Guernsey Press

In Pictures: Jimmy Carter continued campaigning long after leaving power

The former US president was an elder statesman on the world stage long after handing over to Ronald Reagan.

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President Jimmy Carter may have only had one term in the White House, but he remained a familiar figure on the world stage long after clearing his desk at the Oval Office.

Despite a resounding defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Democrat forged a new path promoting causes such as electoral probity abroad, social justice and drives to rid the world of medical conditions.

His first foreign visit as president was to the UK where then prime minister James Callaghan, as well as the usual visits in London, took his guest to the North East with a visit to Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington – the village bearing the name of the first ever president.

Politics – President Jimmy Carter Visit to Britain – Heathrow Airport
President Jimmy Carter on his first foreign trip since becoming president of the United States, with James Callaghan after the then-prime minister had greeted him on arrival at Heathrow Airport (Archive/PA)
US Politics – President Jimmy Carter – Newcastle
President Jimmy Carter holds up a scroll presented to him by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle Councillor Hugh White (Archive/PA)

He also received a miner’s lamp from 12-year-old Ian McEree in Washington.

US Politics – Washington, Sunderland
Ian McEree, 12, presents an old miner’s lamp to US President Jimmy Carter on behalf of Washington village (Archive/PA)
Politics – President Carter visits Sunderland
US President Jimmy Carter followed by then prime minister Mr James Callaghan in Sunderland when they visited the Corning Glass Factory (Archive/PA)

The practising Baptist continued his globetrotting ways after leaving power, even without Air Force One as his vehicle.

He was also part of the Elders, a group of experienced statesmen and women drawn from all corners of the world.

Politics – Summit of Seven – Downing Street, London
After the Summit of Seven, the four-nation meeting at No 10 Downing Street – British PM James Callaghan, French president Giscard d-Estaing, US President Jimmy Carter and West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (Archive/PA)
Royalty – Queen with Seven World Leaders – Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace
The Queen Mother walks with President Jimmy Carter in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace (Archive/PA)
Baptist World Centenary Congress – National Indoor Arena
Ex-US president Jimmy Carter during Bible class (Rui Vieira/PA)
Jimmy Carter lecture
Jimmy Carter delivers a lecture on the eradication of the Guinea worm, at the House of Lords in London (Neil Hall/PA)
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