By: Thom Little, Ph.D.
In October, we posted this blog about the incredible public service of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter as we prepared for a program at The Carter Center the week before President Carter’s 100th birthday. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the program due to Hurricane Helene. In light of the recent passing of President Carter, we thought it would be appropriate to repost this blog and remind everyone of the legacy of service of President and Mrs. Carter.
One hundred years! That is a long time to live on this earth and former President Jimmy Carter made that milestone on October 1st. He will now be forever known as the first US President to make the century mark. However, as I reflect on his remarkable life, I believe he will be remembered for something even more significant: a life dedicated to public service.
As many of you know, we were supposed to host a program a couple of weeks ago examining the President’s and First Lady’s lives and their commitment to public service, but unfortunately for all, Hurricane Helene had other ideas, and we had to cancel the program due to weather for the first time in 52 years. However, that in no way diminishes the life and contributions to the nation that we were going to explore together.
I believe that the following statement by President Carter summed up his approach to public service and is one that should set the example for all of us: “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something… that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.” And he has done that for all the adult part of those one hundred years, joining the United States Navy at 22 and serving active duty and naval reserves until 1961. Two years later, he was elected to the Georgia Senate, where he served four years. In 1970, he became the 76th Governor of Georgia, springboarding four years later to become America’s 39th President.(1)
While these years of public service as a midshipman and elected official were admirable and impactful, most agree that President Carter’s most significant contributions to national and international public life occurred AFTER he left public office. While most former Presidents hit the lecture circuit or return to a quiet and more private life, President Carter did neither. Instead, in 1982, less than two years after leaving office, he and First Lady Rosalynn established The Carter Center in cooperation with Emory University, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading peace and health worldwide. This noble objective is exemplified by the Center’s motto “Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.” But the Carters did more than just put their name on the Center, they traveled all over the world to assist in peace negotiations, monitor democratic elections and promote public health initiatives.
On a more personal level, he and Mrs. Carter have made significant financial and physical contributions to Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building affordable housing. A longtime member of the Habitat board of directors relayed a story to me that exemplifies Carter’s commitment to public service in general and Habitat for Humanity in particular. In the late 1980s, Carter reached out to the organization to see how he might be of assistance. In response they sent him a list of 25 suggestions, ranging from financial contributions to public service announcements to manual labor, expecting him to select a few. Instead, he committed to doing all 25!
I would be remiss if I did not also note that while Rosalynn Carter was a partner in much of the work of the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity, she also was a strong public servant in her own right, focusing particularly on mental health and caregiver support. She served on mental health boards and commissions during her husband’s tenure as governor and president, and in 1985 she initiated the Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy which was held annually until the late 2020’s. In 1987, she established the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers at Georgia Southwestern State University, where, according to grandson Josh, she dedicated much of her attention in later life.
So, other than offering inspiration, what do these stories of two dedicated public servants say to us? In answering that, I would like to return to the quote above and suggest that we too have an obligation to do whatever we can wherever we can with whatever we have for as long as we can. I want to start with wherever we can- as an elected official, you are in a position that allows you to do an awful lot of good because you have access to power that most people do not have. You can make things happen! That gets us to whatever you can do. Your position allows you to assist your constituents, support good public policy and work to make life better for those in your state.
However, just because the rest of us are not in an elected position, we are not off the hook. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter did some of their most impactful public service after leaving office. They used their resources, connections and skills to the best of their ability and so can we. If you have legal background you can volunteer to offer legal advice to the underserved. If you are an accountant, you can assist with taxes. If you can swing a hammer, spackle a wall or hold a paint brush, you help build a house. If you have limited time, you can donate money to a worthy cause. These are all things that you can do whether you’re in office or not.
As we age, our abilities and resources change, but we can still contribute. For example, my wife and I have for years gone on work trips with our church, but in recent years we have had limited ability to assist with many of the work projects, so we have become the default cooks for these trips.
Even organizations can make a difference. Although SLLF was unable to hold its program due to Hurricane Helene, we were able to make a difference by making a $10,000 donation to Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and by donating small gifts we had purchased for program participants to a local senior center that is economically disadvantaged. See the picture of some very happy people holding those gifts below.
I know that we may not be able to work toward world peace or address health care worldwide, but we can change our part of the world. I am reminded of the story of the little boy that was walking along a beach covered with starfish and he was throwing some back in. A wiser adult said you can’t save all these starfish and the boy confidently replied, but I can save this one as he tossed it in the water.
Do whatever you can with whatever you have for as long as you can!
(1) His public service actually began earlier as he was active in the civil rights movement as a teenager in Plains, Georgia.
