public servant extraordinaire

a thought or two on the past half century

Newpapers around the world noted yesterday that Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer of Plains, will remain home in hospice rather than undergo further medical procedures as he confronts undisclosed conditions. At 98, I applaud his determination to spend time with his beloved Roslyn, partner for 75 years. SEVENTY FIVE YEARS. And their family. The reports were all the same: brief, direct, and modest.

I know many folks reading this neither remember his presidency or nor probably liked that period. I was not enthusiastic at the time because his candour, yet another of those things we profess to like but make us incredibly uncomfortable in practice, was the hallmark of his administration. There were the scandals of brother Billy, senior officials, and Carter’s rather preachy tone all too often irritated as much as