Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: 16 Heartwarming Moments from Their Decades-Long Love Story

Mar. 15, 2025

Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter.Photo: Frank Leonardo/New York Post Archives /(c) NYP Holdings, Inc. via Getty

In July 2023, formerPresident Jimmy Carterand his wifeRosalynnonce again broke their own record forthe longest-married presidential couple, celebrating their 77th wedding anniversary.However, 99 and 96 years old, respectively, and in the twilight of their life, the two started facing health struggles, withJimmy receiving hospice careandRosalynn receiving a dementia diagnosisin 2023. On Nov. 19, 2023,she died.On Dec. 29, 2024, their son James E. Carter III confirmed that Jimmy had died at home in Plains, Ga., perThe Washington Post.The Carters tied the knot in 1946. Here, take a look back at the beloved couple’s history together over the past seven decades.

In July 2023, formerPresident Jimmy Carterand his wifeRosalynnonce again broke their own record forthe longest-married presidential couple, celebrating their 77th wedding anniversary.

However, 99 and 96 years old, respectively, and in the twilight of their life, the two started facing health struggles, withJimmy receiving hospice careandRosalynn receiving a dementia diagnosisin 2023. On Nov. 19, 2023,she died.

On Dec. 29, 2024, their son James E. Carter III confirmed that Jimmy had died at home in Plains, Ga., perThe Washington Post.

The Carters tied the knot in 1946. Here, take a look back at the beloved couple’s history together over the past seven decades.

01of 15Origin StoryJimmy and Rosalynn Carter on election night in 1976.GettyThe longtime loves first met shortly after she was born, when Jimmy was 3 — his mother, a nurse, helped deliver her, and brought him in with her during a visit,according to biographer Jonathan Alter. But they would not officially befriend each other until 1945, when he was on break from the Naval Academy. He asked Rosalynn — who was best friends with his younger sister, Ruth —on a date to the movies.“I just felt compatible with her,” he recalled inPhil Donahue and Marlo Thomas' bookWhat Makes a Marriage Last. “She was beautiful and innocent, and there was a resonance. We rode in the rumble seat of a Ford pickup — Ruth and her boyfriend in the front — and I kissed her on that first date. I remember that vividly.“Here, the couple is pictured embracing on election night in 1976.

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Origin Story

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter on election night in 1976.Getty

The longtime loves first met shortly after she was born, when Jimmy was 3 — his mother, a nurse, helped deliver her, and brought him in with her during a visit,according to biographer Jonathan Alter. But they would not officially befriend each other until 1945, when he was on break from the Naval Academy. He asked Rosalynn — who was best friends with his younger sister, Ruth —on a date to the movies.

“I just felt compatible with her,” he recalled inPhil Donahue and Marlo Thomas' bookWhat Makes a Marriage Last. “She was beautiful and innocent, and there was a resonance. We rode in the rumble seat of a Ford pickup — Ruth and her boyfriend in the front — and I kissed her on that first date. I remember that vividly.”

Here, the couple is pictured embracing on election night in 1976.

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A Growing Family

Getty

03of 15In It TogetherFrom left: Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter attend a fundraiser on Valentine’s Day in 1976.Rick Diamond/GettyThe pair were all smiles at a Valentine’s Day fundraiser in 1976. While on the presidential trail in the ’70s, Carter called his wifehis “secret weapon.”

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In It Together

From left: Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter attend a fundraiser on Valentine’s Day in 1976.Rick Diamond/Getty

The pair were all smiles at a Valentine’s Day fundraiser in 1976. While on the presidential trail in the ’70s, Carter called his wifehis “secret weapon.”

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Stepping into the Spotlight

Carter in 1977 as her husband is sworn in as president.

05of 15A Cause for CelebrationCorbis via GettyAfter being sworn in, the new president and first lady waved to the crowd as they walked from the Capitol to the White House during the inauguration parade.

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A Cause for Celebration

Corbis via Getty

After being sworn in, the new president and first lady waved to the crowd as they walked from the Capitol to the White House during the inauguration parade.

06of 15A Sweet EmbraceNBC NewsWire/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyThe couple shared a private moment in the White House in April 1977.

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A Sweet Embrace

NBC NewsWire/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

The couple shared a private moment in the White House in April 1977.

07of 15Having a BallJimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn in 1977.Universal History Archive/GettyThat same year, the Carters made a glamorous pair while dancing at a White House Congressional ball.

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Having a Ball

Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn in 1977.Universal History Archive/Getty

That same year, the Carters made a glamorous pair while dancing at a White House Congressional ball.

08of 15A Leg UpBettmann/Getty.Here, the Carters are pictured along with their youngest child — their daughter Amy (left), whom they welcomed in October 1967 — and their grandson, Jason, at the 1977 White House Easter Egg Roll, an annual tradition.

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A Leg Up

Bettmann/Getty.

Here, the Carters are pictured along with their youngest child — their daughter Amy (left), whom they welcomed in October 1967 — and their grandson, Jason, at the 1977 White House Easter Egg Roll, an annual tradition.

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The ‘Art’ of Love

Yvonne Hemsey/Liason Agency/Getty

10of 15Pucker UpThe couple had been known to share a sweet smooch whenever a Kiss Cam panned to them — which happened a number of times over the years at various sporting events in their native Georgia.

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Pucker Up

The couple had been known to share a sweet smooch whenever a Kiss Cam panned to them — which happened a number of times over the years at various sporting events in their native Georgia.

11of 15Weekly TraditionMatt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty.The Carters’Saturday night routineoften consisted of walking a half-mile from their two-bedroom rancher in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, to their friend Jill Stuckey’s house. There, they would dine together and enjoy a single glass of “bargain-brand Chardonnay,” according to theWashingtonPost.

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Weekly Tradition

Matt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty.

The Carters’Saturday night routineoften consisted of walking a half-mile from their two-bedroom rancher in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, to their friend Jill Stuckey’s house. There, they would dine together and enjoy a single glass of “bargain-brand Chardonnay,” according to theWashingtonPost.

12of 15Staying ActiveMatt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty.Matt McClain/The Washington Post/GettyCarterpreviously told PEOPLEthat he attributed their ongoing active lifestyle to marrying “the best spouse.““It’s hard to live until you’re 95 years old,” he said. “I think the best explanation for that is to marry the best spouse: someone who will take care of you and engage and do things to challenge you and keep you alive and interested in life.”

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Staying Active

Matt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty.Matt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty

Carterpreviously told PEOPLEthat he attributed their ongoing active lifestyle to marrying “the best spouse.”

“It’s hard to live until you’re 95 years old,” he said. “I think the best explanation for that is to marry the best spouse: someone who will take care of you and engage and do things to challenge you and keep you alive and interested in life.”

13of 15Tips to Making Marriage WorkJimmy and Rosalynn Carter in 2018.“We found out a long time ago that disagreements are inevitable between two strong-willed people,” Carter told Donahue and Thomas about his and Rosalynn’s 75-year-union inWhat Makes a Marriage Last. “But we decided early on to give each other plenty of space. If Rosalynn is interested in something, she does it her own way, accepting my help when she needs it. And she gives me plenty of space to work on my own projects but helps me when I need it. We also look for things to do together.”

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Tips to Making Marriage Work

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in 2018.

“We found out a long time ago that disagreements are inevitable between two strong-willed people,” Carter told Donahue and Thomas about his and Rosalynn’s 75-year-union inWhat Makes a Marriage Last. “But we decided early on to give each other plenty of space. If Rosalynn is interested in something, she does it her own way, accepting my help when she needs it. And she gives me plenty of space to work on my own projects but helps me when I need it. We also look for things to do together.”

14of 15Stop the SpreadFormer President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in July 2020.Carter Center/TwitterIn July 2020,The Carter Center— the Atlanta-based nonprofit that the couple founded in 1982 —shared a photoof the pair wearing face masks printed with the center’s logo, encouraging everyone to"please wear a mask to save lives"in an effort to slow the spread of thenovel coronavirus (COVID-19). The center is committed to a handful of humanitarian efforts, including fighting against preventable diseases. In February 2021, PEOPLE confirmed the pair also receivedtheir COVID-19 vaccines.

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Stop the Spread

Former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in July 2020.Carter Center/Twitter

In July 2020,The Carter Center— the Atlanta-based nonprofit that the couple founded in 1982 —shared a photoof the pair wearing face masks printed with the center’s logo, encouraging everyone to"please wear a mask to save lives"in an effort to slow the spread of thenovel coronavirus (COVID-19). The center is committed to a handful of humanitarian efforts, including fighting against preventable diseases. In February 2021, PEOPLE confirmed the pair also receivedtheir COVID-19 vaccines.

15of 15Keeping the Love CloseFormer US President Jimmy Carter in 2023.ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty ImagesWhile attending Rosalynn’s funeral on Nov. 28, 2023, the 99-year-old former presidentpaid homage to the love of his life.For her memorial service held in Atlanta, Jimmy arrived with a blanket draped across his lap that featured embroidery depicting his and Rosalynn Carter’s faces.The blanket also featured illustrations ofJimmy and Rosalynnon the front along with text identifying them as “The Carters.” It also paid tribute to Plains, Georgia, the small town where the two met as children, and featured the text “est. 1885” as well as images of dogwood flowers, a plant that’s native to the state of Georgia.

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Keeping the Love Close

Former US President Jimmy Carter in 2023.ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

While attending Rosalynn’s funeral on Nov. 28, 2023, the 99-year-old former presidentpaid homage to the love of his life.

For her memorial service held in Atlanta, Jimmy arrived with a blanket draped across his lap that featured embroidery depicting his and Rosalynn Carter’s faces.

The blanket also featured illustrations ofJimmy and Rosalynnon the front along with text identifying them as “The Carters.” It also paid tribute to Plains, Georgia, the small town where the two met as children, and featured the text “est. 1885” as well as images of dogwood flowers, a plant that’s native to the state of Georgia.

source: people.com