Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter give two top tips for a happy marriage and avoiding a ‘gray’ divorce on 76th anniversary
JIMMY and Rosalynn Carter have shared their top two tips for a happy marriage as they celebrate 76 years of matrimony.
The oldest living president, 97, and his wife were set up by his younger sister Ruth and married when he was just 21 years old.
Each day they are together, they set a new record every day as the longest-married presidential couple.
But to stick it out for more than seven decades, there has to be a secret or two, with Jimmy revealing there's really only two important tricks to get it right.
In a with Bill and Melinda Gates, Jimmy said he and Rosie have "a couple of rules" that they follow.
Although they love spending time together, they balance it with maintaining different hobbies.
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He said: "We give each other plenty of space.
“She has a lot of interests that I don’t share, and I have a lot of interests that she doesn’t share.”
Rosalynn enjoys tai chi and meditation while Jimmy likes to spend time in his study, and likes to swim.
The loved up couple also stand by the commonly-touted adage "don't got to bed angry".
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He explained this is "a standing rule" that they follow "pretty meticulously" - but like other couples, sometimes with great difficulty
Jimmy said: "We have a lot of arguments.
"We have 21 grandchildren and four children so we have a lot of arguments about our family. But we try to get over our arguments before we go to sleep."
Jimmy and Rosalynn raised four children: Jack, 75, James, 72, Donnel, 69, and Amy, 54, during their years together.
Rosalynn was the 39th First Lady of the United States and considered one of her husband's closest advisors throughout his political career.
Fans on Twitter praised the couple for “setting a great example of marriage”.
One person said: “Canadians thank you for setting such a high moral bar for US Presidents to follow along with your fellow countrymen."
Another said: “President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn are role models of mine."
Someone else wrote: “This is incredible. Goals. Happy anniversary!”
Jimmy's work after his presidency has been considered more favourable and effective than his work in the White House.
He established the Carter Centre in 1982 to promote and expand human rights and continued to travel to manage peace negotiations and fair elections around the world and advance disease prevention in developing nations.
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He continued his diplomacy work aiding in peace talks with countries including North Korea, Cuba, Peru, Israel, and Palestine.
Rosalynn also continued her work focusing mental health, caregiving, and women and children.
