By James Powell, USA TODAY

 Bill Gates Sr., former South African President Nelson Mandela and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter hold babies at the Zola clinic, in the Soweto Township outside of Johannesburg, South Africa on March 7, 2002. The babies were born to mothers who tested positive for HIV.

Former President Jimmy Carter became the first president to live to be 100 years old on Tuesday
The one-time peanut farmer’s retirement years are a study in grace, as at one time Carter was as likely to be found at a Habitat for Humanity build site as he was on a post-presidency diplomatic mission.

The Nobel Peace Prize-winner was part of a group of world leaders called “The Elders” and was one of the leading figures pushing for the eradication of Guinea worm disease, a task that is nearly complete.

Carter has been in hospice for over 19 months and has said that he is hanging on for an opportunity to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.