His unparalleled postpresidency is what will be remembered.
But he was a shrewder politician than people realize.
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Jimmy Carterwas Americas oldest ex-president and had by far the longest former presidency.
He helped in his familys agricultural and commercial ventures while growing up.
(I was a kiddie volunteer for that first statewide Carter campaign.)
He successfully proposed to consolidate 300 state agencies into 22.
Send them a president.
Thus began a troubled four years.
Carter with Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin in Tel Aviv as the peace talks began.
After winning in New Hampshire, February 24, 1976.
With Rosalynn at a White House Congressional Ball, 1977.
A High-Drama Administration
Carters one-term presidency had its ups and downs and was rarely stable or predictable.
(It has, extraordinarily, held for more than four decades.)
The hostage-taking launched a simmering crisis that did not end until the last day of Carters presidency.
Reagan won by nearly ten points, carrying 44 states.
Carters strength in the South had masked it earlier, keeping Democratic losses from being much worse.
Its three main international programs have centered on conflict resolution (in areas ranging from North KoreaU.S.
It has also fought to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the U.S. and beyond.
Weve all seen those celebrated photographs of Carter framing up walls.
Yet the nongovernmental entity to which Carter devoted the most years was probably the Baptist Church.
Carters legacy as a president and a politician is substantial but not entirely settled.
He was also a personal diplomat of great courage and skill.
He had slowly been leaving us for a while, but he will be missed.
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