Carter was born Oct. 1, 1924, to a prominent family in rural south Georgia. He went on to the U.S. Naval Academy during World War II and pursued a career as a Cold War Naval officer before returning to Georgia with Rosalynn and their young family to take over the family peanut business after Earl Carter’s death in the 1950s.

The Allman Brothers kick-started his candidacy and Willie Nelson smoked marijuana at the White House. Mr. Carter’s tastes were a confluence of strategy, generational change and forthright appreciation.

Jimmy Carter helped expand democracy around the world long after he left the White House. His efforts gave rise to the Carter Center, which promotes fair elections as a vehicle for peace.