We traveled on Wednesday from just south of Montgomery, AL to just south of Atlanta and are staying in a small county park until Monday. The weather has been cool and a bit rainy, but on Friday we had a lovely day and decided to visit the Carter Library in Atlanta. Ordinarily we try to avoid Atlanta, which is why we have left this Presidential library to be one of our last ones (#10 out of 12.) We were looking forward to it, nevertheless.
My memory of Carter’s one-term presidency (back when I paid little attention to politics) consist of him turning down the air conditioner in the White House, resulting in a triggering of the heating system kicking on which ultimately used more energy. While this event was noted in one of the displays, there was obviously much more to President Carter and I was happy to learn about him.
The setting for the Library and Museum is stunning and features a pool in front of the entrance.
There is also the Jimmy Carter Center which is a nongovernmental organization the helps to improve lives by resolving conflicts, advancing democracy, and preventing diseases.
The Museum displays information on Carter’s early life and his introduction to politics.
He made the stamping out of racial discrimination the foundation of his runs for state senator and for governor, saying “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over. The rest of a government is not how popular it is with the powerful and privileged few, but how honestly and fairly it deals with the many who must depend upon it.” When he ran for president, he was at first a relatively unknown candidate.
The Museum displays on Carter’s inauguration were inspiring.
We visited the mock up of the Oval Office.
Some of my favorite displays found in most of the Presidential Museums we have visited have been gifts given to the Carters.
In 1978, Christopher Wagner of West Germany gave this nutcracker, carved in the likeness of Jimmy Carter
The notable achievements of President Carter during his presidency include:
- Established the Department of Energy
- Made human rights the foundation of foreign policy
- Protected national security and interests peacefully and avoids wars
- More women, African American and Hispanics appointed as federal judges than all previous administrations combined
- Presidential Commission on Mental Health
- Camp David Accords
- Deregulation of trucking, railroads, airlines, banks, finance, television & radio
- Panama Canal treaties
- Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaties
- Salt-II Treaty signed
- Diplomatic relations with China normalized
- Mental Health systems Act signed and funded
- Alaska Lands Legislations enacted
- Comprehensive energy legislation enacted
- Superfund Legislation enacted to control toxic wastes
- All American hostages in Iran safely returned to freedom
- Legislation: the Congessional Quarterly reported in 2008 that since 1953 Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and John Kennedy were the top three presidents in gaining support for their legislative proposals
Rosalynn Carter’s achievements in the area of mental health were also described. The Carter Center has spearheaded the near eradication (down to 15 cases) of GuineaWorm, and if you’ve not heard of this dreadful parasite you may thank the Carters! In addition to GuineaWorm, the Center is working hard to eradicate Lymphatic Filariasis, River Blindness, Trachoma, and Schistosomiasis.
It always impresses me when a US President puts others first, something that I actually used to take for granted before Trump got into office. Jimmy Carter has spent his whole life serving others and America is fortunate to have had him as President. The world is a better place because of Jimmy Carter.
No comments:
Post a Comment