SEAGRAVES: Goodbye, Mr. President
Published 11:59 am Wednesday, January 8, 2025
- Scott Seagraves
Karen and I were out of the country visiting Zach, Laura, Nason and Arleigh when we learned of the death of Pres. Jimmy Carter. As a result we were unable to watch any American or Western coverage of his death or the family ceremony. I did, however, take time and reflect on the life of Mr. Carter and his contributions to our state and country.
For many years I taught Georgia history, and of course, Pres. Carter was a part of that. I always pointed out that he ran for a state senate seat in 1962 and won by defeating his firmly entrenched opponent, Homer Moore. One year later, Gray v. Sanders effectively killed Georgia’s county unit system of statewide elections and Mr. Carter’s path to the governor’s office was opened. He ran against Lester Maddox and Ellis Arnall (former Georgia governor) and finished third. Disappointed but not discouraged he ran again in 1970 as a traditional, conservative Georgia Democrat who outwardly supported segregation. In his 12-minute inaugural speech he shocked the state and nation by declaring, “No poor, rural, weak or Black person should ever have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity of an education, a job or simple justice.”
For the remainder of his public and private life this idea that he shockingly revealed would become his driving force and he would fight for the oppressed until he no longer could.
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As Governor, as President, and as a private citizen Mr. Carter did something that few in the public arena dare to do…he lived out his faith. I did not agree with Mr. Carter on many issues both political and theological but those disagreements did not cloud my view of him as a man of faith and integrity. Many will disagree with me when I say he was one of the greatest this state has ever produced. His failings as President for many are just too great to allow them to see his greatness as a former President. I often told my students that, “Jimmy Carter was a terrible President but the best former President that has lived.”
In 1976, when he was elected President, I was 14 years old and beginning to understand (through the teaching of Nan Rogers) the political process and the impact it has on the lives of everyday Americans. I’m pretty sure that I quickly realized how severe the problems our country faced in 1976 were. Economics, distrust of the government due to Vietnam and Watergate, a fallen world image were all issues that I realized as a young teen. As I reflect on that era I realize now that no one could have served in the office and been considered successful. As a 62-year-old I now realize that Mr. Carter was successful, though maybe not how the world views success. He was successful in that he remained true to his values and his faith and lived them out daily. His marriage to Rosalynn was long and was a partnership aimed at making the world a better place through serving one another and those around them. Jimmy Carter was a man and as such was flawed and at times broken but he served as a great example of how a follower of Jesus Christ should live out his appointed time. For that reason I, for one, will miss him. I know others will note their political and theological differences with Mr. Carter and argue that my words are inappropriate and inaccurate. I point to that as one of the great things about our country…we are free to disagree with one another about many things including the legacy of Jimmy Carter.
I hope that on Thursday, Jan. 9, you will take the opportunity to mourn with the rest of
the country and state, the loss of a sweet and gentle man who placed others above
himself.
—Scott Seagraves is a retired GMC Prep educator. His column appears occasionally in The Union-Recorder.