Historian Michael Beschloss revealed on MSNBC that when former President Jimmy Carter was at his sickest, and they feared the worst, he refused to go into the hospital and leave her side.
Rosalynn Carter died on Sunday at 96 years old, with her loving husband holding her hand. The two had been in hospice as she suffered from dementia and he had his own health issues.
"Number one, this was one of the great marriages in American history, even if they weren't president and first lady," said Beschloss. "Not only the length of this marriage, (77 years) but the closeness of it — that partnership. And you know, everyone who has said this in the last two minutes is absolutely right. They love most of all being with each other. I am told by someone who is very close to both Carters, that last winter, when Jimmy Carter was told that he was very sick and there was not very much that could be done for him, he was told, probably the best thing is for you to go into the hospital where you can get the best care. And I am told that President Carter said, no, I want to get home, and be in bed with Rosalynn, and just sit holding hands, and that's the way I'd like to close my life. And that's really the way it happened."
Beschloss went on to talk about the powerful role that Mrs. Carter played in the presidency and that it was more of a dual presidency like what was seen with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. "And I mean that in the most admiring way possible," he explained.
Beschloss went on to say that when he would ask her about her impact, and she would downplay it, modestly saying she only provided advice from time to time.
"This was really a mom-and-pop shop," he said of Carter's presidency. He explained she was very "good at concealing" that fact.
Richard Lui later classified the Carter presidency as the one with the most PDA (public displays of affection).
See the full comments from the historian below or at the link here.
Jimmy Carter refused hospital care saying he wanted to go out holding Rosalynn's handwww.youtube.com
