Kurt Meyer’s essay provides a personal reflection on his encounters with President Jimmy Carter, highlighting the accessibility and engagement that once characterized presidential campaigns, particularly in Iowa. Meyer shares memories from the 1970s, beginning with his first interaction with Carter in 1974, where Carter was still a relatively unknown figure.
These interactions, though informal and brief, painted Carter as approachable and dedicated, a man willing to take time with individuals despite his growing political ambitions.
The essay transitions to more significant encounters, including Carter’s rise to the presidency in 1976, where he secured the Democratic nomination through a surprising performance in Iowa. Meyer contrasts the early, more personal moments of Carter’s campaign with the eventual status and responsibilities that came with the presidency.
One of the more poignant memories Meyer recounts is attending Hubert Humphrey’s funeral in 1978, where Carter spoke movingly about the late senator’s character, tying it to the values that would come to define Carter’s own presidency: reconciliation, rebuilding, and rebirth.
Meyer then highlights Carter’s reflective and thoughtful qualities, recounting how Carter spoke about his time with Humphrey at Camp David, discussing personal and philosophical matters such as faith, sin, and humanity.
The connection to Mahatma Gandhi’s Seven Sins is particularly poignant, as Meyer uses it to underscore the integrity and character that defined both Humphrey and Carter. Meyer closes the essay by expressing gratitude for Carter’s life of service, integrity, and humanity, drawing strength from the lessons that Carter and Humphrey left behind.
This reflective piece not only honors Carter’s legacy but also underscores the personal connections that political figures can have with everyday citizens, particularly when they are accessible and willing to engage meaningfully with voters.