Remembering a President of Integrity and Progress
In an era often overshadowed by political rancor and tumult, the U.S. Postal Service’s decision to commemorate Jimmy Carter with a Forever stamp stands as a poignant reminder of decency and purposeful leadership. The release will coincide with what would have been Carter’s 101st birthday—October 1, 2025—honoring the legacy of a man who, even in his quietest moments, profoundly shaped America’s conscience.
Set in Atlanta and unveiled at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia, the stamp’s striking design is based on a 1982 oil-on-linen painting by Hebert E. Abrams, the same artist who prepared Carter’s official White House portrait. To postal officials and the many who attended the unveiling—including representatives from the Friends of Jimmy Carter, the National Park Service, and family members—Carter’s face, painted with care and depth, evoked more than nostalgia. It symbolized a presidency and post-presidency committed to healing, justice, and global ethics at a time the American soul yearned for them most.
Beyond party loyalty, one must ask: What does it mean to honor a president on a postage stamp? As Postal Service executive Peter Pastre stated, Carter “truly personified the best in America”—not just through policies, but also through his lifestyle of quiet leadership and unrelenting service. This distinction couldn’t come at a more relevant time, as the nation wrestles with visions of public life bogged down by divisiveness, scandal, and self-interest.
Reshaping the Role of Former Presidents
Carter’s influence resounded long after his years in office. The establishment of the Carter Center in 1982 not only transformed the expectations for former presidents but also set a new global standard for humanitarian engagement. Rather than receding into private life, Carter advanced democracy, mediated peace negotiations, and became a fierce advocate for the world’s vulnerable—often stepping into global crises where hope all but vanished. The Carter Center’s tireless work on election monitoring, disease prevention, and conflict mediation continues to shape policies domestically and on the world stage.
According to Emory University professor Robert M. Franklin, Jr., who worked closely with the Carter Center, “President Carter gave his post-presidency a sense of purpose unrivaled among world leaders. His focus on mental health, women’s empowerment, and the right to free and fair elections set benchmarks others only later recognized as vital.” Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 reflected not just his achievements, but a broader appreciation of moral leadership enacted beyond the White House’s constraints.
“The unveiling of this stamp design gives the world an opportunity to share President Carter’s legacy with others daily. It is a reflection of who he was—a humanitarian and a servant leader.”
– Kim Carter Fuller, Executive Director, Friends of Jimmy Carter
American presidents have often been mythologized, but seldom have any matched Carter’s groundbreaking choice to devote his post-presidency to people most forgotten: the rural poor, disease-stricken villages, and embattled democracies abroad. Through these efforts, Carter helped to quietly expand the nation’s moral imagination, encouraging us to look beyond our borders and attend to the world’s most urgent needs.
The Progressive Legacy That Conservative Narratives Overlook
Much has been said, in some corners, about Carter’s so-called “ineffectiveness” as president. The facts tell a more complicated—and compelling—story. Carter’s administration was responsible for groundbreaking appointments and global agreements. He elevated women and minorities to prominent government positions, established a presidential commission on mental health, and radically shifted American foreign policy. Consider the Camp David Accords, an unprecedented peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, which not only demonstrated deft diplomacy but also established a legacy of peacemaking that American presidents have often cited.
A closer look reveals that the conservative tendency to dismiss Carter as simply a relic of 1970s malaise misses the point entirely. He modeled a politics rooted in equity, stewardship, and basic decency—values desperately needed today. His approach to the presidency emphasized transparency, environmental responsibility, and human rights. Many of these priorities, like investing in renewable energy, safeguarding voter rights, and confronting systemic inequalities, are now at the heart of progressive platforms, showing just how prescient Carter’s vision proved to be.
Where are those priorities now in the conservative playbook? Too often, we see attacks on voting rights, efforts to roll back environmental protections, and resistance to international cooperation. Carter’s life offers a radical counter-narrative—one where service, humility, and global citizenship define public leadership. As Harvard historian Annette Gordon-Reed points out, “Carter was visionary in understanding that America is at its best when it isn’t afraid to lead with compassion and principle.” In troubled times, we would do well to remember the president who wore his values on his sleeve and found honor in aligning America’s actions with its ideals.
His Forever stamp is not just a recognition for collectors or history buffs. It’s a call to cherish leaders who choose integrity over expediency. At the center of this ceremony and this stamp lies a hope—that those who use it will reflect, even briefly, on a legacy built not on power for power’s sake, but on the steadfast belief that America can—and should—do better for all.
