President Carter had a pretty rough time in the White House.
However I don't believe he ever lied to we the people.
It was after he left the White House that I gained a lot of respect and admiration for him. By the way I also felt he was not a good president. I did not agree with much of his politics. When he ran against Reagan, I did not vote for him.
Post White House, he spent the next 44 years growing into a much admired elder statesman. He built homes for underprivileged with Habitat for Humanity, often picking up a hammer and banging nails himself. Jimmy and wife Rosalynn opened up the Carter Center in 1982 and through that supported human rights and worked for decades to improve the human condition here and around the world.
He loved our country and never gave up on his mission to make the country and the world a better place.
He has accomplished so much more good after his presidency than I ever imagined possible. History will treat him kindly.
Rest in peace Jimmy Carter.
Well said Gil, my sentiments exactly.
Yes, that was very well said Gil, as he did seem to truly be a good and humble man!
During his Presidency, there were two things that I've never been able to forgive him for ... the mishandling of the Hostage situation and giving away the Panama Canal, which is currently really biting us in the butt hard!!
As a guess the foibles of his time in office my not really be a true reflection of the man himself, but rather that of his advisors, who may well have been working an agenda that came from outside the administration, and thus not Carter's own best efforts or even his true wishes!?!?
After he left office, I believe the true colors of the man's real nature shown through bright and clear!!!
President Carter set a high standard for ethical behavior, something we're sorely lacking now in our leadership.
Well said Gil!
Back in '93 I got married and we had our son in '94. I worked at a local Fox TV station barely making 15k and my wife worked at Bell's at the mall in Longview, Texas (making much less). We wanted to get out of our apartment but buying a home really wasn't in the cards - heck getting out of the apartment into a renal house was going to be a challenge. My Mom pushed us to apply for a home through Habitat for Humanity, which I generally dismissed as what's the point. This is where Habitat for Humanity has a older home for a needy family but you have to put in "Sweat Equity" in rebuilding the home. Then you end up with a very reasonable mortgage that is near or below what you are currently paying for rent.
Some how with 1,000s of applicant entries from the Greater East Texas area my little family was selected for a home for that cycle. We worked our asses off. Weekends, holidays, after work, any spare time found in our lives. When some person/group was coming to volunteer / work on the house, I dropped everything and we showed up. The house was tiny, ancient, but on a corner large lot and had a bit of "character".
I'd say we got to about 75% complete and my fortunes changed - I got offered a job in Austin, Texas that more than doubled my salary. Which lead me to be able to build & buy my home in Kyle, Texas that I have had since 2000. While in the end we didn't move into that home, getting selected & working on that little house is a time I'll never forget, ever. That opportunity never would have happened with out Jimmy Carter. Truly RIP President Carter, the world is lesser without you here but hopefully your organizations will live on.
In closing, to this day when we think back or speak about that little house in Longview, Texas, we refer to it as the "Jimmy Carter House".
I'll share another bit....
Jimmy Carter may have been the most accessible of all former presidents in the 20th and 21st centuries.
After opening the Carter Center, he always had posted his schedule for Bible study at his local church.
Anyone and everyone who saw the announcements were invited to come to his church and after he was done with Bible study he would stay as long as it took to meet everyone who came to see him. He took pictures with them, and he'd sign stuff for them.
Well said Gil!
Back in '93 I got married and we had our son in '94. I worked at a local Fox TV station barely making 15k and my wife worked at Bell's at the mall in Longview, Texas (making much less). We wanted to get out of our apartment but buying a home really wasn't in the cards - heck getting out of the apartment into a renal house was going to be a challenge. My Mom pushed us to apply for a home through Habitat for Humanity, which I generally dismissed as what's the point. This is where Habitat for Humanity has a older home for a needy family but you have to put in "Sweat Equity" in rebuilding the home. Then you end up with a very reasonable mortgage that is near or below what you are currently paying for rent.
Some how with 1,000s of applicant entries from the Greater East Texas area my little family was selected for a home for that cycle. We worked our asses off. Weekends, holidays, after work, any spare time found in our lives. When some person/group was coming to volunteer / work on the house, I dropped everything and we showed up. The house was tiny, ancient, but on a corner large lot and had a bit of "character".
I'd say we got to about 75% complete and my fortunes changed - I got offered a job in Austin, Texas that more than doubled my salary. Which lead me to be able to build & buy my home in Kyle, Texas that I have had since 2000. While in the end we didn't move into that home, getting selected & working on that little house is a time I'll never forget, ever. That opportunity never would have happened with out Jimmy Carter. Truly RIP President Carter, the world is lesser without you here but hopefully your organizations will live on.
In closing, to this day when we think back or speak about that little house in Longview, Texas, we refer to it as the "Jimmy Carter House".
neat story Richard.
Yes, thank you for sharing this story Richard.
About 25 years ago I volunteered and banged nails and raised walls on a Bridgeport, CT Habitat for Humanity project. As was your experience, Rich, the woman who would move in was there with her family... all of them working on her new home.