Passed Presidents – Jimmy Carter and Me

On January 9, Jimmy Carter will be laid to rest next to Rosalynn and the fishing pond he created at their home in Plains, Georgia. The residence will become the Jimmy Carter National Historical Site, and the public will eventually be permitted access. While I expect one day to get there and keep my collection up to date, I have no idea when that might be. However, I can report on some personal exposure to the former president.

With the passing of our 39th president, it occurred to me that I have never actually seen in person a sitting president…no speech or stadium or parade. On only two occasions was I ever in the audience of any man who later became or had been president. Both times the person in question was Jimmy Carter.

Jimmy Carter Rally, New Orleans (30 October 1976)

As it happened, candidate Carter came to New Orleans four days before the 1976 election. He was sprinting to the finish line in the South, which he hoped would carry him to victory. I was in the crowd in Jackson Square. Not that I was one of his adoring ‘Peanut Heads.’ He had my vote in ’76 because, while Mr. Ford was a nice guy, he pardoned that scum bucket Nixon. I was a ‘single issue’ voter that year.

I was too far away to photograph anything good and close, so I popped off a couple of shots and paid attention to the speeches. It was during my brief ‘Black and White Period’…one that developed negatives but never advanced into serious darkroom work. Now, thanks to the cool Wolverine digital converter, I can turn a film negative into a positive digital file. Then, as noted recently, one can seriously crop a shot to make more from less. When I did that, some recognizable figures emerge.

Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards Speaking at

Jimmy Carter Rally, New Orleans (30 October 1976)

Here our fabulously crooked governor, elected, scandalized and

re-elected, Edwin Edwards introduces Mr. Carter, visible on the far left.

It was reported that the state’s entire Congressional

delegation and New Orleans mayor Moon Landrieu were present.

Jimmy Carter Speaking at French Quarter Rally, New Orleans, (30 October 1976)

Candidate Carter speaks. Wife Rosalynn is seated in the front row.

Inflation was modest at the start of his term but increased to double-digit levels in his final year in office. As a Washington outsider, he had difficulty working with party leadership and then there was the Iran hostage crisis and his failed attempt at a rescue. Ronald Reagan’s victory in 1980 was overwhelming.

Cover of ‘Direction 85’ Program

Time passes. Carter and Ford got over their bitter campaign and began making public appearances together. No two former presidents became closer friends. For the rest of their active lives, Jimmy and Jerry worked together on dozens of public policy projects.

The above program from Tulane University’s public policy series notes their appearance on March 11, 1985 to discuss ‘The Presidency.’ I attended and remember the impact being in an auditorium with two former presidents. Their bipartisan friendliness feels prehistoric now.

When I get to Plains, we will drop a proper Passed President post for the man who, more than any former president, devoted his life to public service.