When I got in my car this afternoon and heard talk about Jimmy Carter after I turned on the radio, I knew, or at least strongly suspected, that former President Carter had died.
My first thought was, "He was such a decent person, the complete opposite of Trump."
Listening to reports of Carter's life -- his upbringing, his presidency, his post-presidency -- reminded me that it wasn't that long ago that decency, honesty, strong moral character, and putting the broad interest of the nation above narrow party politics were viewed as basic qualities someone aspiring to be president needed to demonstrate.
Those days are gone, given the fact that Trump won the White House in 2016 and 2024. Which is sad, especially for those of us old enough to remember the humility, charm, and accomplishments Jimmy Carter brought to the presidency after he was elected in 1976.
Well, I needed some help from the news programs I listened to as I drove home after learning of Carter's death at the age of 100 to remember his political accomplishments.
For I'd mostly bought into the oft-repeated conclusion that Carter's presidency was an abject failure, while his post-presidency was a great success marked by charitable endeavors like he and his wife building houses on behalf of Habitat for Humanity.
It's true that "stagflation" and Iran taking 52 American diplomats hostage produced a resounding defeat for Carter's 1980 re-election bid at the hand of Ronald Reagan. However, Carter did some very good things during his single term as president.
The Carter Center summarizes those accomplishments.
Jimmy Carter served as president from Jan. 20, 1977 to Jan. 20, 1981. Significant foreign policy accomplishments of his administration included the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the treaty of peace between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union, and the establishment of U.S. diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. He championed human rights throughout the world.
On the domestic side, the administration's achievements included a comprehensive energy program conducted by a new Department of Energy; deregulation in energy, transportation, communications, and finance; major educational programs under a new Department of Education; and major environmental protection legislation, including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which doubled the size of the national park system and tripled the wilderness areas.
For me, one of Carter's memorable moments was recollected in a Politico story about him.
But he could also be disarmingly candid, in a political culture that almost never rewards that trait (who can forget his confession to Playboy magazine that he had lusted after women not his wife and committed adultery many times in his heart?)
This seemed quaint at the time, along with being astoundingly obvious. What man hasn't committed adultery many times in his heart? But what Carter said fits with his commitment to Christian ideals and high moral standards.
Since we have a president-elect who had sex with a pornstar soon after his wife had given birth, then was found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to the pornstar so news of Trump's infidelity wouldn't come out just before the 2016 election, Jimmy Carter's admission of purely mental sexual affairs is refreshing by comparison.
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Posted by: sant64 | January 06, 2025 at 04:43 PM