Jimmy Carter Says He Couldn’t Have Handled Being President At 80

Former President Jimmy Carter (Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that he couldn’t have “undertaken” the responsibilities of the Oval Office at age 80.

According to the Associated Press, Carter did not make any specific references, though President Donald Trump, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are all in their 70s.

“You have to be able to go from one subject to another and concentrate on each one adequately and then put them together in a comprehensive way, like I did between Begin and Sadat with the peace agreement,” he said. “The things I faced in foreign affairs, I don’t think I could undertake them at 80 years old. At 95, it’s out of the question. I’m having a hard time walking.”

Carter said he hadn’t decided on a favorite 2020 candidate yet, though he’ll definitely vote for whichever Democrat gets the endorsement in the general election.

Latest News
72
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for dave48 dave48 says:

    That’s a pretty serious burn to both Biden and Sanders, and probably the truth.

  2. Carter said he hadn’t decided on a favorite 2020 candidate yet, though he’ll definitely vote for whichever Democrat gets the endorsement in the general election.

    You and me both, Mr. President.

  3. Water borne rabbits definitely find 80 year old men less threatening than 50 year old men.

  4. Warren would be damned near 80 at the end of a second term.

  5. Warren joined the 70s show in June.

    But I’d still vote for Carter over any Republican now.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

66 more replies

Participants

Avatar for discobot Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for blandsten Avatar for dave48 Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for voreason Avatar for horrido Avatar for sniffit Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for danablankenhorn Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for jonney_5 Avatar for daulphin Avatar for wtfinsc Avatar for machoneman Avatar for spin Avatar for katscherger Avatar for enhancedthespian Avatar for justruss Avatar for philmore Avatar for gilgamesh Avatar for filmknight

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: