“I want to make it clear that if there is ever a conflict between environmental quality and economic growth, I will go for beauty, clean air, water and landscape.” – then-U.S. Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter in 1976
A Tribute and Happy Birthday Message from Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper
Posted October 1st, 2024 on Niagara At Large
Jimmy Carter, as he looked during his years as U.S. President
At the risk of insulting all of the politicians out there, there are some people, in my view, who are too honest and too full of decency to be in politics.
One of those people is former U.S. President Jimmy Carter who turned 100-years old this October 1st 2024.
Jimmy Carter, who was trained as a nuclear scientist before he was elected Governor of his homes state of Georgia in 1971 and President of the United States in November in 1976, was also one of the first elected leader on the planet who could see the climate crisis coming and proposed measures to address it.
In a symbolic gesture that made world-wide headlines, he had solar panels installed on the roof of the White House before many people knew what solar panels were, and he put together a commission of experts who proposed targets for cutting greenhouse gases that were similar to ones included in the Paris Climate Agreement signed by his country, Canada and more than 1990 other nations almost 40 years later.
“I realize that many of you have not believed that we really have an energy problem,” Jimmy Carter said in a 1977 address to U.S. Congress.
Then U.S. President Jimmy Carter, seen here with Love Canal resident and leader of the Love Canal Homeowners Association, comes to the rescue with a federal emergency declaration for Love Canal area residents in Niagara Falls, New York
“The transition to renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy, must be made,” he added. “But it will take time. Meanwhile we should satisfy our energy needs from existing sources, both fossil and nuclear, in a safe and environmentally acceptable way.”
When the Love Canal toxic chemical disaster occurred in Niagara Falls, New York during his term as President, Jimmy Carter signed not one, but two federal Emergency Declarations to, among other things, compensate Love Canal residents for their homes so they could escape the area without losing everything they worked for.
He also signed into law federal Superfund legislation that required industries to pay for the cleanup of polluting dumpsites, including mega dumps in Niagara County, N.Y. like Hyde Park and S-Area that were leaking dioxin and other chemical poisons into the Niagara River.
Unfortunately, toward the end of his first term as President, a world-wide recession and energy crisis set in and to make matters worse for him, U.S. military helicopters crashed in the desert in an attempt he authorized to free U.S. hostages in Iran.
It was enough to see him lose his bid for a second term as President to Republican candidate Ronald Reagan who wasted no time ripping those solar panels off the roof of the White House and gutting resources and regulations used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to do its job.
Yet Jimmy Carter went on to do as much good as he could as a former President and as a private citizen, including volunteering his time, along with his recently deceased wife Rosalynn, as a leading member of Habitat For Humanity, an organization dedicated to building homes for people in need all over North America, including right here in Niagara.
Jimmy Carter began his presidency by telling the American people that he would “never lie” to them and there are no reports that I am aware of that he ever did.
Had he done at least a little bit of lying, who knows. He may have helped him win a second term in office and what a sad comment that is.
Working on many home building jobs for Habitat For Humanity, this one in Winnipeg, Manitoba
On the other hand, he can look back at his life’s efforts to make the world a better place for his fellow citizens and for people around the world with pride. And how many who have served in high office can or could ever do that.
Following his presidency, he and his wife Rosalynn paid a visit to Niagara to see the Falls and do a number of other touristy things. Some of those who were fortunate enough to meet him during that visit told me that they began by greeting him as “Mr. President” to which he said; “Please just call me Jimmy.”
In that spirit, I say Happy 100th Birthday Jimmy, and thanks for being such a great role model, both in and out of politics, and for doing everything you’ve done to make this a better world.
For more, click on the following links –
The forgotten legacy of Jimmy Carter (thehill.com)
For a tribute from current U.S. President Joe Biden, click on – https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/01/politics/jimmy-carter-100-celebrations/index.html
NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.
“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders
Niagara At Large 
In spite of such a long marriage and the loss of Rosalyn, he said he wants to hold on to vote for the first female President of the USA.
It seems many Americans prefer a guy who lies through his teeth and makes collecting cards of his ugly self in cowboy and astronaut costumes looking like a muscular Rambo riding a dinosaur and carrying a flag and who has done NOTHING for anyone but himself.
Carter’s Egypt/Israel peace accord between Sadat and Begin still stands since 1979.
He is a good man. So rare in politics. Being loud and blustering should not be the means of judging a man’s accomplishment and character. I think history will view him as one of the greats.
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