Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter,  the 39th President of the United States and the first to live to 100, died today after a long illness. 

Carter is the first President I personally remember, although my memories are largely negative and intertwined with his sucesssor: the Iran hostage crisis,  a 1980 Reagan commercial featuring an aircraft carrier, and watching Reagan's inauguration and hearing how Iran smited Carter by delaying the hostage release.

My Dad, a lifelong Democrat,  told me he abandoned Carter in 1980. Pop's opinion of Carter's Presidency was not kind. 

As with most of America, my own views of Carter softened with four decades of post-Presidental service.  I remember him here in Milwaukee,  building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and being protested by the local idiot Alderman, Michael McGee. 

I don't doubt Carter's worth as a human.

I do however, think history has reassessed his term too favorably,  just by nature of him being alive so long.  It was not,  by any objective measure, a successful four years for this country.

Even so, he was our President and gave this nation his all, and for that,  he deserves the respect of every American. 

RIP