Today is the 100th birthday of the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, the first former president to become a centenarian.

I never voted for Jimmy Carter.  In 1976, I was too young to vote, and if I had been able to vote, I would have voted for Ford.  And in 1980, I proudly cast my vote for Ronald Reagan, and would do so again.

But we have long admired President Carter.  He is clearly a patriot and loves his country.  He was appointed in 1943 to the Naval Academy, making him a veteran of the Second World War and the Korean War.  He went on to serve honorably.  He was undoubtedly the most intelligent person to ever serve as president, his credentials including that of a nuclear engineer.

In addition to being the oldest living former president, he is also the oldest living former governor.  He achieved that position upon the death of former Minnesota Governor Al Quie (another statesman we admire) in 2023.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President.