Singapore – In the next episode of CNBC Meets, presenter Tania Bryer is granted unprecedented access with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for a special programme to celebrate his 90th year.
The 30-minute interview will premiere across Asia Pacific on 4 October at 7pm (SIN/HK), 10am (AEST). The show will also be available online at www.cnbcmeets.cnbc.com
In this exclusive and historical programme, Bryer speaks with President Carter about his childhood in America’s segregated south and how this fostered his passion for human rights. He reveals to Bryer his feelings about his time in the Oval Office from 1977-1981 which was marked by international crises and domestic recession. He recounts his achievements and talks candidly about the Iran hostage crisis that led to his White House defeat.
In the interview President Carter said, “I could’ve been re-elected if I’d taken military action against Iran, shown that I was strong and resolute and manly and so forth. But I think I could have wiped Iran off the map with the weapons that we had, but in the process a lot of innocent people would have been killed, probably including the hostages and so I stood up against all that advice, and then eventually my prayers were answered and every hostage came home safe and free. And so I think I made the right decision in retrospect, but it was not easy at the time.”
Since leaving office, President Carter along with his wife Rosalynn have been dedicating their lives to improving human rights throughout the world with their mission of waging peace and fighting disease. He tells Bryer about the work The Carter Centre has been doing for over 30 years and how he and his wife are at the heart of every project and what it means to them.
In the interview President Carter discussed his legacy, “I’d like to be remembered as a champion of peace and human rights. Those are the two things that I’ve found as kind of a guide for my life. I’ve done the best I could with those, not always successful of course, but I’d say peace and human rights.”
Within this personal and insightful interview Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter talks openly about their life together, their joint drive and determination to make the world a better place and about their marriage, which is now in its 68th year.
Bryer also met with Angelina Jolie, Sir Richard Branson and Rt Hon William Hague MP, First Secretary of State and Leader of the House of Commons, who gave further insight.
The CNBC Meets series is produced and directed by CNBC in London.
