WASHINGTON — The League of Women Voters issued the following statement on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter: 

“Jimmy Carter was a man who defined peace and reconciliation. As governor of Georgia and then president of the United States, Jimmy Carter became known as a staunch advocate for advancing democracy and human rights. His efforts to find peaceful solutions to the world’s greatest conflicts awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.   

“The League’s connection to Jimmy Carter was with the presidential debates of 1976 and 1980. The League also worked with the Carter administration on the passage of major environmental bills, including the Clean Air Act. In 1972, President Carter addressed the League of Women Voters' national convention, emphasizing the League's dedication to being nonpartisan while underscoring that this commitment doesn't mean being non-political. 

“As an advocate for women’s rights, in 1980 President Carter issued a presidential proclamation naming the first week in March Women's History Week, which years later, became Women’s History Month. In his proclamation, Carter additionally called for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, which would achieve ‘equality of rights under the law’ for people of all sexes in our Constitution. 

“Jimmy Carter once famously said, ‘I want to see us once again have a nation that's as good and honest and decent and truthful and competent and compassionate and filled with love as are the American people.’ Today, we echo these words, as we reflect on Jimmy Carter’s legacy and continue our work to create a better democracy for all.”

###