Jimmy Carter, the United States' 39th president, noted for his championing of a competent and compassionate government, passed away on Sunday in his Plains, Georgia, home after having reached the age of 100.

Over the course of Carter's lifetime, was involved in several notable altercations with a series of his successors in the Oval Office, including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan, as Fox News reports.

Carter's Most Significant Disputes

Carter's adversarial relationships started following the end of his presidency. After he left the White House, one such disagreement occurred with the then-president Bill Clinton.

The dispute was ignited when Carter, not Clinton, initially announced a diplomatic success on a CNN broadcast. An achievement that the former president had played a part in was thus overshadowed by the announcement's premature unveiling.

Clinton appointed Carter on an official delegation to Haiti. The aim was to coerce a military government into relinquishing power. But there was disunity even here.

Unfolding Spats between Clinton, Carter

The skirmish between Carter and Clinton developed at a shared press conference. The tension arose due to Carter's premature discussion of the Haiti event on CNN before the scheduled meeting. It reached a boiling point when Clinton could contain his fury no longer, leading to an exchange of shouts between the two.

Even beyond professional duties, the disputes were personal. Carter criticized Clinton for his decision to send Chelsea, his daughter, to Sidwell Friends School.

According to Jack Watson, Carter's dedicated White House chief of staff, "As he has aged, he was not constrained by political considerations. Carter has spoken with a frankness that has not always endeared him to others. But he calls it as he sees it."

Carter's Disagreements Not Confined to Clinton

Contrasts between Carter and the presidents who came after him were not just limited to Clinton. Other disagreements flared up with Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush. With George W. Bush, the contention centered around the Iraq War. In the case of George H.W. Bush, the argument focused on the United Nations' authorization of U.S. military force in the Gulf War.

In spite of these notable spats, the most enduring and intense disagreement of Carter's post-presidency life involved former President Ronald Reagan, who had trumped Carter in the 1980 election and became a lasting thorn in his predecessor's side.

Upon his electoral defeat, Carter bore a grudge against Reagan. This grudge was given life by Reagan's omission: Carter was not invited to a White House state dinner, despite prior custom.

Unbreakable Bond Forged in Opposition to Reagan

In the wake of this slight, a bond was formed between Carter and another ex-president: Gerald Ford. They discovered a shared disapproval of Reagan, leading to an unexpected friendship.

In his book, His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life, author Jonathan Alter notes, "It was no secret that Carter was not a member in good standing of the ex-presidents’ club, in part because he never accepted their code."

Alter continues to explain, "Most of them recognized that Mr. Carter could be useful in the right circumstances. The challenge for them was managing their high-maintenance predecessor."

Consequently, Carter's contentious relationships with his presidential successors suggest a man unafraid to challenge the status quo, always striving for what he perceived as right and just. Even as he navigated his relationship with past, present, and future leaders of the U.S., Carter remained a beacon for "competent and compassionate government".

Remembering Jimmy Carter: Strong Advocate, Formidable Adversary

As tributes pour in for the late Jimmy Carter, remembered primarily for his conservation efforts and advocacy for equitable government, it seems his disputes with subsequent presidents will leave an equally significant mark on his storied legacy.

Fiercely independent and forthright, Carter's style did not always endear him to his contemporaries. However, his relentless pursuit of a government that is both effective and caring underlines the values for which Jimmy Carter stood.

The former president's enduring belief in the power of diplomacy, even as he clashed with fellow leaders, serves as a poignant reminder of his lifelong commitment to service and public good.