Wow,
Louis and Tampa: what wonderful stories! (Tamps, it isn't everyone who can say he went to Sunday-school, with Jimmy Carter!)
As regards the history-books (in Drake's wise allusion): I have a sense that historians will be much kinder to Mr. Carter, than contemporary journalists, were.
The Camp David accord was a MAJOR step forward, in terms of world peace. (One of the very few I've seen, in my lifetime.) And President Carter's many achievements through his efforts in the Carter Center - including fostering democracy and fair electoral processes in scores of countries that are new to democracy; fighting famine and disease in the Third World; and yes, his sponsorship of Habitat for Humanity also - were TREMENDOUS works, which have improved the world to no end.
(Tampa, I do regret that I missed my one chance to hear Jimmy Carter speak. I had a ticket, which cost me about $75, as I recall - - - to attend a benefit for "Habitat" at which he was speaking, here at the North Pole. But, just as I was finishing up at the office, a huge rainstorm broke over us. . . and my suit got soaked in the rain. So I was too embarrassed to show up at an event where I knew a lot of people from my work would be showing up. . . looking like a drowned RAT!)
Poor President Carter, though. He faced a lot of adversity, during his time as President. An OPEC-induced energy crisis; a significant recession; and the rise of that evil bastard, the Ayatollah Khomeini. As even the most powerful elected politician in the Western world - - - there is not a hell of a lot you can do, with bad cards like that, to play. To historians today, it seems evident that, for whatever reason (and this is still a mystery to me, to this very day): that the Ayatollah deliberately decided to "stick it" to President Carter, by refusing to release the hostages in Iran, until Reagan was sworn in. . . and the Ayatollah DID, minutes after! (Why would Khomeini prefer REAGAN to Carter. . . I have no idea. But apparently, he did.)
Just a little side-historical note, for Drake's benefit - - - Canada, though a very weak and small little country (in terms of population and wealth) played a key role in the effort to rescue American diplomatic staff, during the Iranian coup. This was the basis of the movie,
Argo ~ and though it was a small role, I think most Canadians were glad that we were able to help.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Caper
One further digression, for Tampa's benefit - it might make him laugh. . . . Circa 1978, I attended a large family wedding, to which my public-speaking coach, the sublime and gifted Miss R., was also invited. She brought, as her date (her husband was long-departed) a young exchange student from Iran, and said to me, "A - you really should have a conversation with this young man. . . he has so much to share!" And then she left me, to chat, with this fellow. (I suspect she was scoping out some cute younger men, on the dance-floor ;-)
Well, Tamps, I was then 13, and darling Ardashir was about 20 or so - and very cute (of course, I noticed). He was a little in his cups, and began inveighing against the Shah, and telling me about his ruthless atrocities, and how anyone who dared oppose the regime was thrown to SAVAK. Ardashir (who was drinking some sort of awful pineapple colada, which made his breath smell GHASTLY) wound up his little homily by exhorting me, "A - in Iran - we must have a revolution, and revolution, NOW!!!"
You know me, Tamps. I am a heartless bastard, and an admirer of Henry Kissinger, too. I just sipped on my Canada Dry (no ice) and said, "Ardashir,
you're gonna live to REGRET THIS." And I bet he has. At least, I HOPE he has :-(((
Louis and Tampa, I don't know if either of you watch
The American Experience, on PBS. Recently, they had a great series called,
The Kennedys. What was most interesting in this series, in terms of our present discussion, is the picture the documentarians presented of Jimmy Carter's relationship, with the Kennedys.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/kennedys/
I didn't know this, about President Carter, but apparently, he hated and feared the Kennedys, as much as my old friend, Richard Milhous Nixon. Maybe even MORE - because he saw them as a threat to his leadership of the Democratic Party. So he shut them out, and ignored them . . . even as Ronald Reagan (that old Irish charmer) actively courted them, and invited Rose over for tea, on a regular basis.
So, after Ted mounted a fierce (and almost successful) bid for the nomination in 1980, and lost. . . the documentary suggests that he and his family were more than pleased that Reagan should overtake Carter, in the ensuing general election. (Carter said so, too, in a number of directly-recorded quotes.) Several commentators on this programme suggested that snubbing the Kennedys, was perhaps Carter's worst political mistake, ever. (And, as a political junkie, and former teacher of political studies, I find this. . . fascinating.)
In the end, whether he had conciliated Ted Kennedy, or not - I'm not sure it would have made all that much difference, for President Carter. He was facing incredible political headwinds, both in terms of the economy, and foreign affairs, and the country was eager for change, at that point. Politics is a cruel mistress, indeed - and, I'm afraid - especially so, for honest men.
But, in the end, Jimmy Carter WAS an honest man, and a very good one. Tamps, you will laugh, but you might recall (as I do) the Reverend Billy Graham's sometime comment that he believed Richard Nixon was, "every INCH a Christian gentleman." Well, while I am revisionist enough to think Nixon had a sort of genius about him, and accomplished more in terms of international relations (
detente and the opening to China) and domestic affairs (establishing the EPA) than is usually conceded on the left. . . a "Christian gentleman", Nixon certainly was. . . NOT.
Jimmy Carter, on the other hand, WAS and IS, the very MODEL of a Christian gentleman. While I didn't agree with everything he did in office, he did a great deal of good, in office - and even more, once he LEFT office. I honestly believe that Mr. Carter is one of the very few politicians I am aware of, in the 20th century, who was motivated almost exclusively, by altruism, and genuine care for PEOPLE. This is admirable; and there should be more like him. He has lived a life, which is truly worth living - of this, I think there can be, no question.
There should be more, like him.
"A" XOXOXOXOXOXO