Carter's biggest legacy was his selfless devotion to others

The recent passing of former United States president Jimmy Carter at the age of 100 was a stark reminder that, despite the myriad changes the world has seen since Carter's term in the White House (1977-81), developments in two key areas — Sino-US ties and the situation in the Middle East — are just as important now as then.

Carter's diplomatic achievements in both areas sealed his legacy: US diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China were established on his watch, a monumental milestone whose impact continues to resonate today, and he helped broker the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab neighbor (Egypt).

Beyond the global arena, however, the Carter presidency did not fully deliver what the American people hoped for at the time, which the White House Historical Association concedes in its biography of the 39th president.

"Jimmy Carter aspired to make government 'competent and compassionate', responsive to the American people and their expectations," the biography says. "His achievements were notable, but in an era of rising energy costs, mounting inflation, and continuing tensions, it was impossible for his administration to meet these high expectations."

To be fair, history was a bit unkind to Carter and his rather unremarkable predecessor, Gerald Ford, by sandwiching them as it did between standouts Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.