i'm running for president. >> jimmy carter. >> jimmy who?on't know who he is. >> i picture him like one of us. one of the commons. >> jimmy carter grew up in a very small town in the south. plains, georgia. he had grown into a family of farmers. became a peanut farmer himself. from georgia he basically started his political ascent. >> the idea that somebody that somebody from that region could aspire that kind of national office, people didn't even try. >> yesterday, about 50,000 democrats in iowa met in caucuses to choose delegates for their state party convention. former georgia governor jimmy carter did extremely well. >> the iowa caucus was something no one ever paid attention to. but carter and his team said, hey, if we go and we win, the media is going to treat us look a serious political front-runner. >> mr. carter is also deeply religious. he prays in public and speaks openly about his religious beliefs. >> carter was a person who you thought would lead america to some kind of spiritual redemption. which at the time we really needed.

you handle life; clorox handles the germs. >>> joining us now for a tu thoughts on jimmy carter, the ter was president when andrea first began her reporting career here in washington. andrea, you've known president carter for some time. we actually found this picture of you, i believe this is back in 1976, as a young kyw reporter. this was as he was run for president in pennsylvania primary. talk a little bit about your relationship with jimmy carter and his relationship with his wife rosalyn that seems to be so intricate to every moment of his life. >> well, what you saw today was just so mem aably, perfectly jimmy carter. i interviewed him a little over a year ago and it was a book publication interview for "meet the press." when i asked him what was the magic between behind july my carter, the secret for him at that age doing as much as he was, just bless we'd his adventurous life. you heard that today. that's what he's facing with this diagnosis. that picture, by the way, that you just showed back from '7 6, that was a memorable day. bellevue stratford motel and he was trying to d

injected the concept of human rights into our global parlance with the diggity and quanity an jimmy carter. >> he noted how the bushes calls, the secretary of state, john kerry called, and it's the first time they've spoken in a while. right now president carter's foreign policy not always in line with the current administration. douglas, he spoke at this point as he's 90 years old facing this cancer battle reflectively about his life and about his career and about his regrets and there was this remarkable moment in this news conference where he spoke about the iran hostage crisis which was perhaps the -- it was the low point of his presidency, one of the low points for the united states, period, and he spoke about the failed hostage rescue. let's listen to that sound bite. >> and anything you wish, i'm sorry, that you had not done or that you had done differently? >> i wish i had sent one more helicopter to get the hostages and we would have rescued them and i would have been re-elected. >> he went on to say, you know, if he had to choose the carter senster over being re-elected, he would

jimmy carter -- first off, he could have been a doctor. rter center since '82, '83 has been working global health problems all over the planet. he constantly meets with doctors' groups. what we saw today was jimmy carter being really america's great patient. he's showing us how to listen to doctors, to believe in modern medicine, but also keep faith and hope alive and to try to live out your last months of your life with dignity. so it's an amazing moment because he's teaching us on how to cope with something as heinous as cancer which as you mentioned affected your family and it affects everybody's family. we can't wipe cancer out like guinea worm right now, but if ever the ideas of getting rid of cancer are going to come, it will come from places like the cart center working with emory center or md anderson. he was spot on wonderful today. >> absolutely. douglas brinkley, thanks so much. i want to bring back in wolf blitzer. i have met jimmy carter myself many times. i met him when i was a very young reporter. he was monitoring some elect

this is a moment to contrast the moment the grace of jimmy carter with the grow desk ego tism of real estate developer to who thinks he is up for the job. joining us is a former speech writer for president carter. walter, please expand on that point. you have the floor. >> first of all, jimmy carter when he ran in '76 promised the american people a government as good as its people. the way donald trump is running, he's promising the american people a government as good as the worst elements and a shallow as the worst with elements of the american people. the thing that gets me -- forget his positions on immigration. the thing that got me is with chuck tothd on sunday when trump was asked who are your military advisers and what he said is, oh, i just watch the sunday shows. that's all i need. that, more than anything, is such a profound disrespect for the office. and the whole trump circus is more than anything scarily -- he either sees the white house as a branding opportunity or he is totally oblivious to a job that harry truman decided as the sun, moon and stars all falling on you.

we begin with former president jimmy carter and his battle against cancer. today in a news conference, mr carter shares details about his illness and the treatment he's starting to receive. robert ray has more from atlanta. >> earlier this morning, the 39th president of the u.s. jimmy carter walked out to a media room, he had a sport coat, jeans, his wife of 69 years was in the front row and he told everyone heats at ease with whatever adventure lies ahead and he's had a wonderful life. >> thank you for coming this morning. >> an upbeat jimmy carter set for a candid discussion on thursday about his cancer diagnosis. >> i've been as blessed as any human being in the well. >> reporter: the president felt ill in may, during a trip to monitor elections. a checkouts revealed a growth on jimmy carter's liver, found to be melanoma, a cancer that begins on the skin. and spreads through the body from there. >> they did an m.r.i., and found there were four spots of melanoma on my brain. they are small spots. about 2mm or a millimetre. i'll get the first radiation treat

tonight, the fight of his life, an extraordinary show of courage and candor from former president jimmy carter speaking openly about cancer. the hidden melanoma on his brain holding on to faith and family saying his future is in god's hands. >>> wildfire tragedy, firefighters killed, a mystery crash and overcome by raging flames and smoke now surrounding entire towns. aggressive, erratic winds making it increasingly dangerous on the front lines. >>> fighting words, donald trump and jeb bush caught in an uproar over birthright citizenship and the use of a term people find offensive. >>> and gas below $2 in a dozen states. why experts say it's falling so fast, and how low it could go. "nightly news" begins right now. >> announcer: from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening. we begin with a remarkable moment that happened today. a former president speaking in a way we never heard before, about his serious medical condition and confronting his own mortality. jimmy carter went before cameras today to explain in great detail his recent

jimmy carter went before cameras today to explain in great detail his recent cancer diagnosis. the removal of a tumor on his liver and then the surprising discovery he fully revealed for the first time today. >> first, i felt that it was confined to my liver and they had -- the operation had completely removed it, so i was quite relieved. and then that same afternoon, we had an mri of my head and neck and it showed up that it was already in four places in my brain. so i would say that night and the next day until i came back up to emory, i just thought i had a few weeks left. but i was surprisingly at ease. >> the cancer, melanoma, a kind we usually associate with skin cancer and often a troubling prognosis. yet what the world saw today was a sharp, upbeat and courageous man ready to face what's next. we begin our coverage with nbc's hallie jackson. >> well, thank you all for coming this morning. >> reporter: in a frank, deeply personal and very public conversation, president carter revealed not just new details about his melanoma but a man at peace with his diagnosis. >> i've

cruz: thank you. >> is a proper to criticize jimmy carter given his health? sen. cruz: when it comes down to public policy of the carter administration, millions of people -- [indiscernible] failed public policy. people are yearning for america. it is going to be an election just like 1980. that is the way we are going to win. >> is that appropriate? come with me and i will sign it out there. >> what would you do to help mothers like me that can't afford to keep their jobs? we need to have an economic environment where moms have opportunity. i was raised by a working mom. many of the people in my family are single moms. in the last 6.5 years, 3.7 million women -- the median income has dropped $733. is to gete answer back to booming economic growth where small businesses are growing and moms and young people are anybody who wants to achieve the american dream has the opportunity to do so. >> does your polish the support -- does your policy support maternity leave? sen. cruz: i think maternity leave and maternity leave our wonderful -- >> on a national level? sen. cr

but you can't keep jimmy carter in a bed or keep him from being active. said that i know that a lot of -- this carter center is not just jimmy carter. he's built an infrastructure that will be able to pick up all of the programs. >> all right, thank you very much for joining us. >> thank you. >>> joining me now is nbc news senior white house correspondent chris jansing. thank you for joining us. i was wondering there would be any reaction from the white house about this news. >> well, the news just came out and we have reached out to the white house to see if they are going to come out with any statement. we have not heard back from them yet. but obviously the club of former presidents and living presidents is a very small club. they do all know each other. and some of the humanitarian work you were talking about just a few moments ago is something as you've stated widely admired. this is somebody who logs thousands of miles a year. i've met him, i've spoken to him. i've interviewed him. he is someone who has seemingly boundless reserves of energy to trav

attacks about the camp david accords and the 13 days in amherst to god and jimmy carter spent together, not always harmonious late at camp david and how the process worked out. personality, history, fear, anxiety, stress, ms. truss, the role of interlocutor. jimmy carter put a lot on the table including his own reputation and it worked in the camp david accord remains the only lasting peace accord in the middle east and jimmy carter deserves a lot of credit as to the other participants as well. if you want to see how human levels diplomacy worked, great book ought to be read by every graduate school and international studies. walter isakson, benjamin franklin an american life, a wonderful biography. benjamin franklin comes through these pages and we would really based on a per trail in this book. on balance this is a great vision, lived a long life, many episodes to the life as a political figure in pennsylvania as a political figure on behalf of the colonies in europe, as a political figure with the declaration of independence. back to europe representing now a confederacy of america

here is harry smith. >> reporter: president jimmy carter looked us in the eye today and smiled. >> i'm with whatever comes. do have deep religious faith, which i'm grateful for. >> reporter: the presidency political high point but the carter center more meaningful. >> we had programs in 80 different countries on earth for the poorest people in the world, and that has been, i'd say, far more gratifying personally because we actually interact with families going into villages and learning about them and what the actual needs are. >> reporter: for do overers, when he was in the white house, just one. >> i wish i had sent one more helicopter to get the hostages and i would have been reelected but that may have -- [ laughter ] >> reporter: and his biggest accomplishment. >> the best thing i ever did was marrying roseland. that's the pinnacle of my life and we had 69 years together, still together and so that's the best thing that happened to me. >> reporter: president carter's first riduation treatment was today. sunday, he'll be where he usually is in church. >> i plan to teach sunday scho

. >>> now to developing news about former president, jimmy carter, he has just reveal that his cancer has spread to his brain and he plans to begin radiation treatment today. marcy gonzales was there for the announcement, she joins us live now from the carter center in atlanta. >> he was open and even up beat as he shared details of his diagnosis and thoughts of what is ahead. former president, jimmy carter, still smiling as he detailed his melanoma diagnosis, first discovered during liver surgery. >> it's already in full in my brain so that night until the next day until i came up to emery, i just thought i had a few weeks left, i was surprisingly at ease. you know i have had a wonderful life. >> speaking this morning the 90-year-old is explaining he is fighting the disease going in for his first radiation treatment on his brain today. >> i feel good, i haven't felt any weakness or disability. the pain is slight. >> carter's father and all three siblings died of pancreatic cancer and he talked about his family and history. >> my name is jimmy carter and i'm running for president. >>

estos casos y los factores que determinan cuÁl es el camino a seguir, lori. >>> gracias mary, jimmy carterebido que esta es la enfermedad que cobrÓ la vida de su padre y 3 hermanos. >>> el cÁncer muchas veces... >>> la tarea principal dice la oncÓloga patricia rodrÍguez, serÁ investigar donde se origiÓo el cÁncer que padece el expresidente jimmy carter. >>> hay cÁncer que se pueden tratar, otros que seria mÁs difÍcil. >>> carter, de 90 aÑos anuncio que su reciente operaciÓn de hÍgado descubriÓ que el malisse a propagado a otras partes de su cuerpo la doctora rodrÍguez, que no forma parte del equipo, asegura. >>> cuando un cÁncer ya esta en el hÍgado, las chances de cura en general son muy pequeÑas y el tratamiento, no solo es para tratar de prolongar la vida. para tratar de mantener una calidad de vida mejor. >>> jimmy carter que gobernÓ de 1977 a 1981 ha descrito tu vida como una llena de retos impredecible, emocionante, intrÉpida y agradable. >>> el premio nobel de la paz ha promovido los derechos humanos, de los rhiincones del mundo han llegado mensajes de apoyo. otros decÍan que ha agu

president jimmy carter says doctors have found cancer in his brain. >>> i'm jo with the

jimmy carter. carter has never missed an opportunity to connect with ordinary people, to connect with the american public, and he has never missed an opportunity to teach by example. of grace underle extreme pressure, something president kennedy once talked about, and an example of his continuing and abiding faith. david: also the use of humor, saying he had had sympathy calls from several ex presidents like himself. the first time in a long time they have called, he said. >> a little self-deprecation is very good in a politician. david: he says he wants to carry on teaching sunday school. he wants to go to nepal if possible in november. this is a man who clearly believes it he has worked to do. >> his work, he believes, never stops. as long as he is living and breathing, he's going to continue his work. he is perhaps our most active ex-president in modern history, in many ways, establishing even more of a record. that het's often said was a better ex-president than he was president. is that how hi

jimmy carter deserves a lot of the credit. if you want to see how a human level, diplomacy actual works, great great book ought to be read by every graduate school that studies international studies. another biography, walter isaacson on benjamin franklin and american life a wonderful biography. benjamin franklin comes through these pages as a very contemporary man. we would relate to him easily after the portrayal in this book. on balance this is a great man, great vision lived a long life, had many episodes to is this life, as a political figure in pennsylvania a political figure on behalf of the colonies in europe. as a political figure with the declaration of independence. and the confederacy of america during the revolutionary war, as a key figure in the constitutional convention helping to save the day really for the constitutional convention and arguing in what was a close thing in the constitutional convention in 13 states. benjamin franklin bigger than life figure, homespun, shrewd, smart, entrepreneurial, so much of

jimmy carter was a good man, she told me. he believed in peace.my introduction to the divide between red and blue america. it ran straight through our house. dad, the son of nixon republicans, a navy veteran, a small businessman, and mom, the social worker from blue collar waterbury, connecticut, the daughter of a nurse who unionized the city hospital there. it was also my introduction to jimmy carter, whose presidency is part of the foundation of the deep and intractable political divide we know today. to the right, to red america, it's an essential ingredient in the legend of ronald reagan. after all, in any good story it can't be mere mediocrity that the hero saves everybody from, it has to be a crisis. so for ronald reagan to rescue america, he couldn't just follow a disappointing president, he had to follow the worst president ever. to the left, to blue america, the carter presidency is a different kind of tragedy, the kind of tragedy where a swirl of crises and misfortune beyond the control of one mere president creates an opening for an ext

. >> in an extraordinary news conference from atlanta, former president jimmy carter lays out the severity of the cancer he is battling, the only words to describe him on this day is courageous. >>> also, this noon, storms are moving east with heavy rain that could disrupt two outdoor concerts attracting thousand cents of fans. >> well, we have a report on former president jimmy carter from atlanta coming up in just a moment. good afternoon, i'm pat ciarrocchi. >> i'm erika von tiehl. right over to the weather center. mentioned the concert, we've got jimmy buffet, rascal flatts. >> i wish i could tell you blank statement it will be fine, but it is not, cold front passage, stormy i weather ahead of it, means we have to get through the rain first, it is timing, all about the timing. and we go throughout our afternoon, we will see some of the pop up thunderstorms, let's take live look at our neighborhood network. and you can see here, this is margate. not too far from atlantic city where, hey, it is gorgeous out there. but look at the difference, we go to palmyra cove. now, you can see, that

. >>> jimmy carter tells the world he has cancer. well wishes pour in after the president reveals his diagnosis. >>> a collapse at a landmark music hall in minneapolis. several concert goers are hurt when the ceiling comes tumbling down. >> tom brady makes his case in the nfl in the deflate gate scandal. new sketches become an internet sensation. this is the "cbs morning news" for thursday, august 13th, 2015. >>> good morning, good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. massive explosions in a chinese city killed at least 44 people and injured some 500. last night's explosion at an industrial area that housed toxic chemicals were so powerful, area residents thought they were hit by an earthquake. it's not clear what caused the explosion. shock wave wrs felt miles away. we have the report. >> reporter: as we were driving toward the site of the explosion, we could see the windows of an apartment building blown open because of the power of the blast. that explosion took place before midnight, lighting up the night sky with orange. the fi

he has not specifically knowled acknowledged the website. >>> jimmy carter spoke out admitting he has melanoma on his brain. >> in a frank, deeply personal, very public conversation, president carter revealed not just new details about melanoma but a man at peace with diagnoses. >> i've had an exciting existence. i was surprisingly at ease. >> he kept the news from his wife of 70 years for two weeks. this month they confirmed it spread to his brain. muze prompting messages from presidents and folks in his hometown. he'll cut back on humanitarian work at the carter center. >> we thought about this when i was 85 and again at 90. this is a time for us to finally carry out our long delayed plans. >> president carter's grandson jas jason learned of his grandfather's cancer when he called a family meeting. >> hope for the best and accept what comes. i think i've been as blessed as any human being in the world. i'm so thankful and hopeful. >> that was halle jackson reporting. >>> caitlyn jenner could face a manslaughter charge for her fatal crash. she was driving an suv when she rear ended a

he founded the jimmy carter center in atlanta. he travelled the world working on plans achieving peace in the middle east. he was awarded the nobel peace prize in 2002. his work has not stopped since. >> we have a program promoting peace, enhancing democracy. it was adventurous. i have to say it's gratifying to do that. >> the president called carter last night. he released this statement. >>> this morning, surge of surveyin surveyin surv surveys is doing this. the former florida governor's campaign tells msnbc news he met with black lives matter protestors before for 15 to 20 minutes. even so, this happened. >> black lives matter! black lives matter! >> they chanted as he left the stage. bush is working to catch up with donald trump who gave us a peek at what the trump white house would look like. >> i don't want the to use names. jack welch, carl types, henry kravitz, warren buffett said great things about me the other day. he said trump is here to stay. >> brian moore is live in washington. >> a new poll in cnn shows trump with

. >>> plus president jimmy carter's fight. the new diagnosis as he announces his cancer has spread. ♪ >>> you are watching al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm john than betz. chinese officials are now saying they have detected poisonous and harmful chemicals in the air where a warehouse exploded late last night, so big it could be seen from space. the building stored chemicals and gases. at least 50 people are dead, 12 firemen. another 36 firefighters are still missing. adrian brown talked to some survivors. >> reporter: the heart of one of china's most important economic hubs, torn apart by multiple blasts. fires burned throughout the night. there were further explosions on thursday afternoon. as a pool of toxic smoke billowed across the city. with local people concerned, not for the first time, about the air they are now breathing. >> translator: we're very worried, very worried about what chemical is in the air. we're worried it might be toxic and could be harmful in the future. >> reporter: close to the epicent

amy: on a different issue, you worked with jimmy carter. you worked under president jimmy carter.today he will beholding a news conference announcing his diagnosis with cancer. your thoughts? >> you know, jimmy carter -- he was a man that i must say i look back at my work with him and knowing him, how it people can say that a job at that level, at the white house level, that you spent five years in constant crisis and the president never asked you to do something in any way that violated your values, the way you feel about your own country? noble a noble man -- is a man, actually. and the fact that even while he is been diagnosed with cancer, he is now building more houses for habitat for humanity says something about the guy. he is a real person. he actually believes what he says. sometimes that got him into real trouble. people expect the politicians to lie and sneak around and be devious. basically, jimmy carter did not do it. he would have been better off in some cases if he had behaved that way, but it isn't his style. the fact he is out in the open, discussing this publicly

cancer and well wishes have poured in for him and his family. >> our 39th president jimmy carter reveals in his own words he has cancer, in a statement he said, recent surgery revealed that i have cancer in other parts of my body, the 90-year-old carter saying he is rearranging his schedule to undergo treatment in atlanta. >> cancer from other parts of the body can show up in the liver. >> little is known about the type of cancer that carter has only that he has a long history of the disease, his mother succumbed to the disease dying of breast cancer and carter recently sat down with george stephanopoulos and talked about how his fast paced life has to slow down. >> i'll be 91 in october but my physical capability will die down and ill have more time with rose at home. >> make a full life more full. >> it's the best part of my life. >> carter one of four living former presidents, second oldest to george bush. the former governor received the 2002 nobel peace prize and has spent the last 30 years traveling to some of the world's poorest countries to fight disease, build hope and pursue pe

seth doane, china. >>> jimmy carter will go through treatment for cancer that spread through his bodymr. carter, the 39th president of the united states is 90 years old. a statement from the carter center said the disease was found during recent surgery. originated. we have more. >> reporter: former president jimmy carter will begin treatment to tackle an undisclosed cancer that is now in other parts of his body. the diagnosis came after recent surgery to remove a mass in his liver. it did not say if it began in the liver or spread from another part of the body. the 90-year-old has a family his triof pancreatic cancer. his three siblings and father died of it. >> obviously, we are concerned about that family history. >> reporter: the news came as a shock to those who respect and admire president carter, including ambassador andrew young. >> i can't give him any advice. i don't know anybody that has mastered and disciplined his life better than james earl carter, our president. >> reporter: since leaving office, the 39th president has remained active and in the spotlight through his ch

a new fight for jimmy carter. the former president undergoing treatment. >>> massive explosion. proking an entire town in china. felt from miles away. bob woodruff is there as the blast zone still shoulders. >>> his jet ski breaking down. a teenager forced to cling to a buoy. >>> a scare overnight for concert goers. as a ceiling comes crashing down. the new video just in. >>> good thursday morning, everyone. i'm reena ninan. >> i'm phillip mena. new reaction overnight that jimmy carter is battling cancer. >> well wishes pouring in from around the world. the former president set to begin treatment in atlanta soon. >> reporter: former president jimmy carter is in atlanta this morning preparing himself for a battle against cancer. the 90-year-old shared with the world in a statement yesterday recent liver surgery revealed he has cancer that is now in other parts of his body. >> cancer from many different i and optimistic. the vp sending prayers, along with president obama. saying in a statement, jimmy, you're as resilient as they come. along with the rest of america, we're rooting

anyone who works with jimmy carter.ook, we went through an iran hostage crisis which cost him his presidency and as he said oh, my gosh, you know in regrets i wish i had another helicopter which was pretty funny and true. that's what we all talked about that. but, you know, i sat with him. i was there all night long the night before reagan's inauguration. i invited myself because i thought it would be a moment of history and it was on abc taped a lot of people thought i must have been advising. i wasn't. i was there as a spectator of history. the devotion those man had in getting those hostages back and keeping us out of war and keeping them alive, the threat with the ayatollah that we would vaporize iran if they hurt those hostages. he was an honorable president. his post-presidency, harris has been unbelievable. not a hint of scandal for his foundation. the work he's done. healing hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people in the third world. he's the most amazing man i've ever known in public life. and i say that w

so you have the alpha and the omega of the jimmy carter presidency.t just one other helicopter, i would have rescued the hostages and been re-elected. maybe that's a bit of a rewriting of history. he had other problems as well, including a very sour economy and the soviet war in afghanistan. >> but if anything, people are really going to remember the grace that he just displayed this week. >> absolutely. >> and the heart as well that he has displayed. good to see you. >>> the next hour of "cnn newsroom" begins right now. >>> hello, again. thank you for sticking with me today. i'm fredricka whitfield. president barack obama has placed a call to the three americans who prevented a massacre on a train in europe. anthony saddler, alex scarlatos and spencer stone were on vacation in europe when a man emerged from the bathroom of the high speed train they were on with a rifle and

president jimmy carter appearing relaxed at the carter center in blue jeans and a blazer announced doctorsans freres his liver nearly three weeks ago, which has spread to his brain. >> they think they got it all there, but it showed now in four places in i my brain. it's likely to show up other places in my body, as cancer is -- in the future. >> reporter: he will underfour radiation treatments and has been begin taking a drunk to boost his immune system. his family has a history of pancreatic cancers which killed his father, brother and two sisters. carter described coming to terms with his diagnosis. >> i just thought i had a few weeks left, but i was surprisingly at ease. i've had an exciting and adventurous, gratifying existence. now i feel, you know, it's in the hands of god, and i'll be prepared for anything that comes. >> reporter: carter said while he would still like to travel to nepal in november for habitat for humanity, he will put his treatment first. the peanut farmer who became president was reflective about his life. >> the best thing i ever did was marry rosalind. that is

we begin this half hour with former president jimmy carter telling reporters that he has started treatment for cancer which has spread to his brain. >> mr. carter had radiation yesterday in georgia. he's also being treated with a cutting edge drug. abc's marcy gonzales reports now from atlanta. >> reporter: with humility and even humor, former president jimmy carter openly detailed his melanoma diagnosis sharing his fears when he learned the cancer first discovered on his liver had spread with doctors also finding it on his brain. >> i just thought i had a few weeks left. but i was surprisingly at ease. you know, i've had a wonderful life. >> reporter: a life the 90-year-old is optimistically fighting for, undergoing radiation treatment on the four small cancer spots on his brain. >> the goal here is to prevent them from growing so he can continue to live the high quality life he is right now. >> reporter: some of the focus of his life though now changing. >> my name is jimmy carter, and i'm running for president. >> reporter: after leaving the white house, carter and his wife of 69 years

this afternoon former president jimmy carter begin radiation treatment for cancer that is spreading in his by. this treatment coming after the nine-year-old detailed the challenge he is now facing. donovan is in our newsroom with more on the 39th president's health. reporter: mr. carter was smiling and making jokes and being very lighthearted as he told reporters he is battling melanoma.'s mood was upbeat. maybe he has reason to be of the. -- upbeat. >> i am ready for anything and looking forward to a new adventure. reporter: former president jimmy carter is battling melanoma it is spreading threat his body, including his liver and brain. >> i feel at ease about it. i have been very lucky that the doctors have been able to control any aspects of pain. reporter: he is optimistic. cancer is a battle his father and all of his siblings have lost. dr. michael atkins says he is reason to be optimistic. >> there are several new therapies for advanced melanoma that even a nine-year-old could take that could be very successful. >> i feel good. i have not felt any weakness or debility. the pain

we begin with an announcement from former president jimmy carter. he disploffclosed he has cancer it has spread from his liver. >> the important thing to remember is president carter is a robust 90-year-old. he is 90 and battling cancer is tough enough for anyone. >> reporter: at 90 years old president carter is the second oldest of the presidents, entry and alert. now his health is making the headlines. recent liver surgery revealed cancer spread through his body. in a statement the 39th president said: carter's cancer is widespread, but doesn't reveal where it is or where it started. last may he shut court a trip. he had been in the south american country. in a formal statement the white house wished president carter a fast recoveringry adding: a tweet from the obama seemed to be more formal:. >> i jimmy carter ... >>> though his one term in washington d.c. is rarded as troubled, arguably jimmy had the best post presidency of anyone occupying the oval in modern files, winning the nobel peace prize in 2002. after losing to ronald reagan in 1980 cart

president jimmy carter addressed his battle against cancer head on. this morning the 90-year-old held a press conference to talk about the radiation treatment he is undergoing today. >> did an mri and found there were four spots of melanoma on my brain. they are 2 millimeters. and i get my first radiation treatment this afternoon. and then i understand i will have four treatments scheduled three week intervals. >> he said doctors removed the mass from his liver during a procedure but learned it spread to his brain. he remains optimistic and says it a good time to slow down his work schedule. >> for a number of years we planned on reducing our work at carter center. haven't done it yet. we thought about it when i was 80-year-olds. 90. so this is a time to carry out our long delayed plans. so i am going to cut back on my obligations at emery. i had a wonderful life. i had thousands of friends. i had an exciting, gratifying existence. so i was surprisingly at's. more so tan -- at ease. more so than my wife was. now i feel this is in the hands of god. i w

plus, some sad news about former president jimmy carter. the breakfast of champions takes on a whole new meaning. and some seriously bad timing and much, much more as we kick off your thursday morning. "early today" starts right now. >>> good morning, everybody i'm dara brown. the death toll continues to rise after a series of powerful explosions rocked china. smoke is still smoldering from the blast site and we're getting a look at the devastation. new drone footage shows the aftermath. and the smoke above the warehouse where the explosions took place. it happened an at an industrial area and triggered a blast that was felt miles away. and cell phone video captured seconds of the second one. >> reporter: a first blast had shaken the port city of tianjin, then this. a massive explosion, many times bigger than the first blast and a blinding white light. you see it and then they feel it. the shock waves shattering windows and turning shards of glass into projectiles. images of the blast flooded chinese social media. a store froth disappearing

. >> president jimmy carter has revealed he has cancer that has spread throughout his body. >> we wish him good wishes. matt o'donnell is off, erin o'hern is here. >> reporter: that's a shame about jimmy carter, he he was one of the best presidents. >> reporter: high pressure is buildings in from the west, we have sunshine coming up over the horizon. 71 in philadelphia. 61 in millville. 68 in sea isle city. we're low in terms of humidity. 67 by 6:00 a.m. 69 by 8:00 a.m. comfortable, clear skies humidity not a problem and rolling through the day, it will be a warm one, but a nice summer afternoon ahead. 8:00 a.m., 69. 3:00 p.m., 83 degrees that's the high this afternoon before we dip to 80 by 6:00 p.m. for another hour or so, before dawn we have the meteor shower bringing down 100 meteors per hour. the best place to look is the northeast. i'm going to look for it from the terrace in another minute. that might be something you'll see in the northeast and see the meteors coming down, pretty cool. >> reporter: i stood outside in my driveway trying to see the meteor shower that's why i was

reporter: with humility and even humor -- former president jimmy carter openly detailed his melanoma diagnosis, sharing his fears when he learned the cancer first discovered on his liver had spread. doctors also finding it on his brain. carter: i thought ahead a few weeks left. but i was surprisingly at ease. i've had a wonderful life. reporter: alive he is optimistically fighting for, undergoing radiation treatment on the four small cancers on his brain starting today. >> the goal is to prevent them from growing so he can continue to live a hike or the life he has right now. >> my name is jimmy carter and i'm running for president. reporter: after leaving the white house, carter and his wife committed themselves to humanitarian work through the carter center. they are now taking a step back from those efforts to focus on his health. a commitment he takes seriously after losing his father and all three siblings to pancreatic cancer. president obama tweeting "president carter is as good a man as they come. michelle and i are praying for him and rosslyn. we are all praying for him." >>

former president jimmy carter revealed lease behe's been diag with melanoma of the brain. written statement last week saying cancer had been found in his liver and that the cancer had spread to other parts of his body. at that news conference that wrapped up minutes ago at the caer center in atlanta, the former president was asked what his reaction was when doctors first gave him the diagnosis. >> i just thought i had a few weeks left. but i was surprisingly at ease. i've had a wonderful life. i've had thousands of friends and i've had an exciting and adventurous, gratifying existence. so i was surprisingly at ease, much more so than my wife was. but now i feel it's in the ha

jimmy. all three other living presidents sharing well wishes, too. carter taking on this challenge with laughter and faith. >> i'm at ease with whatever comes. >> reporter: so far carter says he feels good, hasn't had much pain and his radiation today is the first of several treatments scheduled over the next few months. >> thank you so much. do stay with abc 7 news for much more on former president carter's cancer diagnosis. >>> coming up at 4:30 what abc news chief medical editor reveals about the treatment that carter is about to undergo. >>> investigators plan to recommend caitlyn jenner be charged with vehicular homicide. >> they say jenner was driving recklessly when her car pushed a lexus into on coming traffic. if convicted jenner could face up to a year in county jail. the crash happened months before caitlyn's transition. she was formerly known as bruce jenner. >>> family and friends of an oakland man who died following a foot chase with a police officer filed a complaint. >> authorities say he died after becoming wedged between two buildings whil

killed. ♪ this is al jazeera live from new york city and i'm tony harris and former president jimmy carters getting radiation treatment this afternoon for cancer that has spread. the 90-year-old spoke candidly about his illness earlier today at the carter center in atlanta. >> i just thought i had a few weeks left. but i was surprisingly at ease. i've had a wonderful life, i've had thousands of friends and i've had an exciting and adventure existence and i was at ease, but not my wife. this is the god of my worship and i will be prepared for anything that comes. >> wow, carter called his pain so far very slight. he also said it is still not clear exactly where the cancer began. the 39th president did not give a prognosis but said radiation treatments will continue for the next couple of months and earlier randall pinkston spoke to a medical doctor about carter's diagnosis. >> president carter announced today he had a very slow growing malignant melanoma and with slow-growing cancers is this insidious and years in the making and president carter has been monitored closely for the possibilit

. >> president jimmy carter is battling cancer. he had to interrupt his humanitarian work when he began having health had problems this spring. he shares with us his diagnoses. robert ray has it. >> reporter: yeah, tony, indeed. president jimmy carter, the 39th president, 90 years old, came out in his memorial here behind us, and talked to reporters. he had on a sport coat and jeans, and his wife of 69 years sat in the front row. and he's completely at ease with whatever comes his way and that he has had a wonderful life. >> thank you all for coming this morning. >> reporter: a seemingly upbeat jimmy carter sat down for an upbeat discussion about his cancer diagnoses. the president began to feel ill in may during a trip to monitor elections in guyana. a thorough checkup should found a growth in carpenter's liver, and it was found to be melanoma. it's usually on the skin. >> they did an mri and found there were four spots of melanoma on the brain. they are very install spots. about 2 millimeters, and i'll get my first radiation trea

jimmy carter: how do i feel what? how do you see the carter center in the future? jimmy carter: well, i think it will be equal to what it's been in the past. it's been expanding every year as far as the number of people we treat for horrible diseases and things like that. this year we will treat 71 million people on earth for diseases so that they won't have afflictions they have had throughout their lifetimes. 100 to added -- finished bring democracy to people. we are still trying to bring peace. so we concentrate on peace and human rights and democracy and freedom and the alleviation of suffering. and i would say in every one of those areas, the carter center's overall function and plans for the future are still expanding. i am completely confident that those plans can be realized without my everyday constant involvement in different projects. trusteetill be going to meetings as long as i am able. >> and how do you receive messages from latin america where the carter center had participation? jimmy carter: well, i had a lot of messages the last few days from lati

>> we are likely to learn directly from jimmy carter much more details about that cancer. where it originated and how far it has spread. he's likely to be treated at emory university. it was earlier this month carter had a mass removed from his liver and told the world he did have cancer. jimmy carter has a history of pancreatic cancer in his family. his mother and sister died from him. he said he thinks the only reason he didn't get pancreatic cancer is unlike other members of his family, he never smoked cigarettes. those who know him say he will continue to fight. 34 years of his post presidency has seen him as a globe trotting humanitarian. building housing for the poor and monitoring 100 elections. many believe he will use this illness to put the spotlight on cancer treatment. >> president carter will send a message to america. don't write us off even if we are older. we can be treated like any other age, even if we are older. >> reporter: it may curtail his schedule. but in the short term he says he doesn't expect things to change. he will teach sunday school like he h

jimmy carter for cancer survivor.all the love and support in this atmosphere here today that he has nothing but support as he battles this cancer diagnosis. poppy. >> remarkable to watch how he has handled all of this. nick, thank you. >>> one presidential candidate has a daring, unconventional idea for keeping undocumented workers from crossing the southern border using drones to destroy some of the caves in mexico right along the border. will the voters agree with him? is that a good idea? we'll talk about it next. across america, people like basketball hall of famer dominique wilkins... ...are taking charge of their type 2 diabetes... ...with non-insulin victoza®. for a while, i took a pill to lower my blood sugar. but it didn't get me to my goal. so i asked my doctor about victoza®. he said victoza® works differently than pills. and comes in a pen. victoza® is proven to lower blood sugar and a1c. it's taken once a day, any time. victoza® is not for weight loss, but it may help you lose some weight. victoza® is an