jili bone fortune NEW YORK (AP) — Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time," said Berson. Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season. The Associated Press

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A resurfaced video that shows U.S. Representative Nancy Mace participating in a controversial drinking game is sparking widespread criticism, especially after she has become the central figure in debates over transgender bathroom access. The footage, originally leaked in 2016, has been resurfacing again and is tainting Mace’s public image as she finds herself on the center stage of America’s cultural debates. According to The Daily Mail, a viral video of the now 47-year-old politician engaging in a crazy drinking game during a social gathering has been released. The footage captures Mace shooting a shot of liquor down his throat and then handing it over to a woman wearing a Trump T-shirt. More and more join in, until eventually one of the males throws up on the floor. During the 2016 presidential campaign, a video shot this far back suddenly gained popularity following an increased sense of the Trump candidacy’s boost. “I made a foolish error about ten years ago which does not pertain to your timeline in political life.” Ms Mace said. While acknowledging its authenticity, The Daily Mail quoted Mace, responding to increased criticism as she added, “This is why good people don’t run for office”. The video first gained attention during Mace’s 2017 campaign for the South Carolina State House, where her opponent, Cindy Boatwright, criticized the video, calling Mace “immature” and “unfit for office.” Despite the backlash, Mace won a seat in Congress in 2020, securing her place on the national stage. Nancy Mace On Transgender Rights Renewed focus on Mace’s past comes after she was thrust into the spotlight over her stance on transgender rights. She has been vocal about legislation preventing transgender people from using women’s restrooms in the U.S. Capitol, specifically opposing Rep.-elect Sarah McBride’s inclusion in the debate over women’s restrooms. Her position has come under intense criticism from many who consider it inconsistent with her previous stance in support of LGBTQ+ rights. In 2021, Mace co-sponsored the Fairness for All Act, a bill that aimed to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. At that time, Mace spoke about her personal connections to the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing that she had spent her entire life interacting with gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals. She publicly self-identified as “pro-transgender rights” in a televised interview in 2023. Her latest utterances and actions regarding transgender bathroom access have brought into question whether she is really “pro-transgender rights” or just playing politics. Political Opportunism And Change Of Ideology Several critics have been quick to ask if Mace’s sudden change of ideology is in good faith or political posturing. Some insiders say that she might have ulterior motives behind her moves because some think she could be a viable candidate for Donald Trump’s ticket in 2024. According to a former aide, Mace’s turn right was part of the play to get noticed and rise in profile. “She craves attention above everything else,” the source said. “Her shift seems motivated by a need for the spotlight.” Adding to the scandal surrounding Mace, it has come out that her congressional offices are a mess. According to The Daily Mail, since 2023, there has been an over 100% staff turnover rate in both her South Carolina and Washington, D.C. offices. Former employees have said she often communicated foul-mouthed language and threw tantrums, which drove some to take other careers or into treatment. A former employee described Mace’s leadership style as “unpredictable” and “berating,” noting that the intense work environment contributed to employee burnout. Several of her former staffers reportedly experienced emotional distress as a result of her behavior. Political Fallout During this stormy time, two controversies about Mace’s earlier behavior and her shifting political postures keep playing an important part in defining the public persona of Mace. Her efforts to side with the more conservative wings of the Republicans have not impressed many people. The old video coming out and office infighting add another complexity to this politician’s path. ALSO READ | Who Was The Unabomber? Luigi Mangione’s Interest In Ted Kaczynski’s IdeologyRevealed: the sanctions for Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj after fiery confrontation in Adelaide Test Follows incident during Australia's first innings Pair exchanged heated words after Head's dismissal Reconciled post match, Third Test starts December 14 By OLIVER CAFFREY AND TREVOR MARSHALLSEA FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 23:16 GMT, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 23:16 GMT, 9 December 2024 e-mail View comments Australian batter Travis Head and Indian quick Mohammed Siraj have been found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct for their verbal spat in the second Test in Adelaide. Siraj was fined 20 per cent of his match fee after being found to have breached article 2.5 of the code, which relates to 'using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal'. In addition, one demerit point was added to Siraj's disciplinary record, the ICC said in a statement. Head was reprimanded after he was was found to have breached article 2.13 of the code, which relates to the 'abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee'. One demerit point has been added to Head's disciplinary record. The incident unfolded when Siraj bowled Head for 140 in Australia 's first innings at the Adelaide Oval, and the pair exchanged heated words. Siraj also pointed Head towards the dressing rooms. The pair made up, to a degree, after the match. Australian batter Travis Head (pictured) and Indian quick Mohammed Siraj have been found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct following their verbal spat during the second Test in Adelaide The incident occurred when Siraj bowled Head for 140 in Australia's first innings at the Adelaide Oval, and the pair exchanged heated words Australian Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj of India shake hands at the conclusion of the second Test at Adelaide Oval It was the first offence for both players in a 24-month period. If a player reaches four or more demerit points in such a period, those points are converted into suspension points and the player is banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban for one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whichever might come first. 'Siraj and Head admitted their respective offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by (match referee) Ranjan Madugalle ... and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing,' the ICC statement said. On-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire, Phillip Gillespie levelled the charges. The verdict came hours after Australia quick Josh Hazlewood called Siraj a 'good character'. Siraj became public enemy No.1 at the Adelaide Oval following the clash, with the crowd booing him for the rest of the Test. The 30-year-old had already drawn the ire of Australia's fans on Friday night when he aggressively threw the ball back at Marnus Labuschagne when the No.3 had pulled away from a delivery when a man holding a tower of beer cups had walked into his eye line. Hazlewood, who missed the Test with a side strain, has played with Siraj in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore. 'I really enjoyed my time at RCB with him,' Hazlewood said. 'He's probably the leader of the attack there, to a degree. 'He's another one who's a bit like Virat (Kohli), very passionate, goes with the flow of the game, gets the crowd up. '(He has) bowled serious spells in the IPL in the last few years. 'He's just a good character and it's good to see sometimes.' Share or comment on this article: Revealed: the sanctions for Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj after fiery confrontation in Adelaide Test e-mail Add comment

Search called off for man who went overboard as cruise headed to BahamasCaitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Wemby at The Garden. LeBron vs. Steph. The NBA's Christmas Day lineup, as always, has star power LeBron James made his Christmas debut in 2003. Victor Wembanyama was born 10 days later. That’s right: James has been featured on the NBA’s big day for longer than Wembanyama has been alive. And on Wednesday the league’s oldest player and brightest young star will be big parts of the holiday showcase. It’s another Christmas quintupleheader, with Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the New York Knicks, Minnesota going to Dallas for a Western Conference finals rematch, Philadelphia heading to Boston to renew a storied rivalry, James and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, and Denver playing at Phoenix. Pro Picks: Chiefs will beat the Steelers and Ravens will edge the Texans on Christmas Day Playoff berths, draft positioning and more are up for grabs in Week 17. There’s going to be plenty of football on television this holiday week with the NFL playing games on five out of six days, starting with a doubleheader on Christmas Day featuring four of the AFC’s top five teams. Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs visit Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Then, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. The Bears host the Seahawks on Thursday night and there are three games on Saturday, making Sunday’s schedule light at nine games. Falcons drafting Penix no longer a head-scratcher with rookie QB shining in place of benched Cousins It was the most surprising first-round pick in a long time when the Atlanta Falcons chose Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall selection in the NFL draft last April. That came just six weeks after the Falcons had signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million in guarantees. But that move is no longer a head-scratcher after Penix's solid starting debut in place of a benched and turnover-prone Cousins. Several teams have fared well with new quarterbacks this season including the Steelers, Broncos, Vikings and Commanders. Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could start a trend in skiing. And pro sports in general ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could be the start of a trend in ski racing. The 40-year-old American standout had replacement surgery in April and returned to the World Cup circuit after nearly six years last weekend. She says her knee feels “amazing" and that "it’s something to seriously consider for athletes that have a lot of knee problems.” Her surgery was the first of its kind in World Cup skiing. Vonn had a robot-assisted surgery in April with part of the bone in her right knee cut off and replaced by two titanium pieces. She was planning her comeback a month later. Boise State's legacy includes winning coaches and championship moments No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for its third trip to the Fiesta Bowl. This time it's in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year’s Eve. Boise State's first appearance on the national stage was in a memorable victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007. But former coach Chris Petersen said the victory in that bowl three years later over TCU was even more meaningful for the program. Players have mixed feelings about being on the road on Christmas as NFL adds more holiday games OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Games on Christmas aren’t new to the NFL. The Miami Dolphins famously beat the Kansas City Chiefs in a playoff game on Dec. 25, 1971 — a double-overtime classic that still holds the record for the NFL’s longest game. In 2020, New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with six touchdowns in a game when the Saints beat Minnesota on Christmas. Lately the league has been much more aggressive about scheduling games on Christmas. That's been met with mixed feelings among the players. Baltimore tackle Ronnie Stanley says there is an offensive line Christmas party planned for Friday at center Tyler Linderbaum’s house. Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s plan is to celebrate on Thursday. Embiid ejected after drawing 2 technicals in game against Wembanyama and Spurs PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was ejected in the first half of Monday night’s game against San Antonio after drawing two technical fouls. Referee Jenna Schroeder ejected Embiid with 2 minutes, 59 seconds left in the second quarter. The seven-time All-Star received the first technical for arguing with Schroeder, and received another technical — and ejection — from Schroeder before any more game time elapsed. Embiid was close to Schroeder, but it wasn’t clear from replays whether he made contact with the official. An enraged Embiid charged toward the officials after the ejection and was restrained by teammate Kyle Lowry, head coach Nick Nurse and several assistants. Nikki Glaser uses Prime Video's NFL postgame show appearances to help prepare for Golden Globes INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Nikki Glaser has become a familiar face to football fans this season. Her breakthrough performance at the Tom Brady Roast on May 5 paved the way for five appearances on Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” postgame show. Glaser said before last Thursday’s game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers that doing her “Late Hits” segment was a no-brainer following her success at the Brady roast. Leaving Thunder, Bucks off the NBA's Christmas game list has those teams feeling snubbed Oklahoma City leads the Western Conference and has a MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Milwaukee has the NBA’s leading scorer in Giannis Antetokounmpo. They were the teams that made their way to the NBA Cup final. By any measure, they’re both very good teams. And neither will play on Christmas Day this year. Bah, humbug. The NBA faces the same challenge every summer, figuring out which 10 teams will get the honor of playing on Christmas Day. But the Bucks and Thunder are right to feel snubbed.

President-elect John Mahama Pledges to Build an Inclusive and Prosperous Government

Share Tweet Share Share Email OpenAI announced on Friday that it was testing two new reasoning AI models, called O3 and O3 small, as part of an increasing battle with competitors like Google to develop more intelligent models that can solve challenging issues. TakeAway Points: OpenAI said on Friday it was testing new reasoning AI models, o3 and o3 mini, in a sign of growing competition with rivals such as Google to create smarter models capable of tackling complex problems. Bitcoin fell sharply on Friday amid broader caution in risky assets. Bitcoin traded at around $92,808.07 at 6:57 a.m. ET on Friday, down around 9% from 24 hours before, where it was priced above $102,000, according to Coin Metrics. The cryptocurrency hit an all-time high above $108,000 just this week, but has since sold off aggressively. OpenAI reveals “o3” reasoning AI models that are now undergoing testing CEO Sam Altman said the AI startup plans to launch o3 mini by the end of January and full o3 after that, as more robust large language models could outperform existing models and attract new investments and users. Microsoft-backed OpenAI released o1 AI models in September designed to spend more time processing queries to solve hard problems. The o1 models are capable of reasoning through complex tasks and can solve more challenging problems than previous models in science, coding, and math, the AI firm said in a blog post. OpenAI’s new o3 and o3 mini models, which are in internal safety testing currently, will be more powerful than its previously launched o1 models, the company said. The GenAI pioneer said it was opening up an application process for external researchers to test o3 models ahead of the public release, which will close on Jan. 10. OpenAI had triggered an AI arms race after it launched ChatGPT in November 2022. The growing popularity of the company and new product launches helped OpenAI in closing a $6.6 billion funding round in October. Rival Alphabet’s Google released the second generation of its AI model Gemini earlier in December, as the search giant aims to reclaim the lead in the AI technology race. Bitcoin trades around $97,000, recovering from earlier losses Bitcoin hovered around the $97,000 mark on Friday, recovering from earlier losses amid broader investor caution toward risky assets. Bitcoin dipped below the $93,000 mark earlier in the day before trading above that price in volatile trade. The digital asset was last trading at $96,597.36, according to Coin Metrics, hovering near the level attained about 24 hours ago. The cryptocurrency hit an all-time high above $108,000 just this week, but has since sold off aggressively. The Federal Reserve rattled markets in recent days as it signalled fewer interest rate cuts next year. Equity markets took a hit, filtering through to crypto assets. The price of bitcoin has more than doubled this year, supported by several factors, including the launch of spot exchange-traded funds and the U.S. presidential election win of Donald Trump. He has pledged pro-crypto policies and his victory at the polls helped propel bitcoin to its latest record high. With some markets on edge due to the Fed, some of the steam has come out of assets that have seen big gains this year. Tesla, which has been another big beneficiary of Trump’s win, continued its postelection slide with shares falling on Friday in premarket trade. Other big names, such as Nvidia, were also lower during the session. Bitcoin’s fall also dragged down other cryptocurrencies. Ether was trading around 3,446.15. Related Items: 'o3' Reasoning , AI models , OpenAI , Test Phase Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Italy Fines OpenAI For Violating ChatGPT’s Privacy Terms A Former OpenAI Researcher And Whistleblower Discovered Dead OpenAI Reacts Against Co-founder Elon Musk CommentsJimmy Carter, the Georgia peanut farmer who was elected as the 39th U.S. president and later earned a Nobel Peace Prize as a global champion of human rights, has died. He was 100. "Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia," The Carter Center said in a statement announcing his death on the social media platform X. It added that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. A devout Christian who taught Sunday school at his local Baptist church for decades and whose faith-based politics were often championed as an antidote to the cynicism of the Watergate years, Carter unexpectedly ascended from the Georgia governor's office to the presidency. His 1977-81 presidential term, however, was marked by hard economic times for many Americans and the Iranian Revolution, which saw U.S. diplomats held hostage for 444 days and released only just after his successor, Ronald Reagan, was inaugurated. Over time, several Carter administration accomplishments would be recognized. They include the signing of the Camp David Accords signalling peace between Egypt and Israel, the Panama Canal Treaty and the SALT II Treaty with the Soviet Union to limit strategic missile development. Carter also established formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the People's Republic of China. "Human rights is the soul of our foreign policy, because human rights is the very soul of our sense of nationhood," the Democratic president said during a 1978 White House event. Domestically, Carter oversaw the creation of the Department of Energy and the Department of Education. He urged Democrats to pay attention to runaway government spending while simultaneously bolstering the Pentagon's budget — a stance considered anathema by some in his party but which gained more acceptance under later Democrat presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. After leaving office, Carter continued to be heavily involved in international diplomacy efforts, often through the Carter Center, helping to broker ceasefires in global hot spots and serving as an election monitor in fledgling democracies. In 2002, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Carter the Nobel Peace Prize for "his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Accepting the prize, Carter urged leaders to confront "the growing chasm between the richest and the poorest people on Earth." Carter had first-hand experience with poverty, toiling during the Great Depression on his father's peanut farm alongside Black sharecroppers. The family dwelling lacked indoor plumbing and running water for the first several years of his life. James Earl Carter, Jr. became known as "The Man from Plains" — it was both his birthplace on Oct. 1, 1924, and the site of the family farm, some 200 kilometres south of Atlanta. Much of his youth was spent in Archery, a speck on the map down the road consisting of about 30 families. While attending college in Georgia, Carter was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy, where he received a bachelor of science degree in 1946 — the same year he married Rosalynn Smith, whom he met through his sister, Ruth. Decades later, Carter described marrying Rosa, as he affectionately called her, as "the pinnacle of my life." She died of in November 2023 at age 96. In the navy, Carter served as a submariner in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, rising to the rank of lieutenant. He eventually moved to Schenectady, N.Y., to take part in the nuclear submarine program at Union College. Carter's trajectory changed in 1953. After his father died, he resigned from the navy and returned to Georgia to take over the family peanut farm and supply company. Over the next decade, Carter became a business leader in the community, and his involvement in local politics grew. He was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia Senate in 1962 and became state governor in 1971. Amid his political forays came a seminal event. As he later told a biographer, on a mission to a Pennsylvania coal-mining town with his church in 1968, Carter experienced "in a personal and intense way the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life." It would guide him through the subsequent years. Carter announced his intention to run for the presidency in 1974, just a few years into his term as Georgia governor. In a post-Nixon era, at a time when the American public was becoming disillusioned with Washington politics, Carter's outsider status and preacher-like sermons about bringing back integrity to government resonated with voters. Taking advantage of recent campaign rule changes, Carter ran in a then-record 30 primaries. The candidate and his team were the first to understand the importance of early campaign momentum in the new system, illustrating the importance of Iowa and New Hampshire results in future presidential primaries. "Carter's impact on the shape and structure of the modern nomination system cannot be overstated," wrote longtime Democratic consultant Elaine Kamarck in the book . The pious Carter raised eyebrows late in the campaign, telling a Playboy interviewer, "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times." But he would ultimately defeat incumbent Republican Gerald Ford in the closest election in 60 years in terms of electoral college margin. Carter enjoyed a honeymoon period with high approval ratings before the roof fell in on his presidency, a result of the effects of soaring inflation and high unemployment, along with several self-inflicted wounds. He brought to D.C. several of his Georgia advisers, who struggled with the process of selling their legislative program to experienced Congress members. Carter also earned a reputation as a micromanager within the White House. Former staffer James Fallows, later a journalist with the Atlantic, characterized the administration in 1979 as having "the spirit of a bureaucracy, drained of zeal, obsessed with form." Carter laboured for days over his most famous, and misinterpreted, presidential speech, given on July 15, 1979. In a speech about the country's "crisis of confidence" — it was later branded by some as the "malaise" speech, even though that word was never mentioned — Carter called on Americans to join together to conserve energy where they could, arguing it would help in the pocketbook and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign energy. His approval ratings rose noticeably after the speech, contrary to some revisionist accounts, but within days he sacked a number of cabinet members — killing any possibility of momentum by giving the impression of a dysfunctional administration. Carter's decision to pull U.S. athletes from the 1980 Moscow Olympics over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan also came in for criticism, and his younger brother Billy's shady business dealings with the Libyan government produced more negative headlines. As a result, Carter faced a now-rare primary challenge for a sitting president. While he would overcome Ted Kennedy's bid to wrest away the Democratic nomination, Carter became the first elected president to lose a bid for a second term in 48 years. Carter had general support as measured by approval ratings for his handling of the international crisis that arose when Iranian students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held dozens of American diplomats and citizens hostage. But his failure to secure their release eventually weighed down his presidency, and he approved a doomed rescue mission that killed three marines and five air force members. In the lone 1980 presidential debate, Reagan seized on Carter's penchant for pedantry, dismissing his rival with the pithy phrase "there you go again." Reagan would trounce Carter by a 440-vote margin in the electoral college, with exit polls indicating the economy and leadership qualities were bigger factors than the hostage issue. Carter returned to Georgia, became a professor at Emory University and founded the Carter Center, a non-partisan, non-profit organization focused on advancing international human rights and conflict resolution. He and his wife were also involved in expanding the affordable housing charity Habitat for Humanity. A woodworker in his spare time, Carter became the poster child of the organization and was often photographed volunteering on build sites around the world. "I can't deny I'm a better ex-president than I was a president," he said in 2005. Carter would author more than two dozen books — in addition to expected forays into international politics and U.S. history, he wrote about faith, fishing and his parents. He also wrote children's books and a collection of poetry. In a review of Carter's 2017 book, , Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates wrote, "Carter is a brave, thoughtful, disciplined leader who understands the world at a remarkable level and who has improved the lives of billions of people through his advocacy for human rights and global health." Carter was not shy in expressing his opinions about domestic politics, regardless of the party in power. While his relationship with Bill Clinton was occasionally frosty, he nonetheless argued in a joint 1998 op-ed with former rival Gerald Ford that Clinton should not be impeached after lying about his relationship with an intern but formally censured instead. Carter and then-President Bill Clinton attend a ceremony at the Carter Center in Atlanta in August 1999, where Clinton presented Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, with Presidential Medals of Freedom. (Reuters) In 2004, Carter decried the U.S. war in Iraq championed by George W. Bush as "based on lies and misinterpretation from London and from Washington." He also urged Barack Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline. Late in Donald Trump's first year in the Oval Office, Carter told an interviewer that the media had been "harder on Trump than any other president certainly that I've known about," a comment that earned praise from the now-former president. But less than two years later, Carter questioned the legitimacy of the Trump presidency in a panel discussion. Russian interference, "if fully investigated, would show that Trump didn't actually win the election in 2016," Carter argued. "He lost the election, and he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf." In a statement after the 2020 election, Carter said he looked forward to the "positive change" — and according to President Joe Biden, the two shared a private conversation on the eve of his inauguration in January 2021. In November 2019 Carter underwent surgery to alleviate pressure on his brain after suffering two falls in the preceding weeks. He had broken his hip in another fall earlier in the year, and also survived a 2015 diagnosis of melanoma. Carter's survivors include sons John, Chip and Donnell, and a daughter, Amy. In addition to his wife, Carter was predeceased by his three younger siblings — brother Billy and sisters Ruth and Gloria each died of pancreatic cancer, as did their father — as well as one grandchild. "The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices. God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes and we must." -- Jimmy Carter, 2002, Nobel speech "Acknowledging the physical realities of our planet does not mean a dismal future of endless sacrifice. In fact, acknowledging these realities is the first step in dealing with them. We can meet the resource problems of the world — water, food, minerals, farmlands, forests, overpopulation, pollution — if we tackle them with courage and foresight." -- Jimmy Carter, 1981, farewell address "If we are to serve as a beacon for human rights, we must continue to perfect here at home the rights and values which we espouse around the world: A decent education for our children, adequate medical care for all Americans, an end to discrimination against minorities and women, a job for all those able to work, and freedom from injustice and religious intolerance." -- Jimmy Carter, 1981, farewell address "There's no way now for you to get the Democratic or Republican nomination without being able to raise two or three hundred million dollars, or more, and I would not be inclined to do that. And I would not be capable of doing it. We've become now an oligarchy instead of a democracy. And I think that's been the worst damage to the basic moral and ethical standards of the American political system that I've ever seen in my life." -- Jimmy Carter, telling Oprah Winfrey in 2015 why he could not become president in the current-day political climate "America did not invent human rights, but in a very real sense, human rights invented America. Ours was the first nation to be founded on the idea that all are created equal and all deserve equal treatment under the law. Despite our missteps and shortcomings, these ideals still inspire hope among the oppressed and give us pride in being Americans." -- Jimmy Carter, op-ed, December 2016

Jimmy Carter dies: The 39th U.S. president and global humanitarian was 100

Dec 10 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. The Reserve Bank of Australia 's interest rate decision takes center stage on Tuesday, while debate intensifies over the likely success - or otherwise - of China's surprise announcement that it plans to implement looser monetary and fiscal policy. The RBA is widely expected to keep its cash rate unchanged at 4.35%, so the focus will be on when Governor Michele Bullock signals the easing cycle might start. Economists polled by Reuters reckon it will be some time in the second quarter, and Aussie money markets are pointing to a quarter point cut on April 1. Sentiment across Asia may be dented by Wall Street's slide on Monday, but investors continue to digest the first shift in China's broad policy stance since 2010. The Politburo's recommendation that a "more proactive" fiscal policy and "moderately loose" monetary policy be followed may not be on the same scale as Mario Draghi's famous "whatever it takes" pledge to save the euro in 2012. But it could still be hugely significant in China's battle to emerge from the property bust, deflation and sub-par growth. China bulls argue that, following the blitz of fiscal and market-supporting liquidity measures earlier this year, Beijing's commitment to get the economy back on track can no longer be questioned. Although it will take time for policies to take effect, the dial has definitely shifted, so investors would do well to get in and buy Chinese equities now. Those of a more cautious persuasion will say actions speak louder than words, and point out that Beijing has promised much in recent years but always under-delivered. Unless Beijing assumes the banking sector's bad loans and bails out the banks, nothing will materially change. Chinese stocks are still considerably higher than they were before the first stimulus and market support measures were announced in September, and billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper's subsequent "buy everything" call on China. China's economic surprises index has bounced back too. But economists remain skeptical over the 2025 growth outlook and Chinese bond yields are sinking - the 10-year yield is below 2% for the first time on record, and the 30-year yield is below the Japanese equivalent for the first time in around 20 years. Hardly the signs of recovery. In addition, any optimism may be tempered by the latest inflation figures which suggest Beijing's efforts to revive economic activity and demand are having a limited impact so far. Sino-US trade tensions are bubbling up again too. China said on Monday it has launched an investigation into Nvidia Corp over suspected violations of the country's anti-monopoly law. The move is widely seen as a retaliatory shot against Washington's latest curbs on the Chinese chip sector. Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Tuesday: - Australia's interest rate decision - China trade (November) - Taiwan's TSMC monthly sales announcement Sign up here. Reporting by Jamie McGeever; Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Jamie McGeever has been a financial journalist since 1998, reporting from Brazil, Spain, New York, London, and now back in the U.S. again. Focus on economics, central banks, policymakers, and global markets - especially FX and fixed income. Follow me on Twitter: @ReutersJamieGet away to Goa with Sara

Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolvedKALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Freshman Justus McNair made a 3-pointer from midcourt just before the final buzzer to cap Valparaiso's game-closing 29-4 run and the Beacons knocked off Western Michigan 76-73 on Friday. Valpo trailed 69-47 with 6:51 remaining. Tied at 73-all, Western Michigan's Donovan Williams came up short on a 3-pointer from the corner and McNair grabbed the rebound with about four seconds left before racing the other way for a one-footed runner at the horn. Cooper Schwieger scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half for the Beacons (6-5). Jefferson Monegro scored 13 points while going 4 of 15 from the floor, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and 5 for 9 from the line. McNair had 13 points and went 5 of 7 from the field (2 for 4 from 3-point range). Chansey Willis Jr. finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Broncos (3-8). Owen Lobsinger added 14 points for Western Michigan. Brandon Muntu finished with 12 points. Monegro scored eight points in the first half and Valparaiso went into halftime trailing 42-26. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Zevgolis rules the roost in BulawayoBy ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.NEW YORK (AP) — Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time," said Berson. Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.

Mortgage Rate Predictions: Holiday Week Brings Higher RatesJD Martin is awarded new territory beginning December 1st, 2024. CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JD Martin is proud to announce the expansion of its partnership with Dialight , the global leader in industrial LED lighting technology, into North and South Carolina . This growth strengthens JD Martin's commitment to delivering industry-leading lighting solutions across the Southeast. JD Martin has been a trusted partner for Dialight in multiple territories, and this latest expansion enables the company to extend its reach, bringing Dialight's innovative and energy-efficient LED lighting products to distributors, contractors, and end users in these rapidly growing markets. "We are excited to expand our partnership with Dialigh t into the Carolinas," said Lance Holmes , JD Martin RVP of the Carolinas and Virginia . " Dialight's unmatched LED lighting solutions align perfectly with the needs of our customers in these regions who are prioritizing safety, energy efficiency, and operational reliability. We look forward to continuing to drive value and growth for our partners." Dialight's industrial and hazardous location lighting solutions are renowned for their durability, sustainability, and performance in even the most challenging environments. By combining JD Martin's proven market expertise with Dialight's cutting-edge technology, businesses across the Carolinas will benefit from exceptional service and product availability. To learn more about Dialight's industrial LED lighting products, visit www.dialight.com . About JD Martin JD Martin is a premier electrical manufacturer representative agency, serving 17 states with an extensive portfolio of solutions, including lighting, wire, cable, and EV infrastructure products. With a strong focus on customer service and expertise, JD Martin partners with industry leaders to deliver innovative electrical solutions to distributors, contractors, and end users. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jd-martin-expands-representation-of-dialight-into-north-and-south-carolina-302337510.html SOURCE JD Martin Co.

The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages, from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats, such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon. But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War, predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics. The tradition continues regardless of government shutdowns, such as the one in 2018, and this year. Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada —- known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.Former US President Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize winner, has died at 100Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the marketJimmy Carter, the longest living former president, whose term was marred by the Iran hostage crisis and rampant inflation but went on to build a humanitarian legacy that was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize, died Sunday. He was 100. No cause was announced. In February 2023 he entered hospice care. The peanut farmer from Georgia was a virtual unknown when he launched his longshot 1976 presidential bid that took him from “Jimmy Who?” to his inauguration as the nation’s 39th president. The Democrat took office at a time when the country was still reeling from battles over civil rights, Vietnam, inflation and Watergate. The defining moment of Carter’s presidency, though, is often thought to have occurred Nov. 4, 1979, when Iranian militants seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took more than 50 U.S. hostages who were held for 444 days. A rescue mission in April 1980 was a dismal embarrassment, as eight U.S. crewmen died and no hostages were released. Carter left the White House in 1981 at age 56, trounced by Republican Ronald Reagan. A year later, he established the Carter Center in Atlanta with the stated mission of human rights, preventing and resolving conflicts, and improving freedom and democracy. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, cited “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” He continued to teach Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains. He and his wife, Rosalynn, traveled to Nashville in 2019 for their 36th project helping build homes with Habitat for Humanity. He and Rosalynn Carter, who died at age 96 on November 19, 2023, were married for 77 years. Jimmy Carter lived in the house he built in 1961 in Plains, Georgia, about two-and-a-half hours south of Atlanta. “Across life’s seasons, President Jimmy Carter, a man of great faith, has walked with God,” Sen. Raphael Warnock , D-Ga., wrote after news of Carter’s deteriorating condition earlier this year. “In this tender time of transitioning, God is surely walking with him.” Life in Plains, Georgia James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. was born on Oct. 1, 1924, to Lillian and James Earl Carter Sr. The father is described by the Plains Historical Preservation Trust as “an insurance broker, farmer, fertilizer dealer, Baptist and Democrat.” They lived in Plains, a town of about 700 people nestled in an area of cotton and peanut fields. Jimmy Carter had ambitions beyond Plains. Inspired by an uncle, he attended the Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. During a visit home, he asked Rosalynn Smith, whose family had known the Carters for years, on a date. Jimmy and Rosalynn, then a college student in Georgia, stayed in touch, and in July, a few weeks after he graduated from the Naval Academy, they were married. It was Adm. Hyman Rickover who would be an influence on Carter’s naval and political career. Rickover ran the nation’s nascent nuclear submarine program, and during their job interview, asked Carter if he had done his best at Annapolis. Carter, who said he graduated 59th in his class of 820, conceded, “I didn’t always do my best.” “He looked around me for a long time,” Carter recalled as recounted by James Wooten in his book, “Dasher.” Then Rickover asked one final question, which Carter said, “I have never been able to forget — or to answer. He said, ‘Why not?’ I sat there for a while shaken, and then slowly left the room.” Carter went on to work for Rickover, and “Why Not the Best?” became a Carter catchphrase, the title of his 1976 campaign autobiography. He would often cite Rickover as one of the greatest influences on his life. Carter’s Navy career was short-lived. His father died in 1953, and his family needed him to run the business in Plains. Rosalynn protested, but the family headed back to Georgia. Entering state politics Carter won a state Senate seat in 1962, and in 1966 ran for governor. It was a long shot. The civil rights movement was redefining Southern politics. The changes rocked Georgia, and Lester Maddox, who had gained fame when he pushed potential Black customers away from his Atlanta cafeteria with an ax handle, would beat Carter in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Carter returned to Plains, devastated and introspective.“ At a crossroads, he turned increasingly for solace to his faith,” wrote Peter Bourne in his biography of Carter. “There followed a series of events that would reshape both his relationship with his faith and the central guiding motivation in his life.” With the help of his sister, Ruth, an evangelist, Carter “was recommitting himself to Christ, through deep ongoing study and meditation about Christ’s life.” Through this study, Bourne wrote, “he sought to gain the fullest possible understanding of what the Christian message meant in modern life.” When he ran again for governor in 1970, Carter publicly softened his stance toward segregationists. He had kinder words for Maddox and defended all-white academies, where many whites fled as public schools became integrated. Once elected, though, Carter made it clear he would be a scion of the new, inclusive South. “No poor, rural, weak or Black person should ever have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity of an education, a job or simply justice,” he said in his inaugural address — stunning words from a Georgia governor at the time. He hung a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. outside his office at the state Capitol. By the early 1970s, national politics was in turmoil. Richard Nixon won 49 states in 1972, leaving Democratic nominee George McGovern and his party dazed with no clear path forward. McGovern was boosted by his anti-Vietnam War stance, but the war was winding down. Unknown, but not for long It was a time of enormous uncertainty. Runaway inflation, and later long lines for gasoline, rocked the economy. Nixon would be dogged by the Watergate scandal and resigned in August 1974. Trust in government was sinking. Along came Jimmy Carter. He announced his campaign for the White House in December 1974 in Washington, and few paid attention. But top aide Hamilton Jordan had a plan, and Carter presented himself as not only a fresh voice unencumbered by Washington tradition or scandal, but as a politician with a strong moral compass. He campaigned as a calm antidote to the turmoil of Washington. “I will never lie to you,” Carter told voters. It worked. He beat President Gerald Ford in a close election, and on Inauguration Day 1977 vowed to set a new course and new standard. He, Rosalynn and daughter Amy stepped out of their limousine during the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue and walked. He later addressed the nation in 1977 wearing a sweater. Carter’s initial priority would be energy efficiency to ease what he called “the moral equivalent of war” in a speech to the nation three months after he took office. Carter won some important battles. He was able to open relations with mainland China, secure approval of a treaty to end U.S. control of the Panama Canal, and perhaps most significantly, broker a historic peace accord between Israel and Egypt after nearly two weeks of talks at Camp David. Issues with the economy But the nation’s turmoil persisted. The economy remained shaky, and by the end of his term inflation and interest rates were hitting double-digit levels. Gas lines reappeared in many places in 1979. Carter was able to secure an arms control agreement with the Soviet Union, but Senate efforts to ratify it were thwarted by anger over the Soviet Union’s 1979 Afghanistan invasion. Carter appeared more and more to be losing control. He and his top advisers retreated to Camp David in the summer of 1979 to reassess how to run the government, and when it ended Carter delivered what came to be called the “malaise speech.” He told the nation, “We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation.” The speech only exacerbated his political problems. Though Congress was run by Democrats, leaders were cool to Carter, and by late 1979, Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts announced he would challenge the president for the party’s nomination. The Mariel Boatlift Carter’s election-year problems faced another daunting challenge: the Mariel Boatlift. The administration had been seeking better ties with Cuban President Fidel Castro, and in April 1980 Castro said Cubans could leave. But Castro opened his country’s mental health facilities and prisons, and they flocked to South Florida. The White House was uncertain how to deal with the situation. On May 6, 1980, in an address to the nation, Carter declared a state of emergency in the areas of Florida most “severely affected” by the exodus, and an “open heart and open arms” policy to all refugees fleeing Cuba. Miami was overwhelmed with the refugees. Many were criminals. The boatlift ended in October, but Carter suffered political damage. Carter won his party’s nomination that summer, but only after a bitter battle with Kennedy. He ran against the upbeat, optimistic Reagan, losing 44 states as he became the first elected president to lose a re-election bid since Herbert Hoover in 1932. The Iran hostages were released minutes after Reagan was sworn into office. Carter went back to Plains. The Carter Center would become a popular site for international forums. It also took on a mission to spread Carter’s vision for fighting poverty and hunger. Global 2000 was a bid to boost food production in Africa. Prolific author Carter became a prolific author, writing about a variety of topics from memoirs to treatises on the Middle East to “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis.” Among his books: “The Craftsmanship of Jimmy Carter.” “I like to see what I have done, what I have made,” Carter said. “The pleasure does not fade as the years go by; in fact, with age my diminished physical strength has eliminated some of the formerly competing hobbies and made woodworking even more precious to me.” He and Rosalynn were very involved with Habitat for Humanity and worked on their 36th project in 2019. They first volunteered with the organization, which helps build homes in the U.S. and overseas, near their home in Georgia in March 1984. On February 18, 2023, following a series of short hospital stays, the Carter Center released a statement that Carter “decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.” Carter is survived by children John William “Jack,” James Earl III “Chip,” Donnel “Jeff” Jeffrey and Amy Lynn, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchlldren. A grandson died in 2015. This story was originally published December 29, 2024, 4:24 PM.