Carter represented a new type of first lady: She toted a briefcase to the White House, traveled often and picked up the nickname “Steel Magnolia” as she pushed for human rights abroad and at home.
November 20, 2023

Rosalynn Carter, the mild-mannered but determined wife of President Jimmy Carter who advocated for mental health and a gentler nation, died yesterday at home in Plains, Ga. with her family by her side. She was 96. Via New York Daily News:

A small-town working woman with an airtight bond to her husband, Carter represented a new type of first lady: She toted a briefcase to the White House, traveled often and picked up the nickname “Steel Magnolia” as she pushed for human rights abroad and at home.

She became known as a tireless campaigner and an effective — if initially reluctant — public speaker. Beyond simply supporting her husband’s political career, she emerged as a significant voice in Washington, setting her focus on increasing childhood immunizations, bolstering access to mental health care and battling gender inequality.

“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” former President Carter, 99, said in a statement Sunday. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”

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