Beautifully written, Steve. I write this with tears for this great man, who had a life well-lived. We all should live by his example. He was not a blowhard nor braggart. He just got stuff done. I remember some laughing at the fact he kept White House thermostats set at 68 degrees and some felt the need to wear jackets indoors. When he put those solar panels on the roof, some people howled. But he was so far ahead of his time. And that scum Reagan had them removed. Jimmy lived his faith. God bless Jimmy, who is now rejoined with his beloved wife. May they both rest in power.
President Carter’s humanity and basic decency were too much, perhaps, for him to be perceived of by our jingoistic citizenry, and especially the opposition party, as an effective president. But
his legacy as a person is unmatched by any other post-presidency because of his humility and goodness. Contrast that with the incoming 47th president, who is as awful as Carter was good.
47 is a self-absorbed narcissist who will let the country burn to the ground if it pleased him. Carter was there to help and tell our country the truth, even though we didn’t want to hear it.
I'll never forget my mother insisting back in the 70s and on, that we keep the thermostat at 68 and my sisters and I constantly complaining about how cold it was in the house...but now I do the same thing! President Carter was the first president I ever voted for and was a great president as far as I am concerned...he led an exemplary life and I hope many follow in his footsteps!
I agree with everything you said, but want to add one thing. Not only did Reagan remove the solar panels, but his secretive deal with Iran to hold the hostages until he was president was nothing short of treason. Our country still suffers from Reagan.
"too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption."
That was the problem then and it still is.
I consider Jimmy Carter to have been a great man and president confronted by problems not of his making. Had he been re-elected we would likely be in a better place today.
We definitely would be in a better place. Reagan amplified racism, classism, discrimination, the wealth gap, religious intolerance, and the nascent neoconservatism that screwed up the Middle East and caused so much death and destruction. He was a much worse president than it appeared, just as Jimmy Carter was better than he has been portrayed.
Yes, and Reagan was able to adopt an avuncular, “gee shucks” persona while he set the country on a path to cripple the middle class. While directly violating the law to sell missiles to the Iranians (!!!???) to fund the Contras. That’s what you get when you elect an actor… which we have just done again.
I voted twice for Jimmy Carter and met him at a book signing long after he left office. He was a decent, moral man who devoted his later years to Habitat For Humanity, building houses alongside his wife. President Carter, in sharp contrast to the man who will soon be revisiting and plundering the Presidency, was a pure, righteous and honorable man. He lived modestly until his death. I shed a tear for hearing of his passing and the death of so many of the principles that he held dear. We have drifted into a moral and spiritual abyss and it is lined with the gold of our billionaire class who has bought our government. Rest in peace, President Carter. You will not be forgotten.
Almost the very second that Reagan left office, he went out on the banquet circuit and pocketed $millions, whereas, like you said, Jimmy Carter went to build houses for the needy and be an exemplar of a good man. He and Rosalyn were a class act, full of love and devotion.
The tragedy of Jimmy Carter was that he was too honest and forthright to be a politician on the national stage considering the American citizens' appetite for prevarication and feel good falsehoods
Interestingly it’s anyone who is forthright and willing to be curious and future v “now” thinking who is thought out of touch. We have become a less demanding people of our leaders. People see and accept flash and lies so easily. If all things have cycles, the let’s work to make these next 4 years demanding of what we want.
Thank you Steve for the wonderful tribute to Jimmy Carter. He is a shining light in the darkness of a world full of greed, envy and hate. May his legacy not be forgotten.
Now President Carter can rest in peace with his Maker, and with his beloved Roslyn, at his side! I am glad that he will not have to witness what our country might become; undemocratic, and greedy-the total opposite of what Carter was all about! History will remember him as a POTUS who loved his country and its people, as much as he loved his family! A POTUS, who continued his presidency long after he left Washington D. C.!
I remember as a teenager watching his ascent to national politics. Something I’ve never forgotten: when he was campaigning for Governor of Georgia, there was some type of white citizens council in a community. He agreed to meet with them. And he told them: I have five dollars, but I’d flush it down the toilet before giving it to you. R.I.P.
As an Independent all of my life politically, I have tried to be open to alternative viewpoints and opinions. Thus I have followed the options of George Will who appears in WAPO. He just posted a very, to me, disparaging oped piece about Carter.
While the Carter presidency was certainly open to criticism and missteps, Will ignores so many of his accomplishments not only within his presidency but how he devoted his entire life to the moral high ground and put those beliefs into ACTION. Excellent column by Kevin Sullivan and Edward Walsh about the life of Jimmy Carter does appear in WAPO and is most certainly worth a read!. Will's piece is so disrespectful and he does this at time when Carter has just now passed away. Whatever respect I had for George Will is now gone along with reading his columns.
I laughed when I thought to myself “What would the George Will eulogy be?” You can finish with your own answer but self righteous comes to mind. Jimmy was not ever once in his life above others, he was humble and that was his gift.
I have read Will’s baseball books, which are excellent. But he is just a cranky ass, in general. His fealty to his Saint Reagan gives me the dry heaves.
I thought the same and was upset by Will’s vitriol. It surprised me bc Will can be reasonable and decent. Pres Carter had the background that makes a good President. And people don’t like truth. Sadly. Horribly.
Agree totally. Didn’t always agree with Will’s views but wanted to keep my information and opinion options open. This piece was a shock and jolted me to the core so much that I have no interest in reading him further. As I said, Carter had his issues as President, but his incredible life long devotion to helping others around the world did not deserve those cheap shot comments.
Carter correctly and implicitly, never actually using the word, called out our narcissistic culture. It had been brewing before his tenure and blossomed in ours today.
Steve, your reach into elucidating history never ceases to impress me. You always bring up reminders of the importance of thoughtful leadership for our nation. I’m sitting at the bar at Brighton ski resort apres ski with tears flowing down my face. My sadness at President Carter‘s passing is intensified Because of the anxiety of what is coming in January 2025, the destruction of rules and norms, destruction of a government and the antithesis of the character of President Carter, who wanted the best for our country and the peoples of our nation.
Steve, a beautiful commemorative for Jimmy. I always liked Jimmy's heart. In many ways he was too kind to be in D.C. I can remember when Paul Simon sang "American Tune" at his inaugural, and brought me to tears. Peace
His life's work is not destroyed, though there are many in power who are trying to do just that. It is up to us to maintain the vision that a better world is possible and to act to make it so.
One thing that I remember President Carter doing, or tried to do, was to solve the conflicts in the Middle East. He able to have the leader from Israel, meet the leader from Egypt! He invited the two men to Camp David. For days, the men talked, and probably yelled at each other. Then, in the "rose garden", all three men gathered in front of the press, and the American people. And, for the first time, I saw a Jew and a Muslim shake hands, and smile at each other! There was hope for peace in that region! I was in my early twenties. I was soured by politics and politicians, having voted, for the first time for Nixon, and then having Gerald Ford pardoning him. So I didn't appreciate President Carter, until much later, when he was out of Office, and was starting "Houses for Humanity". President Carter was a faith-filled man, who lived his faith everyday of his life! However, he would NEVER "push" his beliefs on others! Instead, he just lived quietly, living out the teachings of Christ!
President Carter, enjoy your heavenly rewards! Pray for America, and for its people!
What a beautiful post and Speech from Jimmy Carter. You correlated the two perfectly Steve. I've been crying off and on since I heard the news and this just reminded me again what a giant among men Jimmy Carter was. An example we all should follow.
You did him justice Steve. Thank you. Anchors ⚓️ Away. RIH kind, humble Sir. 💔🇺🇸💙
Tears here too, Lisa Miller, as much for the man as for the forthright honesty and goodness he lived and gave. How different he whose mother, Ms Lillian, served in the Peace Corps, to those in so many offices, elected and appointed, now think only of themselves.
Beautifully written, Steve. I write this with tears for this great man, who had a life well-lived. We all should live by his example. He was not a blowhard nor braggart. He just got stuff done. I remember some laughing at the fact he kept White House thermostats set at 68 degrees and some felt the need to wear jackets indoors. When he put those solar panels on the roof, some people howled. But he was so far ahead of his time. And that scum Reagan had them removed. Jimmy lived his faith. God bless Jimmy, who is now rejoined with his beloved wife. May they both rest in power.
Those panels wound up in Unity Maine in at small college. https://unity.edu/unity-news/the-college-that-rescued-carter-solar-panels/.
Awesome! President Carter was probably happy those panels got used and not tossed into the garbage.
Very cool.
President Carter’s humanity and basic decency were too much, perhaps, for him to be perceived of by our jingoistic citizenry, and especially the opposition party, as an effective president. But
his legacy as a person is unmatched by any other post-presidency because of his humility and goodness. Contrast that with the incoming 47th president, who is as awful as Carter was good.
47 is a self-absorbed narcissist who will let the country burn to the ground if it pleased him. Carter was there to help and tell our country the truth, even though we didn’t want to hear it.
Reagan was a huge asshole. He put us on this path toward fascism that got tRump back into office
I'll never forget my mother insisting back in the 70s and on, that we keep the thermostat at 68 and my sisters and I constantly complaining about how cold it was in the house...but now I do the same thing! President Carter was the first president I ever voted for and was a great president as far as I am concerned...he led an exemplary life and I hope many follow in his footsteps!
Well, we know one who won't...
I agree with everything you said, but want to add one thing. Not only did Reagan remove the solar panels, but his secretive deal with Iran to hold the hostages until he was president was nothing short of treason. Our country still suffers from Reagan.
RIP Jimmy Carter, our country will miss you.
"too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption."
That was the problem then and it still is.
I consider Jimmy Carter to have been a great man and president confronted by problems not of his making. Had he been re-elected we would likely be in a better place today.
We definitely would be in a better place. Reagan amplified racism, classism, discrimination, the wealth gap, religious intolerance, and the nascent neoconservatism that screwed up the Middle East and caused so much death and destruction. He was a much worse president than it appeared, just as Jimmy Carter was better than he has been portrayed.
Yes, and Reagan was able to adopt an avuncular, “gee shucks” persona while he set the country on a path to cripple the middle class. While directly violating the law to sell missiles to the Iranians (!!!???) to fund the Contras. That’s what you get when you elect an actor… which we have just done again.
Has always been a problem. When 1% control everything… we have super problems.
I voted twice for Jimmy Carter and met him at a book signing long after he left office. He was a decent, moral man who devoted his later years to Habitat For Humanity, building houses alongside his wife. President Carter, in sharp contrast to the man who will soon be revisiting and plundering the Presidency, was a pure, righteous and honorable man. He lived modestly until his death. I shed a tear for hearing of his passing and the death of so many of the principles that he held dear. We have drifted into a moral and spiritual abyss and it is lined with the gold of our billionaire class who has bought our government. Rest in peace, President Carter. You will not be forgotten.
Almost the very second that Reagan left office, he went out on the banquet circuit and pocketed $millions, whereas, like you said, Jimmy Carter went to build houses for the needy and be an exemplar of a good man. He and Rosalyn were a class act, full of love and devotion.
Don’t get me started on the Reagan’s
The tragedy of Jimmy Carter was that he was too honest and forthright to be a politician on the national stage considering the American citizens' appetite for prevarication and feel good falsehoods
Interestingly it’s anyone who is forthright and willing to be curious and future v “now” thinking who is thought out of touch. We have become a less demanding people of our leaders. People see and accept flash and lies so easily. If all things have cycles, the let’s work to make these next 4 years demanding of what we want.
If there was ever a saint amongst us.
Thank you Steve for the wonderful tribute to Jimmy Carter. He is a shining light in the darkness of a world full of greed, envy and hate. May his legacy not be forgotten.
Now President Carter can rest in peace with his Maker, and with his beloved Roslyn, at his side! I am glad that he will not have to witness what our country might become; undemocratic, and greedy-the total opposite of what Carter was all about! History will remember him as a POTUS who loved his country and its people, as much as he loved his family! A POTUS, who continued his presidency long after he left Washington D. C.!
I remember as a teenager watching his ascent to national politics. Something I’ve never forgotten: when he was campaigning for Governor of Georgia, there was some type of white citizens council in a community. He agreed to meet with them. And he told them: I have five dollars, but I’d flush it down the toilet before giving it to you. R.I.P.
Great anecdote!
As an Independent all of my life politically, I have tried to be open to alternative viewpoints and opinions. Thus I have followed the options of George Will who appears in WAPO. He just posted a very, to me, disparaging oped piece about Carter.
While the Carter presidency was certainly open to criticism and missteps, Will ignores so many of his accomplishments not only within his presidency but how he devoted his entire life to the moral high ground and put those beliefs into ACTION. Excellent column by Kevin Sullivan and Edward Walsh about the life of Jimmy Carter does appear in WAPO and is most certainly worth a read!. Will's piece is so disrespectful and he does this at time when Carter has just now passed away. Whatever respect I had for George Will is now gone along with reading his columns.
Thanks for your piece Steve....
Will is an ass. Always has been.
I laughed when I thought to myself “What would the George Will eulogy be?” You can finish with your own answer but self righteous comes to mind. Jimmy was not ever once in his life above others, he was humble and that was his gift.
Fuck George Will
I read that piece. Pathetic.
I would add Will is a horses ass except I adore horses. LOL, they communicate with humans better than that phony “erudite ” WFBuckley wan-a-be.
I have read Will’s baseball books, which are excellent. But he is just a cranky ass, in general. His fealty to his Saint Reagan gives me the dry heaves.
I thought the same and was upset by Will’s vitriol. It surprised me bc Will can be reasonable and decent. Pres Carter had the background that makes a good President. And people don’t like truth. Sadly. Horribly.
Agree totally. Didn’t always agree with Will’s views but wanted to keep my information and opinion options open. This piece was a shock and jolted me to the core so much that I have no interest in reading him further. As I said, Carter had his issues as President, but his incredible life long devotion to helping others around the world did not deserve those cheap shot comments.
Carter correctly and implicitly, never actually using the word, called out our narcissistic culture. It had been brewing before his tenure and blossomed in ours today.
It is his final gift- the juxtaposition of his decency against the evil to come.
Yes. I thought the same thing.
He left us gifts. The POS coming in on Jan. 20 brings grifts
Steve, your reach into elucidating history never ceases to impress me. You always bring up reminders of the importance of thoughtful leadership for our nation. I’m sitting at the bar at Brighton ski resort apres ski with tears flowing down my face. My sadness at President Carter‘s passing is intensified Because of the anxiety of what is coming in January 2025, the destruction of rules and norms, destruction of a government and the antithesis of the character of President Carter, who wanted the best for our country and the peoples of our nation.
Steve, a beautiful commemorative for Jimmy. I always liked Jimmy's heart. In many ways he was too kind to be in D.C. I can remember when Paul Simon sang "American Tune" at his inaugural, and brought me to tears. Peace
I’m so sorry that he had to live to see his entire life’s work destroyed by the country’s election of a fascist.
His life's work is not destroyed, though there are many in power who are trying to do just that. It is up to us to maintain the vision that a better world is possible and to act to make it so.
One thing that I remember President Carter doing, or tried to do, was to solve the conflicts in the Middle East. He able to have the leader from Israel, meet the leader from Egypt! He invited the two men to Camp David. For days, the men talked, and probably yelled at each other. Then, in the "rose garden", all three men gathered in front of the press, and the American people. And, for the first time, I saw a Jew and a Muslim shake hands, and smile at each other! There was hope for peace in that region! I was in my early twenties. I was soured by politics and politicians, having voted, for the first time for Nixon, and then having Gerald Ford pardoning him. So I didn't appreciate President Carter, until much later, when he was out of Office, and was starting "Houses for Humanity". President Carter was a faith-filled man, who lived his faith everyday of his life! However, he would NEVER "push" his beliefs on others! Instead, he just lived quietly, living out the teachings of Christ!
President Carter, enjoy your heavenly rewards! Pray for America, and for its people!
What a beautiful post and Speech from Jimmy Carter. You correlated the two perfectly Steve. I've been crying off and on since I heard the news and this just reminded me again what a giant among men Jimmy Carter was. An example we all should follow.
You did him justice Steve. Thank you. Anchors ⚓️ Away. RIH kind, humble Sir. 💔🇺🇸💙
Tears here too, Lisa Miller, as much for the man as for the forthright honesty and goodness he lived and gave. How different he whose mother, Ms Lillian, served in the Peace Corps, to those in so many offices, elected and appointed, now think only of themselves.