Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter experienced the longest presidential marriageever, and their record-setting romance spanned 77 years.
They both grew up in Plains, Georgia, a town with about 600 people in the mid-1920s.
Within days, she introduced toddler Jimmy to newborn Rosalynn.
When she was a teen, Rosalynn became captivated by Ruth’s picture of Jimmy in his U.S. Ruth supported her friend and tried to play matchmaker between Jimmy and Rosalynn.
For years, Rosalynn’s affections were unrequited, until fate intervened.
The woman Jimmy was seeing was busy that night, and he was looking for a date.
Rosalynn was planning to attend a youth meeting when Jimmy invited her to go to a movie.
Rosalynn agreed, and it was a pivotal decision.
Jimmy was instantly smitten.
Jimmy was drawn to more than just Rosalynn’s appearance, however.
Their conversations that night presaged a meeting of minds that was the foundation of their equal partnership.
He persevered until May 1946, when Rosalynn finally accepted.
“The best thing I ever did was marrying Rosalynn.
BeforeRosalynn’s deathon November 20, 2023, she and Jimmy worked hard to make their relationship work.
Rosalynn was so angry that Jimmy made this decision that she gave him the silent treatment during their move.
During his presidency, the Carters maintained their strong bond by frequently discussing White House business.
“They’ve evolved … into an equality that I don’t think many people ever get.”
