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Christie's International Real Estate Has 100+ Affiliates in Almost 50 Countries and Territories Around the World and Maintains a Close Partnership with the Christie's Auction House @properties is the 8th Largest Residential Brokerage in the US by Sales Volume 1 Best-in-Class Title & Mortgage Offerings in Key Markets Will Also Be Included NEW YORK , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Compass Inc. COMP ("Compass"), Christie's International Real Estate, and @properties have announced that they will be joining forces in a move to accelerate domestic and international growth opportunities. Christie's International Real Estate has global reach with a network of 100+ independently owned domestic and international Affiliates across 50 countries and territories. @properties is the 8th largest residential brokerage in the United States by sales volume, with operations in Greater Chicago, Indiana , Michigan , Wisconsin , and Metro Atlanta (through the Ansley Real Estate Brand). @properties' Northern California operation, under the Christie's International Real Estate Sereno brand, will become an independent brokerage while maintaining its network affiliation. Compass plans to continue to grow the independent affiliate network through the Christie's International Real Estate brand both domestically and internationally. "This partnership will allow us to empower strong independent brokerages and broker-owner entrepreneurs around the world who are Affiliates under Christie's International Real Estate," said Robert Reffkin , Compass Founder and CEO. "Our companies share the same passion for empowering entrepreneurial agents. Together, we will be able to provide unparalleled resources and support to help everyone succeed and deliver exceptional client experiences." "Compass shares our commitment to enhance the real estate industry through technology, marketing, and exceptional service and to embrace the local, independent broker through the Christie's International Real Estate and @properties brands," said Thad Wong , @properties Co-CEO. Mike Golden , @properties Co-CEO, added, "This is a very complementary union that respects our unique brands and empowers agents to provide an even better experience for the clients they serve." This addition will also include best-in-class title and mortgage businesses (namely, Proper Title and Proper Rate) as well as a lead-generation business (Suburban Jungle), which is in-line with Compass's long-term strategy to add high-margin services to its portfolio. Conference Call Details & Investor Materials Compass is hosting an investor conference call on Monday, December 2, 2024 , at 5 p.m. ET to discuss the transaction details. The conference call will be accessible via the Internet on the Compass Investor Relations website https://investors.compass.com . You can also access the audio webcast via the following link . Accompanying materials detailing the specifics of the transaction and a recording of the conference call will be available online under the SEC Filings and Events & Presentations sections of the Compass Investor Relations website: https://investors.compass.com . About Compass Compass is the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume 2 . Founded in 2012 and based in New York City , Compass provides an end-to-end platform that empowers its residential real estate agents to deliver exceptional service to seller and buyer clients. The platform includes an integrated suite of cloud-based software for customer relationship management, marketing, client service, brokerage services and other critical functionality, all custom-built for the real estate industry. Compass agents utilize the platform to grow their business, save time and manage their business more effectively. For more information on how Compass empowers real estate agents, one of the largest groups of small business owners in the country, please visit www.compass.com . About @properties @properties is a Chicago -based real estate services company that owns and operates real estate brokerage firms in seven states, multi-state title and mortgage companies, Proper Title and Proper Rate, and the Christie's International Real Estate network. @properties is also the creator of pl@tformTM, a proprietary brokerage-technology software that enables agents to digitally manage all aspects of the client relationship and real estate transaction through one fully integrated system. Since its start in 2000, the company has been led by co-founders and co-CEOs, Thad Wong and Mike Golden . For more information, visit https://www.atproperties.com/ . About Christie's International Real Estate Christie's International Real Estate is a global luxury real estate network with over 100 independently owned brokerage Affiliates in almost 50 countries and territories. The brand is closely aligned with Christie's world-leading art and luxury business. Through the invitation-only network, Christie's International Real Estate and its members offer incomparable service to a global clientele of luxury homebuyers, sellers, developers, and investors. For more information, visit https://www.christiesrealestate.com/ . Disclosure Channels Compass uses its Investor Relations website, https://investors.compass.com , as a means of disclosing information which may be of interest or material to its investors and for complying with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. We intend to announce material information to the public through filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, the investor relations page on our website ( www.compass.com ), press releases, public conference calls, public webcasts, our X (formerly Twitter) feed (@Compass), our Facebook page, our LinkedIn page, our Instagram account, our YouTube channel, and Robert Reffkin's X (formerly Twitter) feed (@RobReffkin) and Instagram account (@robreffkin). Accordingly, investors should monitor each of these disclosure channels. Safe Harbor Statement This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are statements other than statements of historical facts, and statements in the future tense. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed transaction, expected timeline, our expected future performance, including expected financial results, and our expectations for operational achievements and synergies after the closing of the proposed transaction. Forward-looking statements are based upon various estimates and assumptions, as well as information known to us as of the date of this press release, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: our ability to consummate the proposed transaction on the expected timeline or at all (including due to inability to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals or obtaining such approvals subject to conditions that are not anticipated), the risk that a condition of closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or that the closing of the proposed transaction might otherwise not occur, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance or condition that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, including in circumstances requiring us to pay a termination fee, the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues, risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction, the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of @properties to retain its key agents and personnel, unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction, potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction that could be instituted against the parties to the merger agreement or their respective directors, managers or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto and other risks set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Significant variation from the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements could cause our actual results to vary, and the impact could be significant. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied or such uncertainties could cause adverse effects on our results. Reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. More information about factors that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, or that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements is included under the captions "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which are available on the Investor Relations page of our website at https://investors.compass.com/ and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov . All information herein speaks as of the date hereof and all forward-looking statements contained herein are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release. Transaction Details The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in 2025. Investors can find additional details on the transaction in Compass' investor presentation and Form 8-K filed with the SEC in conjunction with this press release. The 8-K and investor presentation are also available in the SEC Filings and Events & Presentations sections of the Compass Investor Relations website at https://investors.compass.com . 1 @properties was ranked the number eight real estate brokerage in sales volume for 2023 by Real Trends in March 2024 2 Compass was ranked the number one real estate brokerage in sales volume for 2023 by Real Trends in March 2024 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/compass-christies-international-real-estate-properties-and-ansley-real-estate-agree-to-join-forces-302320017.html SOURCE COMPASS © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Matt Gaetz may have withdrawn his name from consideration to become Donald Trump ’s attorney general over sexual misconduct accusations — but alleged sexual abuser Pete Hegseth is still fighting to persuade Republican senators to confirm him to one of the most powerful positions in government. Hegseth was already facing an uphill confirmation battle to become the Secretary of Defense given that he is best known as a Fox News host with no government experience. The emergence of a disturbing sexual assault accusation against him from 2017 isn’t helping matters — and Trump’s team is pissed. According to four sources familiar with the situation, some top Trump transition officials and others close to the president-elect have been puzzled, if not infuriated, that Hegseth did not preemptively inform them of the allegations against him before they made their way into the press — most notably through the publication of a police report detailing the alleged incident at a hotel in Monterey, California. “How did he not know? Why didn’t he tell us?” a source close to Trump says. “Pete wasn’t interviewing for a job at McDonald’s; this is the fucking Pentagon! ... Even if the allegations are fake, it doesn’t matter because he was supposed to tell us what we needed to know so we could be better prepared to defend him — not learn about it from the media.” There was, the sources say, a vetting process for the Hegseth pick, but it did not uncover these details, nor was it especially invasive. Trump’s transition team did not sign agreements with the White House or the Justice Department to allow the FBI to conduct background checks on the president-elect’s nominees. “When we ask, ‘Is there anything else we need to know about?’ that is usually a good time to mention a police report,” a Trump adviser says. “Obviously he remembered that this all happened and there is no way — I don’t think — he could have believed this wouldn’t come out once he got nominated.” Editor’s picks The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign’s communications director, says in a statement: “Pete Hegseth dedicated his entire life as a warrior for the troops and for our country.” He adds, “With Pete as our Secretary of Defense, America’s enemies are on notice and our military will be great again. We look forward to his confirmation and to him serving as Secretary of Defense.” Mediate has also reported on the Trump team’s anger with Hegseth for not divulging more about the allegation before Trump announced the pick earlier this month, with one source noting: “He told the campaign there’s no issues.” Hegseth went to Capitol Hill on Thursday to reassure senators that, despite the allegations, he should be placed in charge of the world’s most powerful military. Republican lawmakers gave mixed reactions when speaking with the media about Hegseth’s candidacy, with some brushing off the police report — which was made public Wednesday — as nothing more than allegations, and some, like Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-S.D.), noting that it is a “pretty big problem, given that we have, you know, we have a sexual assault problem in our military,” per NBC News . “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared and that’s where I am going to leave it,” Hegseth told reporters after his day in Congress. Trending Stories Shaboozey Deserves More Than What the CMA Awards Gave Him — Including an Apology Kendrick Lamar's Surprise New Album 'GNX' Is Here Billy Preston Was Beloved by the Beatles and Stones. His Fall From Grace Was a Rock Tragedy Tesla Has Highest Rate of Deadly Accidents Among Car Brands, Study Finds Hegseth was accompanied by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who is currently a senator himself. Vance also accompanied Gaetz as he met with senators on Tuesday, a day before the congressman-turned-Cameo star withdrew his name from contention to become attorney general. This story has been updated to include a comment from the Trump campaign.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans' starting job last month. Moss made his announcement on social media Monday. Moss started the Trojans ' bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. “Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine,” Moss wrote. “Putting on the cardinal and gold and competing on behalf of my teammates and school is something I will forever take pride in. I poured everything I have into this — body, heart, mind and soul — and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished.” Moss, who was born in Los Angeles and went to high school in the San Fernando Valley, signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed with the Trojans after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year's Holiday Bowl. Moss completed 64.4% of his passes this season for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. After a spectacular 378-yard performance to beat LSU in the Trojans' season opener, Moss didn't play poorly as a starter, but he also wasn't a difference-maker while USC stumbled to a 4-5 record. Moss threw seven interceptions in his final five starts before losing the job to Maiava. The Trojans went 1-4 in that stretch under Moss, who plays as a more traditional pocket passer while Maiava has the mobility usually favored for quarterbacks in Riley's spread offense. “Looking towards the future, I'm unwaveringly committed to becoming an even better quarterback and leader, and to achieving this at the next level,” Moss wrote. Moss has already graduated from USC, putting him in the portal as a graduate student. USC (6-6) is headed to a lower-tier bowl game again to finish this season, its third under Riley. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballTHOUSAND OAKS, Calif. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen AMGN today announced that its Board of Directors declared a $2.38 per share dividend for the first quarter of 2025. The dividend will be paid on March 7, 2025 , to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 14, 2025 . About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to help millions of patients in their fight against some of the world's toughest diseases. More than 40 years ago, Amgen helped to establish the biotechnology industry and remains on the cutting-edge of innovation, using technology and human genetic data to push beyond what's known today. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline that builds on its existing portfolio of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases and rare diseases. In 2024, Amgen was named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes, among other external recognitions . Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average ® , and it is also part of the Nasdaq-100 Index ® , which includes the largest and most innovative non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. For more information, visit Amgen.com and follow Amgen on X , LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube and Threads . Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements on the outcome, benefits and synergies of collaborations, or potential collaborations, with any other company (including BeiGene, Ltd. or Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.), the performance of Otezla® (apremilast) (including anticipated Otezla sales growth and the timing of non-GAAP EPS accretion), our acquisitions of Teneobio, Inc., ChemoCentryx, Inc., or Horizon Therapeutics plc (including the prospective performance and outlook of Horizon's business, performance and opportunities, any potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected as a result of such acquisition, and any projected impacts from the Horizon acquisition on our acquisition-related expenses going forward), as well as estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems on our business, outcomes, progress, and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products, including our devices, after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities, including in Puerto Rico , and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as COVID-19, and the public and governmental effort to mitigate against the spread of such disease, could have a significant adverse effect on the supply of materials for our manufacturing activities, the distribution of our products, the commercialization of our product candidates, and our clinical trial operations, and any such events may have a material adverse effect on our product development, product sales, business and results of operations. We rely on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of our product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of our commercial products. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to collaborate with or acquire other companies, products or technology, and to integrate the operations of companies or to support the products or technology we have acquired, may not be successful. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to realize any of the strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities arising from the Horizon acquisition, and such benefits, synergies or opportunities may take longer to realize than expected. We may not be able to successfully integrate Horizon, and such integration may take longer, be more difficult or cost more than expected. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach of our information technology systems could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and our data. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business and operations may be negatively affected by the failure, or perceived failure, of achieving our environmental, social and governance objectives. The effects of global climate change and related natural disasters could negatively affect our business and operations. Global economic conditions may magnify certain risks that affect our business. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Elissa Snook , 609-251-1407 (media) Justin Claeys , 805-313-9775 (investors) View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amgen-announces-2025-first-quarter-dividend-302328180.html SOURCE Amgen © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
No. 18 Mississippi 89, Alabama St. 24Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record
NoneJimmy Carter was respectively known as St Jimmy - universally revered for his good deeds in the poorest countries in the world and for the impeccable moral probity of his character, writes JONATHAN AITKEN By JONATHAN AITKEN FOR THE DAILY MAIL Published: 23:29 GMT, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 23:35 GMT, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments 'Jimmy Who?' they derisively called him when he started to run for the Presidency of the United States in 1975. By the time Jimmy Carter died yesterday at the age of 100 he was respectively known as St Jimmy – universally revered for his good deeds in the poorest countries in the world and for the impeccable moral probity of his character . The paradox of James Earl Carter was that during his single term of office as the 39th President of the United States he was widely regarded as a failure. But as an ex-President he was universally acclaimed as a huge success. After his crushing defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1980 Carter turned the tables in terms of his historical and personal reputation. Over the next 43 years he grew in stature. His record was re-evaluated. His reputation and status soared as he won the Nobel Peace Prize and became venerated as an outstanding pioneer in human rights, conflict resolution, and the eradication of severe diseases in Africa. In many marginalised countries and deprived communities Jimmy Carter was hailed as a hero, admired around the world for his natural rapport with the oppressed. 'I am accused of being an outsider and I plead guilty to the charge', declared candidate Carter in the early stages of his slow burning effort to win the Democratic Party 's nomination for the 1976 Presidential campaign. It was a time when America was in turmoil, reeling from the scandals of Watergate, the shock of its first ever war defeat in Vietnam, and the growing belief that 'The Imperial Presidency' was the cause of the nation's problems. By the time Jimmy Carter died yesterday at the age of 100 he was respectively known as St Jimmy – universally revered for his good deeds in the poorest countries in the world and for the impeccable moral probity of his character Jimmy Carter pictured with his wife Rosalynn Carter who was an American writer and activist President Jimmy Carter, right, and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II are photographed with French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, at Buckingham Palace in May 1977 Former President Jimmy Carter receiving his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, in 2002 Against this background, a homespun outsider of transparent humility and sincere religious belief caught the voters' mood of wanting political change, particularly when he promised to cut the White House and Washington down to size. But after Carter had narrowly defeated the incumbent President Gerald Ford, he took office with little or no understanding of how to deliver his promises let alone how to run America's domestic and foreign policy. Carter failed as a national leader because he thought he could run the Presidency in the same personalised quirky style he had used in his single term as governor of Georgia. His top White House aides were good ol' boy cronies from his home state – but few of them were up to the job. He lost sight of the fact that a President must be a strategist. Carter was a workaholic micromanager who immersed himself in small print details and administration. He even insisted on personally controlling the bookings for the White House tennis court! The power barons of Congress never quite knew what to make of Carter who came across to them as an aloof and ascetic loner. Even with a Democrat majority in both houses, the President declined to make friends with his supporters or cut deals with his opponents. So his legislative programme failed. His promises to stimulate the economy and introduce measures to solve the energy crisis never got off the ground. America felt poorer and colder, suffering from a malaise of national self-confidence. Part of the problem was Carter's personality. To the public he was an enigma. He had no ability to make Americans feel good about themselves. Jimmy Carter pictured in his family's peanut field in Plains, Georgia, on August 19, 1978 Jimmy Carter (C) and First Lady Rosalynn Carter (R) and their eldest son Jack Carter (L) walking outside The White House in Washington, DC in 1977 A young Jimmy Carter with his dog Bozo in Plains, Georgia, USA, circa 1937 Henry Kissinger, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter sit together during a lunch meeting on the White House patio in Washington, U.S., August 15, 1977 Within the Washington Beltway his enemies saw him as vacillating and indecisive. His friends were mystified by his remoteness. Practically no-one except for his devoted wife Rosalynn – nicknamed the 'Steel Magnolia' for her inflexibility – ever enjoyed personal empathy with the 39th President. Read More BREAKING NEWS Jimmy Carter dead at 100: Former US President passes away in his Georgia home The chilliness was a major weakness in dealing with his fellow politicians who came to reciprocate the hostility they felt he showed them. More troublingly, Jimmy Carter lacked the leadership skills to reach out and reassure the country beyond Washington. His fireside chats were devoid of warmth and his set speeches seemed stilted. His thin, reedy voice gave him, said his acerbic rival Senator Eugene McCarthy 'the eloquence of a mortician'. Although he lacked charisma of a national communicator, Carter was authentic in his personal sincerity and private faith. On the campaign trail he emphasised his outsider credentials as a small Southern farmer, a Sunday school teacher and 'a born-again Christian' a term which he single-handedly made famous. He promised that he would never tell a lie and that he would bring honesty and integrity back into government. The voters believed him although his piety came in for some ridicule when he gave an interview to Playboy admitting that he had 'lusted in his heart' after other women. Former US president Jimmy Carter (L) and Cuban President Fidel Castro listen to the US National Anthem after Carter's arrival at Jose Marti airport in Havana on May 12, 2002 Former US President Jimmy Carter gives the call to rise up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 President Jimmy Carter (L) and his wife Rosalynn (R) and their family sitting for a portrait at The White House in Washington, DC, USA, March 26, 1979 In many marginalised countries and deprived communities Jimmy Carter was hailed as a hero, admired around the world for his natural rapport with the oppressed In both domestic and international policy, Carter was a dedicated champion of human rights. His father, who started the family peanut farm, was an old fashioned segregationist. But his mother argued for the rights of her black neighbours. Their son Jimmy followed the maternal example and adopted the anti-discrimination fervour of a new liberal Southerner. Read More Inside Jimmy Carter's final months in hospice care before his death at 100 From the White House he appointed black Cabinet officers, judges, ambassadors and senior officials on a scale undreamed of by any previous President. He was equally determined to ensure that women became full partners in all phases of policy making. His affirmative actions and appointments transformed the look of the US government at senior levels. On the international stage, Carter put human rights at the forefront of his foreign policy. At the time his initiatives in this field were often derided as the empty gestures of a righteous preacher, cut off from the realpolitik of world affairs. But in his dogged way Carter persevered and gradually succeeded. Some years after leaving office he was asked by Presidential historian Theodore H White what he thought were his most lasting achievements? 'Emphasis on human rights', replied the ex-President. 'I printed that commitment on worldwide consciousness. It may have permanent results ...' History has vindicated that judgement. In his diplomacy Carter had one remarkable success which was entirely personal. Tireless in his quest to defuse tensions in the Middle East he organised the 1978 Camp David summit between Israel and Egypt. The ground breaking Accords signed there have stood the test of time. These agreements would have been impossible to achieve without the tenacity and sincerity of Jimmy Carter. Carter gives a speech after receiving the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize at Oslo City Hall Former President Jimmy Carter, left, and his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, sit together during a reception to celebrate their 75th anniversary President Jimmy Carter (C) with Egyptian President Anwar al Sadat (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin during Middle East peace negotiations at Camp David Former US president Jimmy Carter helps build a house as he visits the construction site of houses being built by Carter's Habitat for Humanity foundation for victims of the January 2010 earthquake in Leogane President Jimmy Carter (R) walking with Egyptian President Anwar al Sadat (L) during Middle East peace negotiations Only he could have succeeded in corralling Menachem Begin of Israel and Anwar Sadat of Egypt at Camp David for thirteen days. Read More BREAKING NEWS Donald Trump says world owes Jimmy Carter a 'debt of gratitude' after death at 100 Eventually he persuaded them that the honour of the American President could permit them to lay down arms against each other. The final year of the Carter presidency was a sea of troubles. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. The domestic economy deteriorated. Ayatollah Khomeini's revolution in Iran compounded the President's difficulties, ruining his reputation with its knock-on effects of soaring oil prices, diplomatic humiliations, and a military disaster. The President's luck ran out after 53 Americans were taken hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran by Islamic revolutionaries. After months of fruitless efforts to get them freed, Carter ordered their rescue by America's elite Delta Force. In giving the go ahead on April 19 1980 the President over-ruled the advice of his Secretary of State, Cyrus Vance, who opposed the mission because of its high risks. Instead Carter backed the plan of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Tragically, their Operation Eagle Claw turned out to be a fiasco. In the harsh conditions of the Iranian desert, three of the Delta Force's eight helicopters malfunctioned because of sandstorms. A fourth helicopter crashed into a C130 transport plane killing eight Special Forces commandos. The mission had to be aborted. No hostages were rescued. US President Jimmy Carter sitting atop his limousine as his motorcade drives through Bardstown, Kentucky in 1979 President Jimmy Carter on television at the Reagan-Bush team's headquarters, the Century Plaza Hotel, in Los Angeles Jimmy Carter helps erect a frame during a Habitat for Humanity project October 4, 2010 in Washington Former US President Jimmy Carter gives the media an update on his recent cancer diagnosis at the Carter Center in Atlanta in 2015 President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains Jimmy Carter was devastated by this failure. Three decades after the event he said the greatest regret of his Presidency was not having used his power as Commander-in Chief to send more helicopters. At the time he was physically and mentally shattered. Soon after giving the order to abort he went out for an early morning jog in the Rose Garden of the White House, watched by his Acting Chief of Staff Alonzo McDonald who later told me 'I have never seen a man look more utterly sad and dejected'. Read More How Jimmy Carter shattered royal protocol by kissing Queen Mother on the LIPS leaving her horrified But in Tehran, the hostages remained incarcerated by the Ayotollah's mobs, whose jubilant taunts provided a nightly reminder on the news bulletins of the shaming of American pride. At home, with the election looming, domestic inflation soared to 18 per cent. Carter was severely weakened in the primaries by having to beat off a bruising challenge from Senator Edward Kennedy. The Republican contender, Governor Ronald Reagan won the Presidential debates by portraying himself as strong, decisive, charismatic and likable. None of these adjectives could be applied to the incumbent. With his support draining away, the President's personal pollster, Patrick Caddell gave his boss the dire news in a private memorandum 'By and large the American people do not like Jimmy Carter' said it's final sentence 'Indeed a large segment could be said to loathe him'. By polling day the loathing of the President turned into a landslide for Reagan. Carter lost the election by 49 Electoral College votes to 489. He carried only 6 States while Reagan won 45. Never had a sitting occupant of the White House been so politically trounced and so personally humiliated. Former President Jimmy Carter stands behind his birthday cake during his 90th birthday celebration Jimmy Carter, accompanied by his wife Rosalynn, daughter Amy, and grandson Jason tells supporters at a Washington hotel that he has conceded the election to challenger Ronald Reagan Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter gestures during his speech at the American University of Beirut (AUB) Members of President Jimmy Carter's staff cry as the President and Mrs. Carter depart from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington for Camp David Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter dance to the Marine Band in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington on November 9, 2000 After losing office, ex-President Carter went home to his modest farmhouse in Plains. At 56 he was too young to retire so he began working as a carpenter for Habitat for Humanity. This Christian organisation, based just down the road from Plains, built low cost housing for the poor and for those who lost their homes in natural disasters. The sight of a former President wielding a hammer to rebuild tenement blocks in New York City or shanty towns devastated by earthquakes in Haiti caused many Americans to re-assess Carter the private citizen. His humility, idealism and selflessness were admired, particularly after he opened the non-profit making Carter Centre in Atlanta with the objective of ameliorating suffering and disease. These ambitious goals were often achieved by Jimmy Carter in the decades after he left the White House. His medical programmes operated in 65 countries in the developing world. In Africa his campaign to eradicate the killer Guinea Worm disease was successful. His initiatives were also responsible for reducing Malaria, river blindness and Trachoma while at the same time improving nutrition among some of the worlds' poorest communities by ambitious agricultural developments. He was tenacious in his service to the underdogs of humanity. In the course of his global travels, Jimmy Carter became heavily involved in conflict resolution. He and his Centre developed an impressive record of helping to resolve conflicts in Haiti, Bosnia, Sudan, Uganda and other countries. In North Korea, Carter undertook a secret peace mission to Kim Il-sung which achieved a nuclear freeze in the region for several years. In 2002 the ex-President was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing democracy, human rights and peaceful solutions in several of the world's most difficult countries. Former US president George Bush, President Bill Clinton, former presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter wave to the attendance after being announced at the George Bush Library in College Station, Texas US President Jimmy Carter (L) with Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan at the White House in Washington in 1979 Jimmy Carter, framed by a campaign sign held by supporters, leaving a Washington hotel in 1980 The cause that engaged him most passionately was the plight of the Palestinian people, whose sufferings he described as 'one of the greatest human rights crimes on earth'. After one visit to the West Bank he stopped off in London to address an audience of Parliamentarians in Westminster. Embarrassingly only five or six MPs showed up of which I was one. The former leader of the free world seemed quite unfazed by the low turnout. His modesty and self-effacement made his mastery of detail on the complex Arab-Israeli dispute seem all the more impressive. At the end of the meeting I asked the ex-President where he was travelling to next. 'Back to Plains' he said 'I don't like to miss teaching Sunday School at our church. And I don't like to be away from Rosalynn for too long'. It was a reminder that the quintessence of Jimmy Carter was his commitment to faith and family values. A transparently good and decent man he did more to make the world a better place after losing the Presidency than he did while in office. It was a paradox that his achievements were greater when he was vulnerable than when he was powerful. Perhaps his strength was that he remained faithful to his Christian ideals at all stages, high and low, of his life's journey. He would not be disappointed with such an epitaph. Share or comment on this article: Jimmy Carter was respectively known as St Jimmy - universally revered for his good deeds in the poorest countries in the world and for the impeccable moral probity of his character, writes JONATHAN AITKEN e-mail Add comment
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