reactions that the access the people had chemical reactions that people had to this first opportunity to vote for the government, for palestinians, and he wasjust government, for palestinians, and he was just completely down—to—earth, friendly, asking questions, sharing knowledge and it was a thrill for me, meeting a former president, doing this important work and something that the united states had stood behind for quite a while. we absolutely checked in with the carter centre around the world, as they went around observing elections, making sure that we had their take on how it went as well as what we observed for ourselves. ambassador, that is a fan —— fascinating experience to have as a young diplomat. i also want to talk about more about president carter's impact in the middle east because significantly he negotiated camp david of course between egypt in 1978. i was a young student until --

tel aviv, 1978. i was a young student until -- tel aviv. so — 1978. i was a young student until -- telaviv, so having _ 1978. i was a young student until -- tel aviv, so having that _ 1978. i was a young student until -- tel aviv, so having that burst - 1978. i was a young student until -- tel aviv, so having that burst there| tel aviv, so having that burst there and seeing it really capped by the efforts of us diplomats to bring peace between these countries and to work with them to start the piece in the middle east was something that i found inspiring and quite frankly led to my career choice, because of what i saw, what american diplomacy can do in the world. {131 what i saw, what american diplomacy can do in the world.— can do in the world. of course, as we know. — can do in the world. of course, as we know. no _ can do in the world. of course, as we know, no presidency— can do in the world. of course, as we know, no presidency is- can do in the world. of course, as we know, no presidency is all- can do in the world. of course, as - we know, no presidency is all smooth sailing. a significant challenge, of course, being the iran hostage crisis. , , , ., ., crisis. yes, yes, that's, again, before i became _ crisis. yes, yes, that's, again, before i became a _ crisis. yes, yes, that's, again, before i became a diplomat, l crisis. yes, yes, that's, again, l before i became a diplomat, but crisis. yes, yes, that's, again, - before i became a diplomat, but many of those who had been held hostage continued in the state department, continued in the state department, continued working in the middle east, continued their diplomatic efforts to try and resolve the

conflicts of the region, but as the earlier guest mentioned, it did insure that he was going to be a one term president. like your earlier guest mentioned, the impact of his belief, of his stances, carried on far beyond the presidency and even habitat for humanity.— habitat for humanity. ambassador s-ueakin to habitat for humanity. ambassador speaking to me — habitat for humanity. ambassador speaking to me a _ habitat for humanity. ambassador speaking to me a short _ habitat for humanity. ambassador speaking to me a short while - habitat for humanity. ambassador speaking to me a short while ago, | speaking to me a short while ago, speaking to me a short while ago, speaking about some of his foreign policy achievements as well as challenges, something that many people have commented on is former president's �*s commitment to environmental policy, someone who founded the energy administration here in the united states, and on that front earlier, i spoke to the former environmental adviser to president carter. jimmy carter was a man before his time when it came to the environment. tell us

more about that. i came to the environment. tell us more about that.— more about that. i thinkjimmy carter was _ more about that. i thinkjimmy carter was the _ more about that. i thinkjimmy carter was the only _ more about that. i thinkjimmy carter was the only president l more about that. i thinkjimmy - carter was the only president we've had who really felt the environment in his bones, he was deeply committed before he became president and when he became president he did and when he became president he did a series of path—breaking things that are relevant to today, he launched us on a path of being very concerned about energy efficiency and conservation of energy, he developed a first national energy plan and pushed it through the congress, 1978, he launched a major solar programme in the country at that time, and his budget, his last budget that he submitted to congress, he had huge programmes for efficiency and for solar. most notably, i suspect, from our point of view today, he understood, from

our point of view of a private issue... i'm sorry, someone is talking also, i can't communicate very well. talking also, i can't communicate ve well. ., ., ., , talking also, i can't communicate ve well. ., ., ., ., very well. not to worry at all, i know how _ very well. not to worry at all, i know how difficult _ very well. not to worry at all, i know how difficult that - very well. not to worry at all, i know how difficult that can - very well. not to worry at all, i . know how difficult that can be. we will make sure that we sort that out. butjust in terms of some of those key achievements you're just mentioning there his solar panel policy. if i am not mistaken, he even put some solar panels on the white house roof. that is very correct. and of course, infamously, president reagan took them down, quite ceremoniously, and made a deal about deviating from the good policies that carter was putting in place. carter most importantly i

think understood the climate issue and set us on a path to dealing with it and the statements, including in 1980 two address this issue if we had gone about it sensibly. if we put it on smooth glide paths out of the fossil fuel worlds, and put it on smooth glide paths out of the fossilfuel worlds, and his defeat by reagan really threw all of that in the air. the defeat by reagan really threw all of that in the air.— that in the air. the direction and misdirection that _ that in the air. the direction and misdirection that president - that in the air. the direction and i misdirection that president reagan took a sin after. find misdirection that president reagan took a sin after.— took a sin after. and so where do ou think took a sin after. and so where do you think that — took a sin after. and so where do you think that conviction, - took a sin after. and so where do you think that conviction, when l took a sin after. and so where do you think that conviction, when it comes to the importance of environmental policies, climate friendly policies, where do you think that came from in president

carter? is it something that he witnessed himself as somebody who grew up with he was a kid on a farm in georgia and but grew up with he was a kid on a farm in georgia an— in georgia and but as governor in geora ia in georgia and but as governor in georgia very _ in georgia and but as governor in georgia very close _ in georgia and but as governor in georgia very close to _ in georgia and but as governor in georgia very close to the - in georgia and but as governor in georgia very close to the georgia conservancy, a major environmental group he worked on environmental issues extensively in georgia and what's easy to forget is when groups of people fanned out of georgia to support his campaign in 1976, calling themselves the peanut brigade, there were people who he had earned the loyalty of through his environmental work, so he had this as part of his being, as part of his makeup and he really pursued it here in the white house to our great credits looking back on it, we

need that today. in great credits looking back on it, we need that today.— need that today. in terms of protecting — need that today. in terms of protecting the _ need that today. in terms of protecting the environment | need that today. in terms of. protecting the environment and need that today. in terms of - protecting the environment and the landscape, he signed an act in 1980, the alaska lands act, the single largest expansion of protected lands in american history, hugely significant. in american history, hugely significant-— significant. this is an accomplishment - significant. this is an accomplishment that significant. this is an - accomplishment that has got significant. this is an _ accomplishment that has got to rank with the greatest conservation moves in the country, may be the greatest, double the size of the national parks system. it was a hard—fought battle, and he pursued it diligently over a long period of time, it was one of the early initiatives that he put together as president and it took the four years to get it done. but it was a... it has transformed the amount of protected area and beautiful lands our country cannot

treasure. he had to move with great political skill to get it done, there is a law which allows a president to take unilateral action to protect some federal properties, and he basically used that law extensively to protect alaska and basically force the congress to have to deal with something that was slightly different here and they did. i give the president �*s tremendous credit for that and always remember him for it. just before leaving _ always remember him for it. just before leaving office, president carter released a report largely written by you, sir, if i'm not mistaken that predicted invasive changes to agricultural patterns if

there was a continued reliance on fossil fuels. there was a continued reliance on fossilfuels. wondering if you have the chance to exchange with him in recent years if he shared with you any thoughts about the future of the climate. i any thoughts about the future of the climate. . ., �* any thoughts about the future of the climate. u, �* u, any thoughts about the future of the climate. u, �* _ ., ., climate. i can't say that i have. i had some _ climate. i can't say that i have. i had some early _ climate. i can't say that i have. i had some early indications - climate. i can't say that i have. i had some early indications with | climate. i can't say that i have. i. had some early indications with him shortly after he left office, but nothing in the recent past. i would say that this initiative that he said in 1980 that the climate issue was one of the pre—eminent challenges for the next decade. if he had won the election in 1980, i'm convinced that this would've been a priority for his second term. and that would have made a world of difference because it was a new issue at this time it was also

wildly appreciated by the environmental community, so just imagine 40—16 years ago, we really knew what we needed to know to tackle the fossil fuel to move us out of fossil fuels and dealing with the climate issue. and we have failed in that. and in the us and us leadership has also failed in the world. carter could have, if he had won that election been a figure of immense significance, historically, i think that those who say that he was a great former president, a great ex—president are missing the point of how great he was as president. a, point of how great he was as

president-— point of how great he was as president. point of how great he was as resident. �* , ., ., ., , president. a short while ago i spoke to lindsay chervinksy is presidential historian and executive director of the george washington presidential library. president carter live such a long and extraordinary life and managed to do something which so few presidents get to do, which is totally redefining his legacy after leaving the most powerful office in the world, and that's really something worth celebrating. what the world, and that's really something worth celebrating. what do ou think he something worth celebrating. what do you think he will _ something worth celebrating. what do you think he will be _ something worth celebrating. what do you think he will be most _ something worth celebrating. what do | you think he will be most remembered for? i you think he will be most remembered for? ~ �* , you think he will be most remembered for? ~' �* , ., you think he will be most remembered for? ~ �* , ., ., , you think he will be most remembered for? ~ �*, ., ., , for? i think he's going to be most remembered for _ for? i think he's going to be most remembered for his _ for? i think he's going to be most remembered for his service - for? i think he's going to be most remembered for his service and l for? i think he's going to be most i remembered for his service and his small our republican virtue after he left office. so he demonstrated what it means to leave behind the trappings and the power of the presidency and return to being an average citizen. he dedicated himself to helping his fellow citizens around the globe, whether it be with habitat for humanity or curing diseases like river

blindness, that is an extraordinary contribution, and noticed none of those things had anything to do with his political career, and i think that that is a remarkable and unique thing that we have not seen certainly in the 20th century, i would say the last president to do so wasjohn quincy adams. would say the last president to do so was john quincy adams. recently, i was “ust so was john quincy adams. recently, i was just reflecting _ so was john quincy adams. recently, i wasjust reflecting on _ so was john quincy adams. recently, i wasjust reflecting on a _ so was john quincy adams. recently, i wasjust reflecting on a moment - i was just reflecting on a moment that we saw when president clinton i believe at the time gave the presidential medal of freedom to president carter and to the first lady rosalyn carter commented at the time he said these words really struck me, no one, no one has done more for human rights than these two. just reflect a little on that. that is a remarkable statement, remarkable statement by someone who i think has its own track record with grappling with. they are not particularly flashy in the way that they sought to change the world, but they sought to change the world, but they used every avenue that was available to them, whether it was

connections or their ability to fund raise or even what that would bring along with that knowing that the tv cameras and news coverage would typically follow, and they put that to extraordinary use, whether it was for environmental causes like you were just discussing, whether it was for disease, housing, trying to prevent diseases and cures that we didn't know about, that medical research, and i hope that his foundation can continue in service to his memory. {iii foundation can continue in service to his memory-— foundation can continue in service to his memory. of course the first lad who to his memory. of course the first lady who sadly — to his memory. of course the first lady who sadly passed _ to his memory. of course the first lady who sadly passed away - to his memory. of course the first lady who sadly passed away in - lady who sadly passed away in november 2023 and as one of our previous guests had just been saying come i think many once the first lady had passed away that perhaps it wouldn't be so long until the former

president may also task away, but nevertheless, he did hold on for a long time, they were an incredible dynamic duo. long time, they were an incredible dynamic duo-— long time, they were an incredible dynamic duo. they wear. they were to . ether dynamic duo. they wear. they were together for — dynamic duo. they wear. they were together for so _ dynamic duo. they wear. they were together for so much _ dynamic duo. they wear. they were together for so much longer - dynamic duo. they wear. they were together for so much longer than i together for so much longer than they were ever apart. so it's hard to imagine one without the other, and that was certainly true. rosalyn carter used to sit in on meetings and take notes. she would review books to make sure and he said once that his greatest contribution from his greatest thing he was most proud of was his marriage, and she was with him every step of the way with a driving force for people who knew them. they talked about how

fox... they had to step back a little bit, but not because of it is the limelight... little bit, but not because of it is the limelight. . ._

the limelight... often seen as something — the limelight. .. often seen as something of— the limelight... often seen as something of a _ the limelight... often seen as something of a model - the limelight... often seen as something of a model for i something of a model for post—presidential organisations, the carter center, for people who perhaps are not familiar with that, just tell us about the footprint, the impact of the carter center. the carter center _ the impact of the carter center. iie: carter center is the impact of the carter center. "iie: carter center is amazing, the impact of the carter center. i““ie: carter center is amazing, and the impact of the carter center. iie: carter center is amazing, and as you said accurately it is an excellent model for what has come afterwards. a lot of presidential foundations and centres i think have taken that as their new print for what they are trying to create. it gathers funds and support for research and causes around the world. sometimes those are medical causes, so for looking for cures for disease, especially in places where they felt like they could really make a difference in certain regions in africa that had not received a whole lot of attention, they have been huge supporters of housing and development for low income families in the united states here. for environmental causes, civil rights, women's rights, voting rights, and that foundation i think has been so

impactful not only because it has done deep work in certain places but also because of its breadth. yellow in terms of — also because of its breadth. yellow in terms of that, _ also because of its breadth. yellow in terms of that, communicable i in terms of that, communicable diseases, even responsible for the eradication of some diseases, the guinea worm, for example. absolutely. there are couple of diseases that they've essentially completely eradicated, when is the guinea worm, the other is called river blindness, very much not that kind of doctor, so we will need to double check that, but what is amazing about those kinds of diseases is all it really takes is a significant amount of funds and attention and research to come up with a cure. nobody had necessarily focused their attentions in that place and that is just an incredible legacy to leave behind, all of those lives that were saved or touched in some fashion by eradicating diseases that could be eradicated. edit some fashion by eradicating diseases that could be eradicated.— that could be eradicated. of course i know that could be eradicated. of course i know that — that could be eradicated. of course i know that you _ that could be eradicated. of course i know that you are _ that could be eradicated. of course i know that you are a _ that could be eradicated. of course i know that you are a historian i that could be eradicated. of course i know that you are a historian of l i know that you are a historian of presidential history, but ijust

wonder if you are able to tell us of what your personal impression was, perhaps, presidentjimmy carter. he seems to be someone who had a humanitarian spirits, very much down to earth, but people also talk about him being steel willed as well. i think president carter was a good man, he had a lot of excellent principles and values that he pursued and some of his greatest contributions weren't actually really seen until reagan's presidency, so things like the civil rights efforts, things like moving forward with environmental protections, even putting in place certain measures to improve the economy started to show fruit a little later, and he does mark —— deserve more credit than he receives. there's also certain intangibles with the presidency, and ability to sell your message, to communicate in a way that uplifts the american people and an ability to understand how to work with congress. those are things that are harder to teach, things that are

harder to teach, things that are harder to teach, things that are harder to quantify and sometimes carter struggled with those. he was brilliant and so often thought that he knew best, and people in dc have a way of telling you what they think of that, and congress certainly did. i think some of his struggles were certainly of his own making or perhaps what he had to offer wasn't always a great fit for the moment, what i do think is that history will view him more kindly than it did shortly after he left office. find i shortly after he left office. and i wonder also _ shortly after he left office. and i wonder also what _ shortly after he left office. and i wonder also what you _ shortly after he left office. and i wonder also what you think i shortly after he left office. and i wonder also what you think his i shortly after he left office. and i wonder also what you think his own historical perspective on his time in the white house might have been if you know whether there are issues that still caused him thought or concern or perhaps even regret. iie concern or perhaps even regret. he was concern or perhaps even regret. he: was notoriously tight—lipped about that. he never said a lot about what his legacy would be he preferred to focus on his efforts afterwards, so i don't want to speculate about what he thought because i'm not really sure. but based on what he has said about what matters to him afterwards, my guess is at one point

he said he wanted to live long enough to vote for kamala harris. 0bviously that election did not work out the way he wanted, but he would be concerned with voting rights, civil rights, women's rights, because those are the same things that he cared about when he was in office. , , :, ~ that he cared about when he was in office. , , ., ,, :, that he cared about when he was in office, , ., ,, :, , ., , office. just talk to us a little bit more about _ office. just talk to us a little bit more about that. _ office. just talk to us a little bit more about that. do _ office. just talk to us a little bit more about that. do you i office. just talk to us a little bit more about that. do you knowl office. just talk to us a little bit i more about that. do you know any of his opinions when it comes to recent years of the political system and political landscape in this country is mike what he has made about? well, he was very much a democrat. he was always very clear about being a democrat and he wanted to vote for democrats. so on that particular note, he was not particularly subtle. but i do think he often kept... subtle. but i do think he often ke t. .. , , subtle. but i do think he often ket... , , �* , subtle. but i do think he often ket... , , �*, ., subtle. but i do think he often ket... , :, :, subtle. but i do think he often l kept- - -— he subtle. but i do think he often ke-t... , ., :, heoften kept... coughing 's are not he often ke -t his kept... coughing 's are not he often kept his political— kept... coughing 's are not he often kept his political thoughts _ kept... coughing 's are not he often kept his political thoughts to - kept his political thoughts to himself in terms of what he thought of presidency in office because he didn't always want to rock the boat on their behalf, on a sort of

tried—and—true sort of tradition among former presidents, nonetheless, he did involve himself with foreign policy and often expressed his wishes, even if they were contradictory to those who were in office. so i think that he certainly wasn't a huge fan of former president donald trump, he certainly didn't vote for him this time,, but he would've hoped that he would be a success because he wants the nation to be a success.— the nation to be a success. lindsay, thank ou the nation to be a success. lindsay, thank you very _ the nation to be a success. lindsay, thank you very much _ the nation to be a success. lindsay, thank you very much for _ the nation to be a success. lindsay, | thank you very much for persevering with us. if you do need to get a glass of water, then don't worry at all. yellow neck sorry about that. not at all, i appreciate that we are talking for a very long time on this occasion. of course, if you are just joining us here on bbc news, is special coverage of the passing of the former us presidentjimmy carter who has died at the age of 100. i am joined here by lindsay, a presidential historian, and just briefly, if you don't mind, lindsay coming ourfinal thoughts briefly, if you don't mind, lindsay coming our final thoughts on what his legacy will be? i

coming our final thoughts on what his legacy will be?— his legacy will be? i think you will be seen as _ his legacy will be? i think you will be seen as a _ his legacy will be? i think you will be seen as a flawed _ his legacy will be? i think you will be seen as a flawed and - his legacy will be? i think you will be seen as a flawed and mixed i his legacy will be? i think you will i be seen as a flawed and mixed legacy type of president, as they all are, but ultimately will be viewed as an extraordinary example of what a citizen can deep on behalf of their nation. a presidential historian speaking to me a short while ago. joining me now isjeremy shoulta, jimmy carter's former pastor. a warm welcome to you. thank you very much for being with us. i would like to begin by getting your thoughts and our condolences as well to you for losing someone who had been a member of your congregation. your thoughts on this day? well. your thoughts on this day? well, there's grief _ your thoughts on this day? well, there's grief in _ your thoughts on this day? well, there's grief in my _ your thoughts on this day? well, there's grief in my hearts, i your thoughts on this day? well, there's grief in my hearts, as i your thoughts on this day? -ii there's grief in my hearts, as there would be after losing any congregant, friend orfamily member, but there is also a great deal of gratitude and celebration and i believe i am one of millions and millions of individuals who have a

sense of gratitude and celebration in their heart tonight for someone who lived a life that beautifully reflected their christian faith and that showed love and compassion to all. forthat, igive that showed love and compassion to all. for that, i give thanks tonight, i'mjust all. for that, i give thanks tonight, i'm just gratefulfor the tonight, i'm just grateful for the time tonight, i'm just gratefulfor the time i had with them and the time with millions of people to show how much he loved them and how much she would work for them and advocate for them and in his life. he would work for them and advocate for them and in his life.— them and in his life. he was a man of faith, them and in his life. he was a man of faith. a — them and in his life. he was a man of faith, a born-again _ them and in his life. he was a man of faith, a born-again christian. i of faith, a born—again christian. talk to us a little about his journey with faith, what it meant to him, the evolution of his faith. 5 him, the evolution of his faith. �*s faith transcended his life from his earliest of years and it's something that he grew and throughout the entirety of his life. i don't think he ever stopped being a student of the bible and growing in the faith and deepening his faith, he

obviously became a very well respected and regarded christian who served as a deacon in plains georgia, but then also taught sunday school where millions of individuals will have heard him, share of the christian faith in that setting and to continue to share about, to tie in his christian faith with his presidency where he would be sharing a story from the bible and mention a world meeting he had with world leaders during his presidency and he would bring it back to a point where we could all relates to the questions and the ways that he was living out his mission faith, we could relate to it and that christian life, so he notjust taught that but he lived it out, i think on a global stage, but especially there in plains when the cameras were often people had gone home, he would be out in the

community visiting people and being with children in the community of all kinds and was living out his faith day by day, even when no one else was looking online, so his faith for all of his days was a huge part of his life and it was deeply valuable to him and transcended all that he did, all that he was, compassion and love was at the core of his being and that was an outflow of his being and that was an outflow of his faith. :, :, of his faith. you mentioned something _ of his faith. you mentioned something there _ of his faith. you mentioned something there about i of his faith. you mentioned i something there about being of his faith. you mentioned - something there about being there with the community when the cameras were not rolling any more, certainly an extraordinary sunday school teacherfor an extraordinary sunday school teacher for those children to have, and i read something and you can confirm to me whether it is true, when he noticed a rail in his stairwell was broken, hejust kind of rolled up his sleeves and repaired it himself. is that true? that is true. i think i remember being at the office by myself that day and someone came in the side door, which didn't happen terribly often in that small rural church. he came in along with a member or two

of the secret service and he had tools in hand, so he came in, he found a rail that was broken or loose and he took it back to that shop at his house, he repaired it and he brought it back and he fixed it. that is just one example of the ways that he is church and would do those things once again when the cameras were knocked on, but he took ioy cameras were knocked on, but he took joy and found purpose in doing those seemingly small tasks. find joy and found purpose in doing those seemingly small tasks.— joy and found purpose in doing those seemingly small tasks. and would you sa that his seemingly small tasks. and would you say that his faith _ seemingly small tasks. and would you say that his faith was _ seemingly small tasks. and would you say that his faith was evident - seemingly small tasks. and would you say that his faith was evident in i say that his faith was evident in his workers, when you look, for example at the commitment to housing, for example, and some of those acts that he put into place? i believe it was apparent and i believe it was apparent and i believe it was obvious. 0f believe it was apparent and i believe it was obvious. of course, his presidency, what happened before i came along, so i can only speak to what i heard from others or what i have read in books, but knowing the things that he valued, human rights, like i said, housing, health, curing

diseases that was of his faith. his compassion and commitment for that was a result of the meaning he found in following jesus and his christian faith and so i believe that in his presidency and even after he left the white house that that is what guided him and drove him towards those acts of compassion that several of your guests and multiple individuals have reflected on today, he carried that with him wherever he of their community. how have they be carried 1g about this, knowing of their community. how have they be carried that iout this, knowing of their community. how have they be carried that with :his, knowing of their community. how have they be carried that with him knowing of their community. how have they be carried that with him wherever he went, including in his presidency. he carried that with him wherever he went, including in his presidency. jeremy, of course, very sadly, we jeremy, of course, very sadly, we saw rosalynn, the former first lady saw rosalynn, the former first lady passed away in november of 2023. we passed away in november of 2023. we then saw former president carter go then saw former president carter go into hospice care. we know in into hospice care. we know in february of this year, and i'm sure february of this year, and i'm sure members of the congregation have members of the congregation have been watching that very closely and been watching that very closely and thinking about someone who was part thinking about someone who was part of their community. how have they of their community. how have they

been feeling about this, knowing been feeling about this, knowing that perhaps in time they would be losing someone, who, of course, very important to them.— important to them. congress kept in touch and i think _ important to them. congress kept in touch and i think they _ important to them. congress kept in touch and i think they were - important to them. congress kept in touch and i think they were always i touch and i think they were always concerned for ,, , in

well, but, yes, the folks in plans, those who he had visited them in their home when they had lost a family member or they were sick or they were going through a struggling time, president and mrs carter were there in their homes, strengthening those bonds of friendship and family and so i know that that weight of grief is heavy tonight, and so i think they will always remember and be proud of and thankful of all of the contributions of their fellow resident of plains, president and mrs carter, the way they went out and serve the world and they are also feeling that sting of grief because they have lost quite literally a neighbour and a fellow church member and someone who was a part of the organisations there locally and someone who they knew deeply on a deeper level. so, certainly they are going to miss him tremendously, but once again, have watched this long journey with him, and i think that tonight they are

celebrating that he has entered his eternal