"Oh yeah," he said, "except for some military people who didn't like how he handled the Iranian hostage situation."
We had the feeling in Plains that he was well-loved. Not revered. But loved. And appreciated.
Seems like the whole town worked toward getting him elected. And when he was elected President, Rosalynn asked to Plains Garden Club (I'm sure that is not their real name - but it is close) to decorate the White House.
Everybody in Plains wanted to go to the inauguration, so they chartered a train to take them all up to Washington. The train arrived and Jimmy and Rosalynn had not shown up yet. So, one of the local ladies took it upon herself to call the house. Jimmy answered. "Y'all better get down here," she said. "The train is here."
After she hung up the phone she realized that she had just bossed around the President of the United States.
It became clearer, as we toured Plains, some of the events and experiences and people that shaped and informed Jimmy Carter.
He felt that one of his crowning achievements during his one term Presidency was the Camp David Accord.
Interestingly enough, I am currently reading "Leap of Faith" Queen Noor's (Jordan's King Hussein's widow) autobiography. She and King Hussein and much of the Arab world were appalled at the Camp David Accord. (Although she seemed fond of the Carters personally. Most of the time.)
He has done things that have inflamed his critics. He has also done a tremendous amount of good. He is a fascinating man.
If you have the opportunity, I recommend you make the trek to Plains. It is a very educational experience.
Jimmy's Dad owned a commissary. He provided seeds, feed, groceries and other miscellaneous items to the surrounding community. It is right next to their home and was only open when the family wasn't working in the field (Saturday afternoons and meal times).
The bell would ring if a customer needed to make a purchase and more often than not, Jimmy would be the one to leave the table and make the transaction.
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