Jimmy Carter, who lived for nearly 44 years after his presidency, holds the record as the longest-lived U.S. president, passing away at 100 years and 89 days. Other long-lived presidents include George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. While some presidents reached their 90s, others, like John F. Kennedy and James K. Polk, faced untimely deaths. Currently, five former and current presidents are alive, including Bill Clinton and Joe Biden.
Jimmy Carter: The Longest-Lived President
Jimmy Carter, born in 1924, made history by living nearly 44 years post-presidency, surpassing all predecessors. He passed away on December 29, marking him as the longest-lived president in the history of the United States. Carter proudly celebrated reaching the remarkable age of 100 years and 89 days.
Other Notable Long-Living Presidents
Several former US presidents have also enjoyed extended lifespans following their time in office. Among them is George H.W. Bush, the 41st president, who was born in 1924 and died on November 30, 2018, at the age of 94 years and 171 days. He would have celebrated his 100th birthday on June 12 of this year and lived nearly 26 years after his presidency, which ended in 1993. Notably, from November 2017 until March 22, 2019, Bush held the title of the oldest living president until Jimmy Carter surpassed him.
Gerald Ford, the 38th president, born in 1913, also had a significant post-presidential life. He passed away on December 26, 2006, at the age of 93 years and 165 days. Despite having the shortest presidency, lasting only 895 days, Ford lived nearly 30 years after leaving the White House, forming a close friendship with Jimmy Carter during that time.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th president, born in 1911, led a long life as well, reaching 93 years and 120 days. At the start of his presidency, Reagan was already 69 years old, making him the oldest president to begin a term. He completed his time in the White House just shy of 78 years, enjoying an additional 15 years of life post-presidency before passing away in June 2004.
Presidents Who Lived into Their 90s and Those Who Died Young
Notably, several other presidents reached the age of 90, including John Adams, the second president, who served from 1797 to 1801, and Herbert Hoover, who held office from 1929 to 1933.
Conversely, some presidents faced tragic and premature deaths. John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, was assassinated at just 46 years old on November 22, 1963, making him the youngest president to die in office. Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, and William McKinley also met untimely ends, each falling victim to assassination attempts.
The shortest retirement belonged to James K. Polk, the 11th president, who passed away just 103 days after leaving office at the age of 53 due to cholera.
Current Living Presidents
As of now, five former, current, or designated US presidents are still alive: Bill Clinton, age 78; George W. Bush, age 78; Barack Obama, age 63; Donald Trump, age 78; and Joe Biden, age 82.