Such a lovely tribute, and thank you for the link to Rosalynn's engagement at the JFK Library. Her work changed perceptions of mental illness, profoundly.
A day ago, I listened to your interview with Bianna Golodryga on the "Amanour" podcast. She cited the cliche that "The woman makes the man," while also stating that Jimmy Carter, likely, would never have accomplished what he did in life without her.
I disagree, it was more than that.
They had a marriage. The marriage made the man, the marriage made the woman, and that deep partnership created something better. And I really believe that Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter made our nation better.
I've long thought that Jimmy Carter was America's greatest post-president. The last one who used the legacy of the office to do further good works when he had left the White House, rather than something to help him secure a great additional new source of income and wealth, as virtually all subsequent presidents have done.
What I hadn't appreciated until reading more on his extraordinary relationship with Rosalynn was that he may have had one of the greatest marriages ever. I'm sure today is a very painful day for the former president, and I hope his faith keeps him strong in the belief that he will be rejoined with his wonderful wife soon. God bless them both.
Edith Galt Wilson was the first First Lady to serve as ‘acting’ president.
Eleanor Roosevelt was the most exceptional First Lady, who traveled the country and world to do good things. Her newspaper column MyDay highlighted the range of her good works, as she was FDR’s ‘social conscience.’
I applaud Rosalind Carter for her openness on mental health and Betty Ford on alcoholism.
For me Ms. Carter was an extraordinary First Lady, during Carter’s presidency and subsequently, for her genuine involvement in diverse humanitarian endeavors. Often she did this with muted publicity since she was not seeking personal applause.
I join you and the rest of the nation in mourning the death of this great lady, and in gratitude for her life's work. May she rest in peace. And if my experiences with other long-married couples is any indication, I'm sure President Carter will soon join her.
I'm glad you mentioned Betty Ford and her experience recovering from alcoholism. We seldom acknowledge this fact, but addiction to drugs and alcohol is also a mental illness (recognized as such by the AMA in 1956 and the APA in 1994), and has perhaps the highest death toll of any others. Unfortunately, recovery programs still need to incorporate the word "anonymous" in their titles because of the stigma that continues to be associated with the disease of addiction. Death from addiction is no less tragic than death by any other cause.
Thankfully, there are many people in this country and around the world who continue the work of Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Ford, still led by the same compassion and wisdom that these ladies exhibited. We see the results of their efforts every day, all around us - usually without knowing that we are witnessing still another success story.
It's unsurprising that Sainted Ray Gun undid the mental health legislation. If there wasn't an oversupply of untreated insane morons, there would be no Republicans for vote for a guy like Sainted Ray Gun, who James Garner - who was VP of SAG when Ray Gun was pres of the union - once described in two words: "amiable dunce."
Nov 20, 2023·edited Nov 20, 2023Liked by James Fallows
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were the best people to live in the White House in my lifetime, and that span covers the last 73 years. It's one of the nation's great misfortunes that the times were not right for them to have a greater influence on American politics.
I feel sad for President Carter and his family. She clearly was a keystone for them all. Of course I knew it was coming, as we all did, but I didn't expect it so soon after the hospice announcement. And so it shocks a bit, and it is a portent, unfortunately.
1976 was the first time I was old enough to vote. I recall thinking then that Mrs. Carter didn't seem like political wives I had seen before. She always seemed so substantive; she didn't speak in platitudes, and instead shared thoughtful responses to reporter's questions that really addressed public policy at a meaningful level. It was unusual, to be honest about it. But I thought we needed change, so it felt right.
She deserves her rest, and my heart goes out to her family.
Such a lovely tribute, and thank you for the link to Rosalynn's engagement at the JFK Library. Her work changed perceptions of mental illness, profoundly.
A day ago, I listened to your interview with Bianna Golodryga on the "Amanour" podcast. She cited the cliche that "The woman makes the man," while also stating that Jimmy Carter, likely, would never have accomplished what he did in life without her.
I disagree, it was more than that.
They had a marriage. The marriage made the man, the marriage made the woman, and that deep partnership created something better. And I really believe that Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter made our nation better.
Thanks for a thoughtful remembrance.
I've long thought that Jimmy Carter was America's greatest post-president. The last one who used the legacy of the office to do further good works when he had left the White House, rather than something to help him secure a great additional new source of income and wealth, as virtually all subsequent presidents have done.
What I hadn't appreciated until reading more on his extraordinary relationship with Rosalynn was that he may have had one of the greatest marriages ever. I'm sure today is a very painful day for the former president, and I hope his faith keeps him strong in the belief that he will be rejoined with his wonderful wife soon. God bless them both.
Edith Galt Wilson was the first First Lady to serve as ‘acting’ president.
Eleanor Roosevelt was the most exceptional First Lady, who traveled the country and world to do good things. Her newspaper column MyDay highlighted the range of her good works, as she was FDR’s ‘social conscience.’
I applaud Rosalind Carter for her openness on mental health and Betty Ford on alcoholism.
For me Ms. Carter was an extraordinary First Lady, during Carter’s presidency and subsequently, for her genuine involvement in diverse humanitarian endeavors. Often she did this with muted publicity since she was not seeking personal applause.
I join you and the rest of the nation in mourning the death of this great lady, and in gratitude for her life's work. May she rest in peace. And if my experiences with other long-married couples is any indication, I'm sure President Carter will soon join her.
I'm glad you mentioned Betty Ford and her experience recovering from alcoholism. We seldom acknowledge this fact, but addiction to drugs and alcohol is also a mental illness (recognized as such by the AMA in 1956 and the APA in 1994), and has perhaps the highest death toll of any others. Unfortunately, recovery programs still need to incorporate the word "anonymous" in their titles because of the stigma that continues to be associated with the disease of addiction. Death from addiction is no less tragic than death by any other cause.
Thankfully, there are many people in this country and around the world who continue the work of Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Ford, still led by the same compassion and wisdom that these ladies exhibited. We see the results of their efforts every day, all around us - usually without knowing that we are witnessing still another success story.
It's unsurprising that Sainted Ray Gun undid the mental health legislation. If there wasn't an oversupply of untreated insane morons, there would be no Republicans for vote for a guy like Sainted Ray Gun, who James Garner - who was VP of SAG when Ray Gun was pres of the union - once described in two words: "amiable dunce."
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were the best people to live in the White House in my lifetime, and that span covers the last 73 years. It's one of the nation's great misfortunes that the times were not right for them to have a greater influence on American politics.
I feel sad for President Carter and his family. She clearly was a keystone for them all. Of course I knew it was coming, as we all did, but I didn't expect it so soon after the hospice announcement. And so it shocks a bit, and it is a portent, unfortunately.
1976 was the first time I was old enough to vote. I recall thinking then that Mrs. Carter didn't seem like political wives I had seen before. She always seemed so substantive; she didn't speak in platitudes, and instead shared thoughtful responses to reporter's questions that really addressed public policy at a meaningful level. It was unusual, to be honest about it. But I thought we needed change, so it felt right.
She deserves her rest, and my heart goes out to her family.