A living example of what decency can accomplish
Huntington, L.I.: Reading that our 39th president, Jimmy Carter, was entering hospice at home in Plains, Ga., immediately conjured up personal memories reminding me of the fragility of life, having gone through the process with both my father and in-laws at home in recent years. Carter was the first president I ever voted for in 1976 as an 18-yearold attending my beloved Long Island City High School in Queens. Your editorial “The man from Plains” (Feb. 20) was spot-on that “he was not a great president like Washington or Lincoln.” Yes, “the Carter years saw high inflation,” interest rates that were “equally punishing” and an “oil crisis and long lines to buy gasoline” that led to Republican Ronald Reagan winning in a landslide in 1980. Make no mistake, Carter (photo) was never a natural politician or communicator, but he was always a good man. The odds were against him as a Washington outsider, but to an idealistic kid from Astoria, his candor and competency got my vote. I never regretted it.
His “greatest achievement was the Camp David accords between Egypt and Israel” signed in 1978. Above all else, having suffered through a “troubled presidency,” it must be remembered that Carter, citizen and global statesman, arguably accomplished more in his post-presidency to promote peace, democracy and human rights than what many presidents in our history achieved in office. This son of a peanut farmer — an ordinary man, he would humbly call himself — did extraordinary things by any standard.
Mr. President, God be with you. Thank you for your indelible example of courage, humility, humanity and the sheer decency of your being.