Former President gives thoughts on his upcoming birthday and more

Becky Holland

PLAINS — Former President gives thoughts on his upcoming birthday and more



October 1 is the 274th day of the year. In 331 B.C., Alexander the Great defeated Darius III of Persian in the Battle of Gaugamela. In 1843 on this date, Ford introduced the Model T car to the world at a reported price of $825.

And in the rural, farming community of Plains, Georgia, on October 1, 1924, James Earl Carter, Sr., farmer and businessman, and Lillian Gordy Carter, a registered nurse, welcomed their son, James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr.

Jimmy Carter’s roles in life, though many, include being a: son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, church deacon, Sunday School teacher, military man, peanut farmer, politician, fly-fisherman, woodworker, jogger, and of course, the thirty-ninth President of the United States.

Carter, first known to all as a ‘peanut farmer,’ said, “I am still a peanut farmer. My life has always been about farm life, and I have been involved with peanut production since I was a child.”

The Carters still grow peanuts on their farm land in Webster County, and he stated, “that we grow at least 3 tons, nine times as much as before, per acre . Peanuts have been accepted by some of the finest nutritionists in the world, as they see how valuable they are.”

When asked what peanut based food that he liked the most, Carter didn’t hesitate, “I eat some peanut butter every day, and we keep a jar of roasted peanuts on the shelf in the kitchen.”

A hint of a laugh slipped into Carter’s words, “And of course, I sample some several times a day, and during this season, we boil peanuts. In fact, we have already been through three boilings.”

Tuesday, the former President of the United States, though extremely busy with his travels and preparations for his 85th birthday celebration, was speaking with the Times — Recorder via telephone. A special party will be held at the Rylander Theater with a special concert by David Osborne. A cake, baked and donated by the local Winn Dixie,Inc., will be served in Carter’s honor.

Carter said, the greatest event in his life was when he met his wife, Rosalynn.

“One of my earliest memories was when I was living in Plains. I was four years old and I lived right next to Rosalynn.”

He continued, “ and then we had to move to the country. It wasn’t until twenty years later that I asked her to marry me ... she said no.”

A twinkle of merriment could be heard in his grandfatherly tone, “After she dated every boy in Sumter County, she finally said yes, and we have been together for 63 years.”

To Carter, that, “and other events relating to our family,” including the most recent birth of the latest Carter offspring, “are the most important to me. Family is the core of our existence.”

When asked, as a politician, a role that he will never be able to escape, what he considered the top achievement, Carter said, “I used to be a politician ... I guess the initiation to the Human Rights policy ... promoting human rights ... announcing the time for a stop to racial discrimination and when TIME magazine had us on the cover for that, and then how democracy came about in so many of those racially bound countries during our time ... well, to me, that was a great accomplishment ... yes, my Human Rights policy.”

Realizing that at the age of 85 that he has lived “far past the three score ten that God promises”(Psalm 90:10, NIV), and that he might perhaps be on “borrowed time,” Carter said that with the time he has left, “I have been a Christian for as long as I could remember, and a Bible teacher since I was 18 years old ... it is my hope to continue to expand my Christian faith, and live out my commitment to Christ and be as effective and strong in that role as I can with the additional years that I have to go.”

Before saying good bye, Plains’ ole’ Jimmy Carter said, “The unprecedented support of the homefolks during our career has been incredible these years. We had hundreds of people from Sumter County, the Peanut Brigade and more travel all over the states and to other nations on our behalf.”

He continued, “And had it not been for them, our neighbors, we wouldn’t have been elected.”

Carter paused, “And I can’t say thank you enough.”

Jimmy Carter — family man, peanut farmer, Sunday School teacher —turns 85 on October 1.

Happy Birthday, Mr.President!

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