Jim, I love your clip; you’re so good on camera! In the summer of 1976 I was an intern reporter for The Atlanta Constitution. My only claim to fame was somehow snagging a one-on-one interview with Rosalynn. I was impressed with her gentle Southern charm, masking a steely resolve underneath. Her husband’s winning the election seemed like a longshot; when I asked her if she thought they would get to the Whitehouse, she replied, emphatically, “Yes, we will!” She was an equal partner to her husband and surely deserves a lot of credit for his many decades of service after the WH. Thanks as always for your insightful posts.
A couple of days ago The Atlantic reposted your fine 2023 piece on Jimmy Carter. "An Unlucky President and a Lucky Man"--indeed. But this is the sentence that really stood out for me:
>Probably only a country as near-impossible to lead as the United States of that time could have given someone like Jimmy Carter a chance to lead it.<
I took that as stating a positive about Carter: only someone like him could have appealed to Americans looking for a way out of and away from the morass of the early to mid '70s-- Vietnam humiliation, Watergate and a crooked president, social unrest, an energy crisis, inflation. But try this alternate version on for size:
>Probably only a country as near-impossible to lead as the United States of our time could have given someone like Donald Trump a chance to lead it.<
That's the transposition that instantly came to mind when I read your sentence, Jim. It seems just as true for Trump and the America of 2024 as for Carter and the country 48 years ago, but I sure can't find any way to put a positive spin on it this time. In '76 it was hope that led us to Carter; in '24 it was what--nihilism, maybe--that led us to Trump. Instead of out and away from the country's afflictions Trump gives every indication that he'll lead us further down and into them. About all I can say is that things will likely have to get worse, much worse, before Americans who've been led astray begin to see through it all, and we can only hope that by then national leaders will have emerged with the personal integrity and moral gravitas to match that of Jimmy Carter.
Thank you. As you're aware, I wrote that "only a country as near-impossible..." line nearly two years ago, when the idea that this country could bring Donald Trump back to power seemed remote.
But I agree that the phrase has different, darker meaning at the moment. And I think / fear that your prediction at the end is correct.
Meanwhile, we all do what we can, day by day. Thank you.
Thanks. Yes, Joshua Carter was really spitting fire in that address. The conference has not released a video of that award session, which concluded with his speech. But I have an audio recording of it, from which I made the selection I included in this post. I will run the whole speech through Otter.Ai and see if there is more that should be included.
Yes, JIM, "our stories," but much also, your values and your particular good taste in wives! As always, sending warm regards with respect and warm feelings about the good ole days. --Bj<Barry@barryjagoda.com>
Barry, you saw much more of the saga than I did! The friendships we made in those days endure. Deb and I will be in your part of the country much of this coming year and look forward to seeing you there.
And, yes, good taste in wives has been the main "got lucky" factor in my life over the decades. (We both know that JEC viewed that as the main blessing in his own life.)
I was a big Hunter Thompson fan back in the day (and still am). I first became aware of Carter, from reading Thompson's report from the 1974 University of Georgia Law Day speech. I was proud to vote for him in 1976 and again in 1980.
Those of us in the DC area saw lots of newspaper space on Carter's presidency. Most of this was quite good but then there was George Will whose WaPo rememberance was in such bad taste that I wonder if he even read it and gave it a second thought. Of course those of us who have long memories recall that Will was an adviser to Reagan and helped him prep for the sole debate with Carter. I guess journalistic ethics were looser back then in the same way Supreme Court justice ethics are today. I've never forgiven Will for his lack of transparency on this. I guess his WaPo piece is a fitting end to this sordid behavior.
Many thanks. I agree about the importance of the Hunter Thompson story on the Georgia Law Day speech. And also about George Will's role, in the Reagan era and in his recent comments.
A lovely set of comments about a GOOD man. Maybe a great man. But above all a GOOD man.
I love the story Tom Wicker told. He said Carter visited him in late 1974 and told him he was going to be elected president, that he was less than 1% but that Humphrey would be able to run, Wallace no longer could count on southerners to tolerate him and they knew he couldn't win, and they and the party were going to want a fresh face. Sure, Wicker said.
Then Wicker went on one of those political scouting trips early in 1976 (maybe late in 1975). He asked a service station attendant in the South who he would support for president. The guy said he was a Wallace man but he couldn't win, so he thought maybe that good ol' boy from Georgia could do it. And Wicker said he suddenly remembered the first rule of being a political reporter, which is that you don't know ANYTHING.
Now if only those who call themselves political reporters and analysts (dare I say, almost the entire staff of the new york times that is assigned to daily political and DC coverage?) could learn Wicker's lesson. If only Carter could teach it to them.
I grew up in the post WW2 and civil rights eras and especially during the latter, I believed we could love the US and also criticize it. What Carter's loss taught me was how hard it was for a president to express our weaknesses, press for a better US and get re-elected. He lost to Reagan, a man whose alleged sunniness always seemed fake to me. Unfortunately I learned a lesson I haven't forgotten the relevance of: fake patriotism wins out all too often and does nothing to make a better world.
The 1980 election — don't get me started. **All** of the major polls declared, just a few days before the election, that it was too close to call. Several days later, as you recall, it broke overwhelmingly in Reagan's direction — Reagan carried 44 states.
Compared with 2024, Reagan had *some* things going in his favor. Reagan had actually been a two-term governor of the nation's most populous state. (Compared with whatever Trump has done.) Carter was running during the worst overall economic circumstances in decades — the prime interest rate was something like 12% during the election year. (Vs Biden, on what was *statistically* the strongest economy in decades.) Etc
So Reagan's victory was more "explicable." Trump's...
Ah, those socks. Inside the household, Deb was counseling that I cut that mention. It is the one time (of a million such judgments) where she has been wrong.
I learn from his grandsons that he has the (faith based) long view about the prospects for the nation. But, as mentioned, I am very glad that Biden will still be in command during his observances.
The socks just reminded of my dad and his complete cluelessness about things like that. If he had owned white socks as well as dress socks then he would have had to make a decision about what to put on his feet. It brings back fond memories now and I laughed out loud when I saw that picture.
What a joy to conclude a Trumpmania year with heartfelt appreciation for decency in the White House and everywhere in Jimmy Carter’s Nobel life.
For me, Carter represents the soul of America for the country for which I served with an oath to defend the Constitution.
This focus on Carter’s core principles sharply contrasts with the egoistic disregard for the United States by Trump, his billionaire buddies, and his scum bum government appointees.
Some presidents have been much more appreciated long after their presidencies. Only one was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize a generation later. [Wilson got his for the League of Nations and Teddy Roosevelt for his involvement on a Russian/Japanese peace treaty.]
Meanwhile, Trump, who as #45 was rated the worst of all American presidents by a distinguished panel of historians/political scientists, seems likely to double down on this dismal rating as #47.
I salute centenarian Carter for his exceptional personal values and diverse accomplishments. I look forward to when such decency and concern for Americans return to the White House.
I don't have a Carter comment but do have a plug for CBS Sunday Morning that everyone should save to watch religiously for some of the best reporting anywhere. Broadcast in the wee hours Sunday morning, too few people know how wonderful it is -- enough so for a shoutout in one of my Substacks:
Entre nous: A couple of years ago, I was part of a backstage lobbying campaign to have them recognized with a major journalistic award . Hasn't happened yet, but ...
My first serious job after grad school was managing for three years 1977-1980 the New Jersey K-12 portion of Carter's USDOE's Institutional Buildings Matching Grants Program to reduce their fossil fuel consumption. Carter always understood what truly mattered in the human experience and acted on it throughout his life.
Yes, thank you. Among Carter's unusual traits was his combination of big picture (even high-falutin') idealism, and very, very practical-minded grounding in reality. As you saw.
You're too modest to recognize it, but your commentary on the late president isn't just insightful and perfectly crafted; it's been a real gift to your readers, who are keenly aware of what Carter embodied relative to what the country faces today.
Jim, I love your clip; you’re so good on camera! In the summer of 1976 I was an intern reporter for The Atlanta Constitution. My only claim to fame was somehow snagging a one-on-one interview with Rosalynn. I was impressed with her gentle Southern charm, masking a steely resolve underneath. Her husband’s winning the election seemed like a longshot; when I asked her if she thought they would get to the Whitehouse, she replied, emphatically, “Yes, we will!” She was an equal partner to her husband and surely deserves a lot of credit for his many decades of service after the WH. Thanks as always for your insightful posts.
A couple of days ago The Atlantic reposted your fine 2023 piece on Jimmy Carter. "An Unlucky President and a Lucky Man"--indeed. But this is the sentence that really stood out for me:
>Probably only a country as near-impossible to lead as the United States of that time could have given someone like Jimmy Carter a chance to lead it.<
I took that as stating a positive about Carter: only someone like him could have appealed to Americans looking for a way out of and away from the morass of the early to mid '70s-- Vietnam humiliation, Watergate and a crooked president, social unrest, an energy crisis, inflation. But try this alternate version on for size:
>Probably only a country as near-impossible to lead as the United States of our time could have given someone like Donald Trump a chance to lead it.<
That's the transposition that instantly came to mind when I read your sentence, Jim. It seems just as true for Trump and the America of 2024 as for Carter and the country 48 years ago, but I sure can't find any way to put a positive spin on it this time. In '76 it was hope that led us to Carter; in '24 it was what--nihilism, maybe--that led us to Trump. Instead of out and away from the country's afflictions Trump gives every indication that he'll lead us further down and into them. About all I can say is that things will likely have to get worse, much worse, before Americans who've been led astray begin to see through it all, and we can only hope that by then national leaders will have emerged with the personal integrity and moral gravitas to match that of Jimmy Carter.
Thank you. As you're aware, I wrote that "only a country as near-impossible..." line nearly two years ago, when the idea that this country could bring Donald Trump back to power seemed remote.
But I agree that the phrase has different, darker meaning at the moment. And I think / fear that your prediction at the end is correct.
Meanwhile, we all do what we can, day by day. Thank you.
Beautiful.
Thank you.
Great CBS news segment and a moving speech by Carter’s grandson. Thank you!
Thanks. Yes, Joshua Carter was really spitting fire in that address. The conference has not released a video of that award session, which concluded with his speech. But I have an audio recording of it, from which I made the selection I included in this post. I will run the whole speech through Otter.Ai and see if there is more that should be included.
Yes, JIM, "our stories," but much also, your values and your particular good taste in wives! As always, sending warm regards with respect and warm feelings about the good ole days. --Bj<Barry@barryjagoda.com>
Barry, you saw much more of the saga than I did! The friendships we made in those days endure. Deb and I will be in your part of the country much of this coming year and look forward to seeing you there.
And, yes, good taste in wives has been the main "got lucky" factor in my life over the decades. (We both know that JEC viewed that as the main blessing in his own life.)
Comradeship from DC, see you soon in Calif.
I was a big Hunter Thompson fan back in the day (and still am). I first became aware of Carter, from reading Thompson's report from the 1974 University of Georgia Law Day speech. I was proud to vote for him in 1976 and again in 1980.
Those of us in the DC area saw lots of newspaper space on Carter's presidency. Most of this was quite good but then there was George Will whose WaPo rememberance was in such bad taste that I wonder if he even read it and gave it a second thought. Of course those of us who have long memories recall that Will was an adviser to Reagan and helped him prep for the sole debate with Carter. I guess journalistic ethics were looser back then in the same way Supreme Court justice ethics are today. I've never forgiven Will for his lack of transparency on this. I guess his WaPo piece is a fitting end to this sordid behavior.
Many thanks. I agree about the importance of the Hunter Thompson story on the Georgia Law Day speech. And also about George Will's role, in the Reagan era and in his recent comments.
Thanks again, Jim, and a happy new year to you both from us both.
A lovely set of comments about a GOOD man. Maybe a great man. But above all a GOOD man.
I love the story Tom Wicker told. He said Carter visited him in late 1974 and told him he was going to be elected president, that he was less than 1% but that Humphrey would be able to run, Wallace no longer could count on southerners to tolerate him and they knew he couldn't win, and they and the party were going to want a fresh face. Sure, Wicker said.
Then Wicker went on one of those political scouting trips early in 1976 (maybe late in 1975). He asked a service station attendant in the South who he would support for president. The guy said he was a Wallace man but he couldn't win, so he thought maybe that good ol' boy from Georgia could do it. And Wicker said he suddenly remembered the first rule of being a political reporter, which is that you don't know ANYTHING.
Now if only those who call themselves political reporters and analysts (dare I say, almost the entire staff of the new york times that is assigned to daily political and DC coverage?) could learn Wicker's lesson. If only Carter could teach it to them.
Excellent point, thank you.
I grew up in the post WW2 and civil rights eras and especially during the latter, I believed we could love the US and also criticize it. What Carter's loss taught me was how hard it was for a president to express our weaknesses, press for a better US and get re-elected. He lost to Reagan, a man whose alleged sunniness always seemed fake to me. Unfortunately I learned a lesson I haven't forgotten the relevance of: fake patriotism wins out all too often and does nothing to make a better world.
Thank you. I understand and agree.
The 1980 election — don't get me started. **All** of the major polls declared, just a few days before the election, that it was too close to call. Several days later, as you recall, it broke overwhelmingly in Reagan's direction — Reagan carried 44 states.
Compared with 2024, Reagan had *some* things going in his favor. Reagan had actually been a two-term governor of the nation's most populous state. (Compared with whatever Trump has done.) Carter was running during the worst overall economic circumstances in decades — the prime interest rate was something like 12% during the election year. (Vs Biden, on what was *statistically* the strongest economy in decades.) Etc
So Reagan's victory was more "explicable." Trump's...
Thanks for getting the socks out of the way quickly. I could concentrate on the post.
I suppose it's for the best that he not have to see the next four years. He was agreat manand a good man whose example will live on.
Ah, those socks. Inside the household, Deb was counseling that I cut that mention. It is the one time (of a million such judgments) where she has been wrong.
I learn from his grandsons that he has the (faith based) long view about the prospects for the nation. But, as mentioned, I am very glad that Biden will still be in command during his observances.
The socks just reminded of my dad and his complete cluelessness about things like that. If he had owned white socks as well as dress socks then he would have had to make a decision about what to put on his feet. It brings back fond memories now and I laughed out loud when I saw that picture.
What a joy to conclude a Trumpmania year with heartfelt appreciation for decency in the White House and everywhere in Jimmy Carter’s Nobel life.
For me, Carter represents the soul of America for the country for which I served with an oath to defend the Constitution.
This focus on Carter’s core principles sharply contrasts with the egoistic disregard for the United States by Trump, his billionaire buddies, and his scum bum government appointees.
Some presidents have been much more appreciated long after their presidencies. Only one was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize a generation later. [Wilson got his for the League of Nations and Teddy Roosevelt for his involvement on a Russian/Japanese peace treaty.]
Meanwhile, Trump, who as #45 was rated the worst of all American presidents by a distinguished panel of historians/political scientists, seems likely to double down on this dismal rating as #47.
I salute centenarian Carter for his exceptional personal values and diverse accomplishments. I look forward to when such decency and concern for Americans return to the White House.
Very well put. Thank you so much, Keith.
I don't have a Carter comment but do have a plug for CBS Sunday Morning that everyone should save to watch religiously for some of the best reporting anywhere. Broadcast in the wee hours Sunday morning, too few people know how wonderful it is -- enough so for a shoutout in one of my Substacks:
GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) TV shows
These are America at her best
https://substack.com/@suzannetaylor/p-141823588
Completely agree.
Entre nous: A couple of years ago, I was part of a backstage lobbying campaign to have them recognized with a major journalistic award . Hasn't happened yet, but ...
My first serious job after grad school was managing for three years 1977-1980 the New Jersey K-12 portion of Carter's USDOE's Institutional Buildings Matching Grants Program to reduce their fossil fuel consumption. Carter always understood what truly mattered in the human experience and acted on it throughout his life.
Yes, thank you. Among Carter's unusual traits was his combination of big picture (even high-falutin') idealism, and very, very practical-minded grounding in reality. As you saw.
Here's Jalopnik's (mostly quite favorable) take on Jimmy Carter https://jalopnik.com/we-should-have-listened-to-jimmy-carter-1850146887
I had not known about this! Will check it out now.
I'm a car nut, and so I get Jalopnik. But I've been learning a lot about Jimmy Carter the last few days, and I'm very impressed!
Thank you for these comments, I was looking forward to them
Thank you, Tom.
You're too modest to recognize it, but your commentary on the late president isn't just insightful and perfectly crafted; it's been a real gift to your readers, who are keenly aware of what Carter embodied relative to what the country faces today.
Orin, sincere thanks.
(For onlookers: Orin was a comrade during the 1976 campaign and in the administration, and we have remained friends.)
Despite all the missteps of those years, the world is fortunate to have had Jimmy Carter's achievements and example.