Former president Carter receives O’Connor Justice Prize

PHOENIX (AP) - Former President Jimmy Carter is the most recent recipient of the O’Connor Justice Prize.

Carter accepted the prize Friday at the Arizona Biltmore, saying the U.S. has the ability to become a champion of peace, the environment and charity, reported the Arizona Republic (https://bit.ly/2keNvCQ).

“I think the United States ought to be a superpower. Not just militarily, we already are, but we should be the nation on earth where anyone who has a conflict (could say) why don’t we go to Washington because the United States is a champion of peace? Why don’t we go to Washington because the United States is a champion of environmental quality? Why don’t we go to Washington because the United States is a champion of generosity? That’s the kind of superpower the United States ought to be. And I don’t think it’s beyond our capabilities as a people.”

Carter also said Ronald Reagan picking Sandra Day O’Connor for the Supreme Court “was the best decision he ever made.”

The award is named after the retired justice.

Carter answered questions during the event from previous winner Ana Palacio.

He talked about the nonprofit Carter Center that he and his wife Rosalyn started in 1982.

Carter said that after he left office in 1981 he wanted to devote his life to mediating disputes.

“What we’ve done primarily is devote ourselves to elections and peacekeeping,” he said.

About 300 people including O’Connor attended the event.

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Information from: The Arizona Republic, https://www.azcentral.com