CNBC Meets Jimmy Carter

To mark his 90th birthday the next episode of CNBC Meets is in the company of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The special edition, presented by Tania Bryer, has unprecedented access to the former American politician.

The 30 minute interview will premiere in the UK and across Europe on the 1st October, the day of his 90th birthday. The programme will also air on CNBC networks in the United States and Asia Pacific and will also be available online.

In this exclusive and historical programme, Tania 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 says,

“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 Center 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 discusses his legacy saying,

“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 goes to meet with other names such as Angelina Jolie and Richard Branson who give further insight into this extraordinary man.

The CNBC Meets series is produced and directed by CNBC in London. CNBC Meets Jimmy Carter airs at 10.00pm BST on October 1st 2014.

In the UK, CNBC is available on Sky (channel 505), Virgin (613) and Freesat (210).