|
John, As you likely know, the native son of Plains, Georgia – our 39th U.S. President, Jimmy Carter – is currently in hospice care. We’ve been reflecting on the legacy of leadership he left as a State Senator, Governor of Georgia, and POTUS, as well as his many great deeds and accomplishments (like the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize) since he left the White House in 1981. As we prepare for President Carter’s transition and memorial, we want to gather YOUR reflections, reactions, stories, and thoughts to share with Lucy and our entire campaign staff. As Governor of Georgia between 1971-1975, Jimmy Carter completely re-organized and streamlined the state government structure paved the way for statewide kindergarten, reformed the criminal justice system, and promoted civil rights and equal opportunities for women and minorities. He launched his campaign for President in December, 1974 and won over Americans on the campaign trail through a combination of hard work, popular policy proposals, and an "aw-shucks" Georgia charm. President Carter took office in 1977 not long after the Watergate scandal that left the federal government and the presidency in shambles. He faced challenges in office that rival those that President Biden is facing today in the wake of the Trump presidency: An energy crisis, the Cold War and Soviet aggression, the Iran hostage crisis, and a fundamental distrust of the presidency by American citizens after President Nixon’s term went up in flames. In perhaps his most famous speech in office, his embattled “crisis of confidence” address in 1979, President Carter spoke candidly with Americans about the challenges he faced in office, and that still face today: “What you see too often in Washington and elsewhere around the country,” Carter said, “is a system of government that seems incapable of action. You see a Congress twisted and pulled in every direction by hundreds of well-financed and powerful special interests.” After a re-election defeat by President Reagan and leaving office, President Carter continued to be very active in Georgia and stayed in the public eye – opening the Carter Presidential Center at Emory University, famously partnering with Habitat for Humanity, and using his platform to accomplish too many good deeds to list. Thanks for honoring President Carter’s legacy with us, – Team Lucy
|