Honoring President Jimmy Carter’s Enduring Legacy

On October 1, 2024, the world commemorated the 100th birthday of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States and the longest-lived person to hold this revered title. Known for a life of steadfast faith and public service, President Carter’s remarkable journey has led from him peanut farmer to Nobel Peace Prize winner—and a fixture in our country’s ongoing history.

As we recognize his milestone birthday this month, I’m thrilled that our Official 2024 White House Christmas Ornament pays tribute to the enduring legacy of President Carter. It's a great honor to preserve and share his story through this time-honored holiday tradition from the White House Historical Association.

Since 1981, our Official White House Christmas Ornament program has honored a single president or White House anniversary in a series that progresses chronologically. It’s a true delight that this year’s keepsake is serendipitously dedicated to President Carter as we mark a century of his life.

Celebrating 100 Years of President Carter Through the Official White House Christmas Ornament

The 2024 ornament design is a thoughtful presentation of historic moments from President Carter’s life and presidency. President Carter was born in Plains, Georgia, and grew up without running water or electricity. Ready to forge a new adventure away from home, he attended the United States Naval Academy and served in the United States Navy. Made from solid brass and finished in 24-karat gold, the ornament’s prominent anchor shape pays homage to the president’s service—and nods to an iconic symbol of hope.

President Carter returned to Plains to help save the family farm after seven years of service as a naval officer. He quickly launched into politics, first serving at the county and state levels in Georgia and ultimately winning the presidential election in 1976.

The North Portico of the White House is pictured on the ornament to signal his term in the Executive Mansion, adorned with poinsettias that represent the vibrant, festive White House Christmases he shared with his family. ? ??

Both the front and reverse side of the ornament feature peace doves, symbolic of President Carter’s work for peace in the Middle East and his work spearheading the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty that was signed on the North Lawn of the White House on March 26, 1979.

The Seawolf-class USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23), the only submarine to be named for a living president, tops the reverse side of the ornament, while the globe at the center signifies his lifelong work on environmental conservation. At the base of the anchor is a garland of peanut flowers, a reminder of President Carter’s years as a farmer and businessman in his hometown.

President Carter is widely recognized as a champion of human rights, environmental justice, and patriotism. Today, The Carter Center works to alleviate human suffering worldwide by raising awareness about mental health, supporting caregiving efforts, and building thousands of homes through Habitat for Humanity.

What President Carter accomplished this century will undoubtedly influence the next. Hear more about his life on my podcast, The White House 1600 Sessions.

Not only do the timeless Official White House Christmas Ornaments honor previous presidents, but they also provide a fresh lens to view the future we are creating and shaping together. Anyone can own a piece of history with the purchase of this year’s unique piece of art.

We hope you will come explore ornaments from 2024 and years past in our new, flagship gift shop at The People's House: A White House Experience in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about the Official 2024 White House Christmas Ornament and purchase President Carter’s ornament to help amplify our shared American story for generations come.