The Last Words: What Jimmy Carter Revealed In His Final Major Interviews Before Hospice

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Former President Jimmy Carter, the longest-living U.S. President in history, has profoundly redefined the meaning of a "final interview" through his remarkable longevity in hospice care. As of this current date in late 2025, the world continues to reflect on the messages he delivered in his last major media appearances, which served as a poignant capstone to his extraordinary post-presidency career. These final conversations, conducted just before his February 2023 decision to transition to home hospice, centered not on his time in the Oval Office, but on the humanitarian work that earned him a Nobel Peace Prize and cemented his legacy as a global citizen. His last substantial interviews focused on the enduring mission of The Carter Center, the state of democracy, and his personal reflections on faith, marriage, and a life dedicated to service. The absence of further media engagements since his transition to end-of-life care makes the content of these final conversations—particularly those conducted around 2022—the definitive final public messages from the 39th President. They offer a clear, unwavering vision of his priorities: peace, human rights, and alleviating human suffering worldwide.

The Complete Profile of James Earl Carter Jr.

James Earl Carter Jr., known universally as Jimmy Carter, is one of the most consequential figures in modern American history, both for his single term as President and his unparalleled post-presidency humanitarian work. His life is a testament to unwavering principle, deep religious faith, and tireless public service.

  • Full Name: James Earl Carter Jr.
  • Born: October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia.
  • Spouse: Rosalynn Carter (Eleanor Rosalynn Smith, married 1946; deceased 2023).
  • Education: United States Naval Academy (B.S., 1946).
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy (1946–1953), serving as a submarine officer and a nuclear physics student under Hyman G. Rickover.
  • Political Career:
    • Georgia State Senator (1963–1967)
    • Governor of Georgia (1971–1975)
    • 39th President of the United States (1977–1981)
  • Post-Presidency: Co-founded The Carter Center in 1982, a non-governmental organization focused on human rights and conflict resolution.
  • Major Achievements: The Camp David Accords, establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and the ratification of the Panama Canal Treaties. Post-presidency, he led the global campaign for Guinea Worm Eradication, monitored dozens of international elections, and built homes for Habitat for Humanity.
  • Awards: Nobel Peace Prize (2002).
  • Hospice Care: Entered home hospice care in Plains, Georgia, on February 18, 2023.

The Content of Carter’s Final Major Media Interactions

Pinpointing a single "last interview" is challenging, as the former President's media availability decreased significantly in his late 90s, especially after his 2015 cancer diagnosis and subsequent recovery. However, his final formal sit-downs, including those with NPR’s Fresh Air and other outlets in 2022, reveal a man deeply concerned with the future of global democracy and the lasting impact of his humanitarian work.

These conversations were often centered on the themes he had championed for decades in his post-presidency:

1. The Unwavering Commitment to The Carter Center’s Mission

In his final interviews, President Carter consistently steered the conversation toward the work of The Carter Center. He spoke with pride about the near-total eradication of the Guinea worm disease (Dracunculiasis), a public health triumph that saw millions of cases reduced to a handful worldwide.

He emphasized that the Center's work was dedicated to "waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope." This focus demonstrated a clear shift in his personal measure of success, moving away from political victories to tangible, life-saving impact on the world's most vulnerable populations. The final messages served as a powerful endorsement of the organization's future, stressing its independence and non-partisan approach to solving global problems.

2. Reflections on Peace, Human Rights, and Democracy

The former President did not shy away from discussing the fragility of global democracy. In a 2022 interview, he expressed deep concern about the rise of political polarization and the erosion of trust in democratic institutions, both in the United States and abroad.

He often revisited the principles that guided his presidency and post-presidency: the importance of human rights as a foundation for foreign policy and the necessity of peaceful conflict resolution. His final public messages carried the weight of a statesman who had witnessed history, urging the next generation to prioritize compassion and justice over political expediency.

3. The Power of Faith and His Partnership with Rosalynn Carter

A recurring and deeply personal theme in his final media appearances was his profound Christian faith and his lifelong partnership with his wife, Rosalynn Carter. He often spoke about his Sunday school teaching in Plains, Georgia, a tradition he maintained for decades, as a grounding force in his life.

The interviews highlighted the extraordinary bond with Rosalynn, who passed away in November 2023. He described their marriage of over 77 years as a true partnership, essential to both his political career and his humanitarian endeavors. His last public appearance, a brief, poignant attendance at her funeral while in hospice care, underscored the depth of this connection and provided a final, wordless message of enduring love to the nation.

The Legacy of the Final Message: Longevity in Hospice

The decision by President Carter to enter home hospice care in February 2023, and his subsequent survival for over two years (as of late 2025), has become a significant part of his final public narrative. This unprecedented period of longevity in end-of-life care has provided the world with a powerful, ongoing lesson in grace, dignity, and acceptance.

While he has not given a formal interview since the hospice announcement, his continued presence in Plains, Georgia, serves as a powerful, silent continuation of his final message: that a life of service is a life well-lived, and that the final chapter can be one of peace and family focus. The context of his "last interview" has thus been transformed from a single media moment into a prolonged, living testament to his quiet strength and enduring spirit.

His final words and actions have solidified his standing as a global icon of ethical leadership. The topics he chose to emphasize in his last recorded conversations—eradicating disease, protecting human rights, and promoting peace—are the entities that will forever define the unparalleled legacy of his post-presidency. His final interviews are not merely historical records; they are a timeless charge to the world to continue the work of making life better for all people.

jimmy carter last interview
jimmy carter last interview

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