Biden declares Jan 9 national mourning day following Jimmy Carter’s demise

Biden also called on Americans to visit their places of worship to pay homage to  late US leader, Jimmy Carter

By Kehinde Okeowo

United States President, Joe Biden, has declared January 9 as a “national day of mourning” following the death of one of his predecessors, Jimmy Carter.

TheNiche had earlier reported that Carter, who was the 39th president of the US and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, died at the age of 100 years in Plains, Georgia on Sunday.

Speaking after his death, Biden called on Americans to visit their places of worship to pay homage to the late US leader.

He went on to invite the people of the world to join Americans as they grieve the death of their 39th president.

Speaking via a White House proclamation Biden said, “I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr.

“I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.”

ALSO READ: America owes Carter “a debt of gratitude”, says Trump, as Clintons celebrate late leader

Born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, James Earl Carter Jr. came from humble beginnings as the son of a farmer and a nurse.

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, he joined the Navy and became part of the elite nuclear submarine fleet.

However, he returned to Georgia in 1953 following his father’s death to manage the family farm, marking the start of his political career.

Carter, who led the nation from 1977 to 1981, was the oldest-living U.S. president.

His single-term presidency was marked by historic achievements such as the Camp David Accords, which brokered peace between Egypt and Israel, but was overshadowed by the Iran hostage crisis and economic challenges at home.