Jon Meacham: Carter was a complicated man driven by ambition and service

[@joestratton3981]

People with true integrity are far and few these days. We've lost a man with true integrity today.

[@joelmccoy9969]

Carter was at Annapolis Naval Acadamy in WW2 whose childhood classmates fought and fell in the war. His was a life of service.

[@sheilabatey492]

From the UK: I was saddened to hear of President Carter's passing, he was a real gentleman and loved his country. Yes he did bring the prisoners home yet Reagan took the credit for all of his great work. President Carter did not blow his own trumpet but quietly did what had to be done without needing the fanfare. R.I.P President Carter.

[@tigereye517]

I read a NYtimes article on how a few CIA officials and Reagan worked behind the scenes to sabotage the hostages, promising the Iranians they will get a better deal once Reagan wins / using those Embassy workers as pawns, for one’s political gain. It’s working against your own people/ citizens/ risking their lives. Shameful and selfish on Pres. Reagan’s part. Who knows what else was done to trip up and discredit Carter.

[@Hecules-p7k]

Keep dreaming. The fear of Reagan brought them home.

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

A fabulous human being that lived his faith rather than grifting bibles.

[@Katanschi]

🙏 Amen!

[@jcespagnol]

God bless President Carter a great president and a fabulous and exceptional human being! May he rest in peace...

[@user-ye4mp3lv9u]

Thank you for ALL your service Mr. President. 1946-1953 Lieutenant US Navy -Submariner 1953-1961 Lieutenant US Navy (reserve) 1963 - 1967 Georgia State Senate 14th district 1971 - 1975 Governor of Georgia 1977 -1981 39th President of the United States 1978-Camp David Peace Accords 1979-SALT II 1979-Superfund 1982-Carter Center 2002- Nobel Peace Prize Habitat for Humanity and much more

[@Katanschi]

An incredible resumee! Thank you for publishing it here.

[@user-ye4mp3lv9u]

@Katanschi [bow]

[@Paul-lm5gv]

Less by ambition and more bec. of a love of service!

[@arxsyn]

Bless his soul. Centenarian and former president Jimmy Carter left this world trying to make it a better one, and his passing now is a relief and a reprieve from the media constantly focused on... Drumf.

[@annemccarron2281]

I have to scroll past anything about the Dumf. I can't deal with his hipocracy. Why do people say that Carter's face shouldn't go on Mt. Rushmore? Are you kidding me? A man of honesty and integrity should not go on Mt. Rushmore? He could have done much more had he had more time, however, he accomplished a great deal in 4 years.

[@pamborders667]

How Fine all that ambition he used in helping others ..UPSTANDING CHARACTHER AND AN EXTREMELY HONEST AUTHENTIC MAN ❤ WE LOVE YOU PRES CARTER

[@vidaorvis160]

Jimmy Carter lived his life as a Christian.He wasn’t the best President but he was an honest one.

[@singingbeach]

No doubt the most honest and the least corrupt president we have had.

[@knn6215]

The passing of President Carter is sad but timely in the coverage of his good character versus what is about to take office. Policy differences aside, both Carter and Biden share a trait that Trump and his ilk will never have and that is decency.

[@PubliusRusticus]

💯

[@rosiedebevc1952]

Rest in Peace Former President Jimmy Carter.

[@joycestepancevich6591]

Its sad these days that the media tends to focus on shortcomings, something all humans share. President Carter passed many more bills then Reagan. Mr. Carters successes were his love and respect for people, peace for the world and regard for the environment.

[@StephenHancock-bv5zd]

He failed in world peace. Iran fell to Islamic terrorists because he betrayaled the Shaw. Leeding heart backfireed.

[@joycestepancevich6591]

@StephenHancock-bv5zd He tried!

[@PthaloGreen2]

Bless your heart!

[@annemccarron2281]

Most Americans value a man who can act (exhibit great oratory skills) like Reagan, or display good looks like JFK or dupe people with his lies, like Trump. I've actually worked with people who didn't want somebody in a political office because he wasn't good looking. People are so shallow.

[@radwulfeboraci7504]

Any one day of Jimmy Carter's last 50 years is inherently more valuable than anything Trump has done in his whole life.

[@davidgiles9651]

CARTER WAS AWARDED the Nobel Peace Prize, trump BROUGHT the BOOBY prize

[@jimmyjames6487]

TDS never sleeps.

[@Cameron-Is-Right]

Trump is wildly successful. Like Biden/Harris, Carter was a joke.

[@davidgiles9651]

@jimmyjames6487 neither does YOUR DEVOTION

[@davidgiles9651]

@@Cameron-Is-Right explain successful

[@TruthFactsLM57]

18 months cousin Jimmy took to gather information that would lead to a 3 day family reunion of 1200 meeting in Plains Ga ,on the 250th birth of Willy Carter. I have the green book the the history of those 12 children of Willy Carter. Jimmy came from the 5th son. My grandmother Bobbie Jo Carter came from the 12th son . So my grandmother was a Carter . And we in his family knew how he was raised . His mother, my grandmother and my dad and dad's siblings all born in Richland GA. Jimmy was born OCT 1st 1924, my dad 6 miles down the road OCT 23rd 1924 . Both Navy . My dad was much like Jimmy, soft spoken kind , laid to rest Nov 11th 1996 , who would have loved to been at the reunion in 1998. Cousin Jimmy wrote me couple letters because of my Ironman racing and in me helping the Carter center. To get a letters and a signed green book from him mean the world. A long chapter is now closed , but to us his family, he lives on in how we live our lives in service to others, which he challenged us on day 3 of the family reunion, in his church . " Live a life that is transcendent, that is beyond yourself " Sad for the family in Ga . Glad he gave so much to so many . And in each day , I seek to do the same , not to hoot my horn , but to shine a light . Thanks for reading my message. He means so much to so many . And we will carry on his legacy .

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

@@tomk1183 seriously? Digging deep this morning for hatred

[@michaelbayer5094]

@@tomk1183 Really? Not cool.

[@michaelbarone9836]

@@tomk1183comment from TomK is not an attack against Jimmy or his cousin’s post, but just an indictment against the 21st Century attention span and human decency narrative not catching the eye of the larger culture. Matthew chapter 24 verse 12 is real. I feel Jimmy’s example is more necessary in this moment because of the incongruities in our present world.

[@michaelbarone9836]

Thanks for sharing. We are thankful for his life and sorry for your loss.

[@Buffaloc]

I always thought Rosalynn Carter was one of the most beautiful first ladies. President Carter's life give me hope for mankind. Trump is depressing.

[@annemccarron2281]

Rosalyn was very pretty. I have a relative in Georgia who named his daughter after her.

[@KateLopez-z4t]

He was a giver and that distinguishes him from Donald Trump

[@Katanschi]

Thank god it is up to President Biden to organize and celebrate President Jimmy Carter's funeral and time of grievance. Trump won't get a hand on it to dishonour his memory and drag it in the dirt.

[@cldawk]

Another "good man" gone from a world in need😔

[@afaqanwar2500]

A man of honour integrity

[@wesleyhitchcock4414]

World wide recession allready when he took office. And the gop, especially Reagon went behind his back, made contact with Iranian disidents to forestall the hostage release until he took office. So that was stolen from him because he had allready obtained an agreement for release of the American hostages. And he was saddled with gop majorities so it was not what he accomplished as much as what was pulled out from under him after doing the leg work. No, not the best President but many times that seems to boil down to what affected you after you bought into another's byline....

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

Some things never change…

[@michaelbayer5094]

One mistake: Senate and House had Dem majorities, but they were at odds.

[@rachelerynkalish2207]

I love Jon Meachum so wise always.🙏 And so many similar qualities btwn Carter and our current day president Biden. ❤️‍🩹🙏

[@mariusmatei2946]

President Carter had been president during a bygone era, that ended with Bush, in 1993; may they, both, rest in peace!

[@barbaragdisis4606]

He didn't want to live to see rumps inauguration

[@Cameron-Is-Right]

It’s going to be epic! ❤🎉💥🇺🇸👍👍🍿🙌

[@lillianmatthew3880]

He was 100 yrs old He lived long enough to see Biden take over worst POTUS ever from him. His job was done.

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

Who does

[@michaelbayer5094]

Can't blame him for cashing his chips before the sh^tshow.

[@Katanschi]

He wanted to give President Biden the honour to organize and celebrate his funeral! He wanted to be honoured by Presisent Biden celebrating his funeral.

[@susan174]

In a 2021 ranking by C-Span, Carter came in as 26th out of 44 presidents.

[@michaelbayer5094]

I checked out the list. One of the rating criteria is 'Pursued Equal Justice for All". That should knock down all the 19th century presidents ahead of Carter (except Lincoln, Grant, and maybe JQ Adams) as well as Wilson, Taft, and Coolidge. However, considering that Carter could not persaude Americans to be better people, he was disliked by his own party in Congress, and the economy was unmanageable during his tenure, it's amazing he's not in the bottom 5.

[@susan174]

@@michaelbayer5094 if you’ll look at that particular criterion, you’ll see that, of course, it affects the overall scores and rankings.

[@tigereye517]

Who is thee best president? Do we have a consensus? A mediocre president, not the best president, right. Pres Carter had more integrity, honesty and courage and service and good will and decency than any one of these critics and commenters. Let’s compare him to the polar opposite of who we just elected as repeat President. 😂Please. Let his life’s work speak for itself.

[@josephsonora3787]

THERE AREN'T DEMS LIKE CARTER ANYM0RE WH0 HAV THE C0URAGE 2 SERVE 0UR C0UNTRY. RIP MR PRESIDENT CARTER. 🙏

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

Just curious, got a republican that fits this?

[@josephsonora3787]

Loretta, LET ME C... Ron Reagan - Served Bush Sr. - Served Clinton - Didn't Serve W. Bush - Served 0bummer - Didn't Serve DJT - Didn't Serve fjb - Didn't Serve

[@JDavidHopkins]

When Carter was President the US was party-town.

[@bluecollarlit]

Jonathan Alter speaking, but the title says Jon Meacham...

[@LobbyDazzler]

'Sharp as a tack' - legendary BSDNC gaslight.

[@sebastian19739]

I must say it seems Republicans are and have been much better with marketing/communicating since LBJ. Some of these races Dems could have won but just didn’t have enough fight in them.

[@guppygrease9767]

Was farmer first, affordable housing grow most beautiful thing's. Sad seeing autocratic witchcraft criminal brand divide that in escape attempt that never came.

[@IWalkAloneGuy]

Meechum is difficult to listen to. He speaks above the average man.

[@bartjargengarblbargeler1980]

OVERHEARD AT MSDNC HQ: "... yes but HOW can we bIame this on DonaId Trump??"

[@michaelbayer5094]

That's easy. God said, "Jimmy, you ready to come home?". Carter said, "yeah, I've already seen this shi^tshow".

[@msvulcanspock]

We only come to read the shade that Morning Joe deserves.

[@johnnymematik8649]

Carter was the least complicated man. This is why you lose subscriptions. Bye bye.

[@davidgiles9651]

Who's FORCING YOU ? GET OVER YOURSELF

[@dtburningcoals]

Why can’t I stand Lemire?😢

[@Chuck-js8dy]

Can’t wait for Jan 20th, it’s going to be glorious

[@SeveroRamos-q9k]

Your mother is not glorious

[@libbyworkman3459]

Chuck-js8dy.

[@libbyworkman3459]

@@Chuck-js8dy Chuck-js8dy.

[@epochchange6803]

We get it: All Democratic presidents are supposed to be "terrible"

[@smokehouse420-x9k]

Jimmy Carter messed up with the 1980 Olympics

[@libbyworkman3459]

smokehouse420-x9k.

[@michaelbayer5094]

Of all the things to dislike Carter for, you pick the Olympics? Were you supposed to compete in Moscow?

[@wisconsinman3590]

As a Human, GREAT MAN. As President, Terrible.

[@lillianmatthew3880]

Exactly

[@brandon3525]

carter was almost as bad as fjb

[@SeveroRamos-q9k]

Why u gotta hate people go to back to sleep and let grown people talk

[@karenkelly8086]

Still sore !?! ...your guy won ..so go , go and do something productive that will improve your sorry life

[@brandon3525]

@karenkelly8086 Karen 😅😂🤣

[@RefrigeratorWilliamPerry]

Put your mask on Democrat it’s Monday!!!😂

[@Cameron-Is-Right]

Carter was a joke

[@jesusacosta5176]

So is Trump 😆

[@twhelostl61]

Presidents are sworn to uphold our constitutional values. All face challenges in office. Government is a slow burn process. Change always comes slowly. Jimmy and Rosalynn lived life with purpose, 77 years together. That is no joke.

[@michaelbayer5094]

Thank you for your trenchant and illuminating post. I was unsure of how I felt until I read your appraisal.

[@JP-lu9ed]

@@michaelbayer5094 Well said 😊

[@susan174]

For some perspective : President Carter, in 2024, was ranked 20th best president of the 46 US presidents by the 2024 Greatness Survey White Paper. There have been other rankings but this one includes all presidents through Biden.