Poll for over-50s: did you ever meet Jimmy Carter?

[lostnfound]

i shook his hand twice. Once he spoke at my college in the 1980s, and on the way out he shook everyone’s hand to say hello. The other time was at a habitat for humanity event for volunteers.

The thing about Jimmy is that he was humble, accessible, and friendly.

I’m curious how many of you old enough to have had some opportunities to do so, have actually met him.

84 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	over 50, Never met him
	46 (55%)
	over 50, attended event he spoke at
	9 (11%)
	over 50, shook his hand or conversed
	26 (31%)
	under 50, wanted to answer any way
	0 (0%)
	other
	3 (4%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[hlthe2b]

1. Multiple times at Carter Center, sometimes CDC and Emory U. functions; book-signings

He was a gracious man and an example for many.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

2. Toured the White House during his presidency

But didn’t meet him. Was in 1st grade. Remember wondering if Amy would be going to my school since I went to a public school in DC.

[Freddie]

3. Was in the Temple University Marching Band

I vaguely recall we played for a campaign rally in Philly, fall 1976.

[lees1975]

4. I worked with our church group that sponsored a Habitat for Humanity house in Houston

and met Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, who were working on the house next door.

[Xavier Breath]

5. I saw Bill Clinton speak at a rally in Springfield, Ohio, in 1992, but that was my lone rally attendance.

And despite it being Springfield, no pets were consumed.

[FSogol]

6. As a young teen, I received an award from him in the Rose Garden in 1979.

I have a nice photo of me shaking hands with him.

I was also part of a group that met Nixon in the Rose Garden, back when he was doing press events to try and distract from Watergate.

[SheLiberal]

7. Campaign Stop in Carbondale Illinois

Was in a large crowd to hear then candidate Carter speak in 1976. Proud to say I voted for him twice!

[TexasTowelie]

8. The closest tie that President Carter had with my social circle

was when he gave the commencement speech at my alma mater in Georgetown, Texas. I was too busy at work, gas was extremely expensive, and it would have been expensive to stay at a hotel so I didn't attend.

[jimfields33]

9. I was in 2nd grade when he was elected. Unfortunately, never met him.

[MineralMan]

10. Got to speak to him and shake his hand.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219860640

[vapor2]

11. But ...worked Jack Carter's NV campaign

and at one meeting, Jack called Jimmy (placing him on speaker phone) and we all wished him a happy Father's Day. Plus Jack mailed me a book signed by Jimmy.

[bluesbassman]

12. No, but as an 18 yr old enlistee in the US Army, I cast my first vote for him.

Sent it all the way from Merrill Barracks in Nuremberg Germany!

[mucholderthandirt]

13. I never had the honor. He was my Commander in Chief during my USAF service, though. Proud time.

I'm sad we've lost such an honorable and decent man. But per his beliefs, he's with his beloved wife and other family now, and I'm glad for him.

[lostnfound]

35. I like your handle, a lot.

When my kid was just 2 or 3, he’d answer his age, if asked. How old are you? “Three!” He would shout, holding up his fingers.

How old am I? “Old. As. DIRT!” Grinning from ear to ear.

[dameatball]

14. Met him briefly at a book signing in Orlando.

Stood in a long line for at least an hour and then....whoosh.....it was over. I wanted to get a signed copy for my mom.

[CurtEastPoint]

15. Was dining at Mary Mac's in ATL and he, Rosalynn and Amy came in to eat dinner!

My mouth just dropped open!

[Danmel]

16. He spoke and campaigned at Hofstra University

When I was a student there. Shook his hand but didn't converse.
We were in Atlanta in October and went to his presidential library.

[Shrek]

17. Never met him but we both attended USNA

Many years apart, of course.

So far he's the only President who ever attended so he was spoken of frequently and respectfully.

[Mike 03]

18. Yes, for seconds... At a book signing in Pasadena, CA

My then-fiancé and I wanted to get signed copies of the book that Jimmy Carter wrote with his wife Rosalynn to give to our parents. This would have been 1987, and the book must have been "Everything to Gain." The bookstore was called Vroman's. We arrived around ten or eleven in the morning and the line was already extending well outside the store. By the time we got our books signed, it was getting dark outside, and they both looked very tired. I just said something about it being an honor to meet them. By that point, Jimmy Carter hardly had time to look up from the desk where he was signing, just a quick glance and a smile. I felt bad for both of them. There were still many people behind us. I don't know if they all were able to get their books signed.

My father has passed away but my mother still has the book.

[La Coliniere]

19. No, I never met him,

but in 2006 a sixth grade student of mine did. He was very interested in politics because his parents were both Democratic committee members and he was particularly interested in President Carter. In the spring of 2006 they went to Georgia to attend a church service with the ex president and afterwards they had breakfast with him. When he came back he had photos to prove that he had breakfast with President Carter and he wrote a detailed report about his experience and breakfast which was published in the school newspaper.

[rasputin1952]

20. WHile stationed in Wiesbaden Germany...

He did a Review of our BDE.
He spoke for a bit, reminding us that our job was, as "important as they come."

There was a grain of truth to that, as we were the 4th BDE (Forward) of the 4th ID. I was in the 3/60 Armor, with 2 Bn's of Infantry and a Support BN at Wiesbaden Air Base. We were to "plug" any holes if the Eastern Block decided to come through the Fulda Gap. We were a separate entity and had carte blanche. Life expectancy: less than a minute.

While I didn't like all of the pomp, he spoke well, trying to assure us he'd do everything in his power to avoid conflict.
He sure as hell was good to his word.

I could easily sense he was a man of honor and dignity, far above most of the "leaders" I had to follow.

Fare thee well Jimmy.

[jmowreader]

21. During Jesse Helms' last campaign...

…he came to Fayetteville the night before the election.

He admitted that he was a distant cousin of the incumbent Senator pretty much at the start of his speech. “And now we’re gonna send Cousin Jesse home for good.”

There were a few hundred people in attendance. After the speech he made sure to shake everyone’s hand.

[Polybius]

22. Every time Helms ran, it was pretty close

I always thought that he might lose, but he retired un-defeated.

[jimmy the one]

23. I was a carter appointee to d.o.d.

I was a Carter appointee, via his auto signature on my employment record for the defense dept circa 1976, but never personally met him. Have had the utmost respect.
Just like Al Gore, Hillary, John Kerry, and now Kamela, Jimmy got screwed by the right wing republican smear machine, when running for president.
Two thirds of republican politicians in federal congress and state legislatures are, to varying degrees, unethical corrupt political punks, who cheat, lie, distort, concoct, and smear opponents with impunity and without compunction.
Foxtrot Yankee, to them.

We dems have some as well, but 2% is not nearly as bad as two thirds.

[Maru Kitteh]

24. I had a chance to go hear him in Raleigh but decided I couldn't afford to miss work

at the shitty, dirt-poor dead-end courier job I was working.


I regretted that decision INSTANTLY and ever since.

[Vogon_Glory]

25. I encountered him in Austin once

He was in a Secret Service limo after giving a speech in Austin. I was driving my own car. I stopped at a stop sign, my headlights illuminating the passengers of the limo. I stared at one of the figures and said “Holy (Bleep)! That’s Jimmy Carter!”. We then went on our separate ways.

[Efilroft Sul]

26. No, but I met Rosalynn Carter when I was 13, and she was radiant.

[fierywoman]

27. I played in a concert for him in Mexico -- Leonard Bernstein conducted my orchestra.

[ananda]

28. No, but I would have been honored to.

The only president I ever met was LBJ.

And I'm good friends with an old friend of his.

[gopiscrap]

29. I was at a formal dinner at the King Center

once on the 15th of January. I was representing a national church agency and was their rep for the commemorative event. Carter spoke t that event and I got to shake his hand and meet him

[Maeve]

30. Hubby followed Rosalynn for a day's campaign

For the OSU Lantern. Really liked her, never met him.
We still voted for Ford that year. We were wrong.

[rsdsharp]

31. Never met him, which is surprising since he virtually lived in Iowa in 1975.

My wife met his son at a radio station she worked at.

[Harker]

32. I designed a peanut-shaped candy bar for my high school marketing class.

The "Jimmy Bar" featured his smile depicted anthropomorphically, peanuts and chocolate.

[MustLoveBeagles]

33. Never met him but wish I had

[lostnfound]

34. Wow, this speaks to how approachable he was.

On airplanes, at Habitat events, at Sunday School. Such as good, authentic human being.
Thanks to everyone for the replies.