Carter, Mondale Surpass Adams, Jefferson

[cal04]

Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale have surpassed John Adams and Thomas Jefferson as the president and vice president who have lived the longest since leaving office. As of Tuesday, Carter and Mondale had lived 25 years and 123 days since leaving the White House in 1981. That's a day longer than Adams and Jefferson, who both died July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. More important than their longevity, some observers contend, is the legacy of productivity the pair have crafted.

``The modern presidents seem to be living longer,'' said Jay Hakes, director of the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum in Atlanta. ``The question of what they're going to do when they leave office assumes a lot more importance now than it may have in the past, and (Carter and Mondale) have really sort of set the pace for very active and productive lives after leaving the White House.''

Carter, 81, and his wife, Rosalynn, founded The Carter Center in 1982. He has traveled widely since then, working on peace, democracy and health initiatives worldwide. He won the Nobel Prize for his efforts in 2002. Carter's other pursuits have included volunteering annually with Georgia-based Habitat for Humanity, writing more than 20 books, and hobbies that include painting and woodworking.

Four years after leaving the White House, Mondale, 78, was the Democratic nominee for president. He was appointed ambassador to Japan by President Clinton in 1993 and was Clinton's special envoy on the Asian financial crisis and economic reforms in Indonesia five years later. After Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota died in a plane crash during his re-election campaign in 2002, Mondale replaced him on the ticket but lost to Republican Norm Coleman. Mondale currently is senior counsel at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, a Minneapolis law firm, where he specializes in issues involving Asian finance and government.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5841334,00.html

[bullimiami]

1. i wish another 20 years for jimmy and rosalynn. good people.

too nice for politics.

[etherealtruth]

2. I can't resist

Jimmy Carter:loveya: is as close as I come to having a hero. He is a wonderful human being that has used his status as a former president for the benefit of all humanity (I realize I am gushing but I do truly adore that man).

[Clark2008]

3. He's a real Christian

Not a frighto-fundie.

How anyone can say he's not is beyond me.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. I'll gush right along side you

I think President Jimmy is just a great, great man and deserving of **more** Nobel prizes.

[LuCifer]

4. OH BUT HE MUST AM BE CENSURED!!!!!

:sarcasm:

For the love of hell, what the hell is THAT crap?! They wanna censure someone who hasn't been president for HOW long?! And he's like 80 or so?! Gee, what KKKompasionate KKKonservatives.