Thank you Jonathan. As a writer, historian, Jimmy Carter biographer your work has given us a piercing glance of the person behind the that often icy, clear eyed Carter stare captured in the photo chosen for the top of this piece. In the cascade of elegiac tributes for Jimmy Carter over these past days, OLD GOATS, then, is a good place to offer my own personal one.
I never “knew” Jimmy Carter. Met him only once on a rope line in San Francisco during his run for the presidency. Was there as one of his grass roots volunteers in a county south of San Francisco recruited because the campaign wanted friendly folks up front and deep when he worked the line. Exciting and electric as that experience was…it only scratched the surface of what Carter represented to me, from the Deep South, a southerner working in California to elect another southerner as president of the United States.
Fresh from college in 1974, perhaps the last group of the 60’s generation of political activists, “radicalized” by Watergate, who busted out of school thinking that politics, if practiced for noble reasons, could indeed make the world a better place. And there was Jimmy Carter, embodying that very spirit. For the northern California Democrats back then Carter was a bit disconcerting. A southerner, a Baptist who talked his faith aloud, who opened press conferences by telling a room full of reporters “I love you”, supporting Jimmy Carter for them was as much a cultural challenge as a political one. Because of my accent…my fellow volunteers thought I must know him! Even related to him!
We lost California in 1976. Still Carter won. I went onto to work in local politics for the next 45 years, back home in Alabama and Kentucky. In 1980 took a leave of absence from a mayoral staff job to help organize the metro counties of Birmingham Alabama for him. We lost Alabama. He lost the presidency. But along the way in my quite low level career in local politics, working for other politicians, even getting elected myself, Jimmy Carter’s influence was profound, sustaining.
For Jimmy Carter politics was a calling. He stated more than once that he felt that politicians do more for the public good than preachers. Quite a statement from Southern Baptist. But that was Jimmy Carter. He inspired and showed the way for a generation of liberal southerners like me to answer our own calling to make the effort to make the world a better place.
Thank you for this wonderful piece, Jonathan. Many of these things I did not know, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. We are so lucky to have you as historian!
Thank you. Beautiful and sensitive tribute. It’s too bad that some of our greatest presidents are very good at presidenting and maybe not so good at politicking.
From Shelley mickle www.shelleymickle.com. His very best is not only well written but also a major contribution to our understanding a man who has been under appreciated as a president. In my opinion among his greatest contributions was his giving Rosalyn her wings. I wish he had been able to take her advice more. She had great political instincts. She wrote me a letter thanking me for a novel I wrote to prevent teen suicide when no one wanted to talk about that much less do nothing about it. . Both he and Roselyn are great role models.
You didn't spell it out, but by implication I get the strong impression that President Carter's biggest failing was his lack of humor. Even in a Renaissance Man and Nobel Lauriate, a sense of humor is essential. Still, I vastly prefer a humorless but honest man, over an amoral malignant narcissist.
Great eulogy, from someone who actually knew him. Thank you.
I met Jimmy Carter when I was 16 and a page in the US Senate. The Capitol Page School graduation ceremony was at the White House, and he presented us with our diplomas. I have mine framed in my home office even today, many years later. Thank you for such a beautiful tribute, Mr. Alter!
A beautiful tribute, Jonathan. Your book puts Jimmy Carter's life and legacy into perspective. He is the balm we all need and I hope that his memory will call on all of us to tap into our better angels.
Thank you, Jon. I’ve followed Carter for many years and appreciate your thoughtful and well-researched insights. Partly because I share Carter’s religious background, I’m grateful for your sensitivity to how it shaped his character as well as his governing instincts and priorities.
A beautiful tribute Jon! Thank-you for explicating this under appreciated and extraordinarily fine human being. I am looking forward to learning more about him. What a role model of integrity and effort.
We have lost a truly good man, Jimmy Carter. He was a truly loving kind man of the earth. He worked anywhere that would have him to help freedom, health, democracy, decency, and love for all citizens of planet Earth. He was a real Christian and he was made fun of for this. As an atheist, I don’t understand. He was the best of us and I am grateful. “Fair winds and following seas.”
A wonderful description of a President who is worth our admiration! He was lucky to have a biographer who could put his presidency in proper perspective.
Thank you Jonathan. As a writer, historian, Jimmy Carter biographer your work has given us a piercing glance of the person behind the that often icy, clear eyed Carter stare captured in the photo chosen for the top of this piece. In the cascade of elegiac tributes for Jimmy Carter over these past days, OLD GOATS, then, is a good place to offer my own personal one.
I never “knew” Jimmy Carter. Met him only once on a rope line in San Francisco during his run for the presidency. Was there as one of his grass roots volunteers in a county south of San Francisco recruited because the campaign wanted friendly folks up front and deep when he worked the line. Exciting and electric as that experience was…it only scratched the surface of what Carter represented to me, from the Deep South, a southerner working in California to elect another southerner as president of the United States.
Fresh from college in 1974, perhaps the last group of the 60’s generation of political activists, “radicalized” by Watergate, who busted out of school thinking that politics, if practiced for noble reasons, could indeed make the world a better place. And there was Jimmy Carter, embodying that very spirit. For the northern California Democrats back then Carter was a bit disconcerting. A southerner, a Baptist who talked his faith aloud, who opened press conferences by telling a room full of reporters “I love you”, supporting Jimmy Carter for them was as much a cultural challenge as a political one. Because of my accent…my fellow volunteers thought I must know him! Even related to him!
We lost California in 1976. Still Carter won. I went onto to work in local politics for the next 45 years, back home in Alabama and Kentucky. In 1980 took a leave of absence from a mayoral staff job to help organize the metro counties of Birmingham Alabama for him. We lost Alabama. He lost the presidency. But along the way in my quite low level career in local politics, working for other politicians, even getting elected myself, Jimmy Carter’s influence was profound, sustaining.
For Jimmy Carter politics was a calling. He stated more than once that he felt that politicians do more for the public good than preachers. Quite a statement from Southern Baptist. But that was Jimmy Carter. He inspired and showed the way for a generation of liberal southerners like me to answer our own calling to make the effort to make the world a better place.
Thank you for this wonderful piece, Jonathan. Many of these things I did not know, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. We are so lucky to have you as historian!
So much nostaligia for Carter. MACA (?) His years as president were tough. I’m sure he did his best.
Thank you. Beautiful and sensitive tribute. It’s too bad that some of our greatest presidents are very good at presidenting and maybe not so good at politicking.
From Shelley mickle www.shelleymickle.com. His very best is not only well written but also a major contribution to our understanding a man who has been under appreciated as a president. In my opinion among his greatest contributions was his giving Rosalyn her wings. I wish he had been able to take her advice more. She had great political instincts. She wrote me a letter thanking me for a novel I wrote to prevent teen suicide when no one wanted to talk about that much less do nothing about it. . Both he and Roselyn are great role models.
You didn't spell it out, but by implication I get the strong impression that President Carter's biggest failing was his lack of humor. Even in a Renaissance Man and Nobel Lauriate, a sense of humor is essential. Still, I vastly prefer a humorless but honest man, over an amoral malignant narcissist.
Great eulogy, from someone who actually knew him. Thank you.
I met Jimmy Carter when I was 16 and a page in the US Senate. The Capitol Page School graduation ceremony was at the White House, and he presented us with our diplomas. I have mine framed in my home office even today, many years later. Thank you for such a beautiful tribute, Mr. Alter!
A beautiful tribute, Jonathan. Your book puts Jimmy Carter's life and legacy into perspective. He is the balm we all need and I hope that his memory will call on all of us to tap into our better angels.
This is simply beautiful - this would be a perfect eulogy for his service. I may do the “old fashioned” thing and print it to save. Thank you. Sarah
Thank you, Jon. I’ve followed Carter for many years and appreciate your thoughtful and well-researched insights. Partly because I share Carter’s religious background, I’m grateful for your sensitivity to how it shaped his character as well as his governing instincts and priorities.
A beautiful tribute Jon! Thank-you for explicating this under appreciated and extraordinarily fine human being. I am looking forward to learning more about him. What a role model of integrity and effort.
Why didn't you discuss the Gwangju Uprising in the book?
We have lost a truly good man, Jimmy Carter. He was a truly loving kind man of the earth. He worked anywhere that would have him to help freedom, health, democracy, decency, and love for all citizens of planet Earth. He was a real Christian and he was made fun of for this. As an atheist, I don’t understand. He was the best of us and I am grateful. “Fair winds and following seas.”
Indeed, another shining light has gone out in the world.
A wonderful description of a President who is worth our admiration! He was lucky to have a biographer who could put his presidency in proper perspective.
Thank you for your well written ‘remembrance obituary’ of and to President Jimmy Carter.
Thanks. Thanks so much for bringing Jimmy Carter to life for so many of us.