happened on Oct. 1.

“We had a great celebration of his birthday,” Josh told Naugle at the U.N. headquarters in New York City.

From Left: Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Josh Carter, Jonathan Carter and Sarah Carter.Jeff Carter

Jeff Carter

“On his actual birthday we went down to see him,” Josh said of Jimmy, who has been inhospice caresince February 2023.

“It was my family, a lot of my cousins. He had a houseful of his kids, his grandkids, his great-grandkids,” he said, later adding that the great-grandkids blew out Jimmy’s birthday cake candles for him.

The whole day, Josh said, “was a big celebration of his family and we wanted to be there and remind him, ‘This is what you built.’ "

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“He has professional caregivers that are taking care of him,” Josh said of Jimmy. “But we always have a family member that’s in the house with him.”

Jimmy Carter (left) with his family.Melissa Montgomery

Melissa Montgomery

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The former president recently revealed that he hopes to accomplish one last goal before he dies: “I’m only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris,” Jimmy said, according to grandson Jason Carter.

“This is an important part of his faith journey, and it’s one that you don’t get to experience at any other time in your life except for the very end,” Jason continued. “And so in that way, I think this has been a really meaningful time for him, and it’s been a really reflective time for him.”

source: people.com