Jimmy Carter First Laid Eyes On Wife Of 75 Years When She Was 1 Day Old

Jul 01, 2022 by apost team

Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter and his loving wife and former first lady, Rosalynn Carter, have been married for nearly 76 years. Through all their personal and public battles, the duo even became the longest-married presidential couple two years ago. The record was previously held by the late George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, who were married for 73 years. 

Their love story is fittingly sweet for a couple that's been together for seven-and-a-half decades. Rosalynn and Jimmy first met in Plains, Georgia. The future 39th president spotted Rosalynn in their little hometown. He later told The Washington Post that he asked her out, and after their first date, Jimmy told his mother he was going to marry Rosalyn. The couple was then married on July 7, 1946. Jimmy was 21 years old, while Rosalynn was only 18. 

Now, the couple lives a simple life back in the small town where they both were born. In the same Washington Post feature, it revealed the couple lives in a farmhouse that is located in Plains, Georgia, which is valued at $167,000. The publication says the estate is "less than the value of the armored Secret Service vehicles parked outside." The couple obviously has each other and can appreciate the simple joys of life, such as spending time with loved ones.

Clearly still enamored with one another, the couple gushed about their union of nearly 76 years in a joint interview with the Associated Press in July 2021, ahead of their anniversary celebration. They spoke about how they make their marriage work and more. 

Former POTUS Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter's love is one for the ages. When he was a U.S. Naval Academy student, Jimmy met his future wife, previously known as Rosalynn Smith, in the summer of 1945. Their love flourished, yet was filled with some unexpected moments along the way. For starters, Jimmy's proposal didn’t exactly go as planned.

“When I asked Rosalynn to marry me for the first time, she said no,” Jimmy said, as per VOA News. After he proposed, Rosalynn said no at first because of a promise she made to her dying father that she would wait to marry until she graduated from college. She kept that promise and married Jimmy in 1946 after graduating from Georgia Southwestern College. After going on their first date in 1945, the couple would marry just one year later on July 7, 1946. 

Rosalyn told CNN that when she first met Jimmy she was quite smitten with him. "I thought he was the most handsome young man I had ever seen," she said to the news outlet. 

Their love was instant and has lasted the test of time. According to CNN, when he got home from his first date with Roslynn, Jimmy told his mother, "She's the girl I want to marry." 

According to VOA News, the pair actually knew each other for quite some time before this. In fact, Jimmy met Rosalyn just a few days after she was born as his mother, who was a nurse, helped deliver Rosalynn. Jimmy's mom brought the then-3-year-old boy to visit the baby.

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The Carters moved back to Plains after their time in Washington. They still live in the two-bedroom rancher they built in 1961, which is assessed at $167,000. The former president has always preferred to live modestly. He told Rolling Stone in 2011 that he still likes to shop for clothes at Dollar General. 

Speaking to the Associated Press in a joint interview ahead of their 75th wedding anniversary, Jimmy told the news outlet, “It’s a full partnership." After stating that the most important decision he ever made wasn't related to politics but rather choosing to marry Rosalynn, the former president gave his advice for a long marriage:

“My biggest secret is to marry the right person if you want to have a long-lasting marriage."

That's not all — the couple gave further tips on how to make things work in a marriage, telling AP, “Every day there needs to be reconciliation and communication between the two spouses." Both devout Christians, Jimmy added that they read the Bible aloud together every night, which is something they've done for years, even when traveling has kept them apart. Additionally, Jimmy added that the couple resolves any issues they might have had that day before going to bed, stating: 

“We don’t go to sleep with some remaining differences between us."

Rosalynn added that she and her husband "are always looking for things to do together," and that common interests are important in a marriage. Nevertheless, she also emphasized: 

"Each (person) should have some space. That's really important."

But they also noted that a marriage as long as theirs hasn't been seamless. However, they have been able to work through any issues that come up and ultimately came out even stronger on the other side.  

Keen on politics herself, Jimmy confided to AP that his wife is "much more political" than he is. Rosalynn added that she loves campaigning and that she "had the best time. I was in all the states in the United States. I campaigned solid every day the last time we ran." 

Rosalynn's involvement cemented her as an equal partner to Jimmy, who's been an outspoken advocate for women's rights, particularly within Christianity. The former president even left the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 as he denounced the "rigid" views that "subjugated" women, both in the church and in their marriages. He later supported the church recognizing same-sex marriage, stating, "It will continue to be divisive, but the church is evolving." 

But back to Jimmy and Rosalynn's anniversary milestone for their 75th anniversary in 2021. To celebrate, the couple planned a party in their hometown, Plains. Their grandson, Jason Carter, told People that it was supposed be a "big party ... with a lot of their friends from over the years." He added:

"The number of things that have to go right in your life to have a 75th anniversary. It's a truly incredible milestone."

Now out of the spotlight for many years, the couple seem much more at home in their simple life rather than the lavish parties they would once attend at the White House and other official engagements. Rosalynn joked to AP last year that they might have gotten in over their heads with their anniversary bash, stating:

"We have too many people invited. I'm actually praying for some turndowns and regrets."

In the end, as Washington Monthly reports, the party ended up a mostly private affair hosted at the Plains' high school. The attendees were a mix of the couple's neighbors and friends, many politicians and stars among them.

Congratulations to Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter on their 75 years together! Did you know that they hold the record for the longest-married president and first lady of the United States? If you found this article interesting, pass it on so others can read it too!