カーター元米大統領、１００歳に　大統領選投票にも意欲

【プレーンズ（米国）ＡＦＰ＝時事】ジミー・カーター元米大統領は１日、１００歳の誕生日を迎えた。１００歳に到達した米大統領経験者は史上初。ピーナツ農家から大統領となったカーター氏にとっても新たな大きな節目となった。（写真はジミー・カーター元米大統領）
　カーター氏は、１年半以上前から南部ジョージア州プレーンズで在宅ホスピスケア（終末治療）を受けている。公の場に姿を現すことはほぼなく、この日も、故ロザリン夫人と１９６０年代に建てた自宅で過ごし、親族が集まって昼食会を兼ねた誕生日パーティーを開いた。
　地元プレーンズでは、祝賀行事の一環としてＦ１８戦闘機４機とビンテージ航空機数機による展示飛行が行われ、カーター氏も観覧した。
　ジョー・バイデン大統領はＸ（旧ツイッター）に動画を投稿し、カーター氏は「敬愛する友人」であり、米国史上「最も影響力のある政治家」の一人だと称賛。「人の善良さに対するあなたの揺るぎない信念は、私たち皆を導く光であり続けている」とたたえた。
　ホワイトハウスの芝生には「ハッピーバースデー、カーター大統領」という看板が立てられた。
　礼節を重んじるカーター氏は、共和党支持者からも尊敬を集めている。
　プレーンズでは、福音派のキリスト教徒が集まる多くの地方都市と同じく、大統領選の民主党候補、カマラ・ハリス副大統領よりも共和党候補のドナルド・トランプ前大統領を支持する看板を目にすることがはるかに多い。
　だが、庭に立てられたトランプ氏の看板の隣にカーター氏の生誕１００年を祝う看板が立てられているのも珍しくない。
　家族によると、カーター氏は今でも政治に対する関心が非常に強く、１００歳まで長生きして、１１月の大統領選で自身が所属する民主党のハリス氏に投票したいという強い意欲を抱いてきた。
　米国立公園局の「ジミー・カーター国立史跡」の責任者で、長年、家族ぐるみの付き合いをしてきたジル・スタッキー氏はカーター氏について、「郵便で投票するはずだ」とし、「政治に対して、とても熱心だ。その点はずっと変わらない」と話した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/10/02-16:50）

Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday on Tuesday -- the first-ever former US president to reach the century mark and another extraordinary milestone for the one-time peanut farmer who found his way to the White House.
Carter's longevity -- he began hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia, more than 19 months ago -- has defied all expectations.
No longer regularly appearing in public, the Democratic ex-president spent his birthday in the home he and his late wife Rosalynn had built in Plains in the 1960s. Celebrations included a lunch with extended family.
It's south Georgia, so you know, we had fried chicken and we had grilled cheese sandwiches, then we had family and lively discussion, the ex-president's grandson, Josh Carter, said downtown afterwards.
Carter was also able to watch a flyover of four F-18 jets and several vintage planes that graced the skies over Plains as part of the town's celebrations. CBS footage showed him being wheeled into his garden among friends and family to view it.
In a video posted on X, President Joe Biden hailed Carter as a beloved friend and one of the most influential statesmen in US history, while the White House lawn was decorated with a sign reading Happy Birthday President Carter.
Tributes meanwhile poured in from Vice President Kamala Harris, former president Barack Obama and Britain's King Charles III, who sent a private message of congratulations.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp proclaimed a statewide Jimmy Carter Day.
- Little town -
Beyond serving as commander in chief for a single term from 1977 to 1981, Carter worked as a global mediator, rights activist and elder statesman, founding the well-respected Carter Center in 1982 to pursue his vision of world diplomacy before winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
His presidency included the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, the establishment of diplomatic relations with China following a rapprochement initiated by president Richard Nixon, and the return of control of the Panama Canal to Panama.
But his administration hit numerous snags, including the Iran hostage crisis and a renewed oil crisis in 1979-1980, which saw Ronald Reagan sweep into power in a landslide.
We are thrilled that the president from this little town is going to be the only president to ever live to be 100 years old, Jill Stuckey, superintendent of the National Park Service's Jimmy Carter historical site and longtime family friend, told AFP.
She spoke from Plains High School, where Carter graduated in 1941 and which now serves as the visitor center for the national park that features sites from his early life, including the nearby peanut farm where he grew up.
On Tuesday evening, it hosted a concert in honor of the president, with video tributes from musicians Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks.
In the morning, the school was the site of a naturalization ceremony for 100 new US citizens, who placed hands over their hearts and recited the pledge of allegiance.
He did so much for America, said Adriana Vickers, 46, originally from Brazil.
He's for all nations, Carlene Ford, another newly naturalized citizen, from Jamaica, told AFP. He's for everybody, he's for the people.
- 'Always' political -
A devout Baptist and self-described born-again Christian, Carter is remembered for a moralistic streak, but also his civility, admired even by detractors across the aisle.
According to family, Carter remains keenly interested in politics and is highly motivated to make it to 100 to vote in the November election for Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee.
He will be voting by mail-in ballot, Stuckey told AFP, adding he's always been very politically active, and nothing has changed with that respect.
In Plains, like in many rural places with a substantial evangelical Christian population, far more yard signs support Republican Donald Trump than Harris.
But it is also not uncommon to see a sign celebrating Carter's centennial birthday next to one supporting Trump.
Carl Lowell, who has lived in Plains since infancy, said he tries not to get involved in politics because it is so divisive right now.
Like most residents of Plains, the 59-year-old retired firefighter is linked to Carter in various ways -- he says his grandfather helped build the Carters' house and that he himself even went dove hunting with him once.
Jimmy's a good man, he's a godly man, and that's what people like about him, he said.