10 Little-Known Facts About Rosalynn Carter
The former First Lady's passing presents an opportunity to review an extraordinary life
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed away today at age 96. Rosalynn was the wife of former President Jimmy Carter, whom she shared 77 years of marriage and 4 children with.
Rosalynn’s life has been celebrated with warm messages from across the political spectrum today.
Former President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama quickly posted a joint tribute message to Mrs. Carter on Instagram, after the announcement of her death.
Former President Trump posted his kind thoughts and condolences to Truth Social.
Well-wishes to the Carter family were not remote to former presidents and first ladies. Influential young populist thinkers like author Ryan James Gidursky gave a nod to the Carter marriage.
Since the end of life often presents a moment to review a lifetime of experiences and achievements, here are ten interesting facts about the life and times of Rosalynn Carter.
(Jane Fonda seen paying tribute to Jimmy Carter on his 99th birthday, stating “I love you, Jimmy Carter!” In a video posted to the Carter Center’s Instagram)
The Carters brought Jane Fonda to Christ. Fonda recalls in her 2006 memoir “My Life So Far” that it was her introduction to the Carters during her marriage to Ted Turner that first introduced her to the idea of becoming a Christian. Fonda stated she had never been particularly religious and that it was the model of the Carter’s Christian lifestyle that helped her warm up to the idea of Christ, despite being married (at that time) to Turner who is an ardent atheist.
Jimmy Carter’s mom delivered Rosalynn. Plaines, Georgia was/is a small town but it grew a little bigger when Rosalynn was born in August 1927. There were not many medical nurses or doctors in Plaines then. So when Rosalynn’s mom went into labor at the hospital, this left Mrs. Carter, a friend and local nurse in the position to deliver the future first lady.
Jimmy and Rosalynn met when he was 3 years old. Accounts differ slightly as to when Jimmy and Rosalynn first met but the general consensus is that Jimmy’s mom introduced a 3-year-old Carter to an infant Rosalynn sometime shortly after her birth.
Rosalynn was the first first lady with an East Wing office. Despite the fact Rosalynn and Eleanor Roosevelt share a first name (Rosalynn is actually Mrs. Carter’s middle name) and Mrs. Roosevelt is known for her political advocacy, Rosalynn was the first First Lady to have an office and staff in the east wing of the White House.
Before the Iron Lady, there was the Steel Magnolia. Rosalynn was dubbed with this nickname by the press corpse for her soft southern accent (magnolia) and her drive to help her husband get elected in 1976 (steel).
There are several flowers named after Rosalynn. These flowers include a rose, an orchid, and a camellia, among others.
Rosalynn’s father died of cancer when she was 13.
Her First Lady's cause was performing arts and mental health.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing her five decades of mental health advocacy in December 2020.
Rosalynn fell in love with Jimmy because of a photograph Jimmy’s Mom had on the wall. In his book "What Makes a Marriage Last" by former talk-show host Phil Donahue and his wife Marlo Thomas, Rosalynn revealed that her romance began with Jimmy when she was just a teenager and she saw Jimmy’s Navy portrait hung on Ruth Carter’s wall.