My trip to Atlanta to honor former president Jimmy Carter turned out to be better than I could have imagined…and made me appreciate him more.
My Visit To The Carter Center To Honor Jimmy Carter
After a bumpy flight (with smooth service) to Atlanta, I ducked into a restroom and changed into my suit and tie…a small sign of respect for Carter and the office of the President.
I had a bit of trouble finding my rental car, but was soon on my way from ATL Airport to the Carter Center across town.
The weather was very tolerable at around 45ºF and the rain had not started (yet). I knew it was coming.
I also knew that would probably work out to my advantage. I waited for 12 hours overnight in 2004 to file past President Reagan’s casket on a very pleasant Southern California June evening but hoped my wait would be much shorter here… especially because my departing flight left in seven hours.
Traffic through Atlanta was light and I soon myself near the Carter Center, though many road closures made it difficult to find a place to park.
I ended up parking on Highland Avenue in a parking lot that had a bar and liquor store in it.
…and an onery cuss living at a house next door.
He saw me, parking and gave me a good ol’ Georgia greeting.
“F*CK YOU N*GGER! WHAT THE F*CK YOU DOING HERE YOU STUPID N*GGER?”
I wanted to point out that honky or cracker would have better fit my skin tone, but I just ignored him and walked past him as he continued to call out such slurs.
Hey, I was in Georgia after all…Carter took over the governorship from Lester Maddox, who famously asked, “Why would we have different races if God meant us to be alike and associate with each other?”
I walked toward the Carter Center, which was surrounded by Atlanta Police cars.
Walking in, I eventually came to a tent staffed by the Secret Service, who were handling event security. After an airport-style pat-down, I walked down a path, down a set of stairs, and found myself at the entrance to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.
There was no line…no wait.
Inside, I was warmly greeted by volunteer docents and invited to enjoy the museum before paying my respects to President Carter, who was lying in repose near the exit.
What a great idea…if there was a line (and during daylight hours there was a line)…letting people wait in the museum and occupy their time learning more about Carter’s life was a smart move.
I spent the next 90 minutes enjoying the museum…when I visit museums, I like to read every placard and view every picture. Here are some photos:
I signed the guest book and collected a card commemorating my visit:
At least in this post, I do not want to dwell on his presidency (a mixed bag) or on his post-presidency (also a mixed bag, with amazing humanitarian work, but also a very disappointing assessment of Israel). I do want to dwell on his mindset toward death, which he announced when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer:
“My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever l can, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”
Amen. That is our calling as humans!
(see this excellent NYT story on Carter’s views on death)
After filing past his casket (image below is a screengrab from the livestream…), I walked back out to the car. Thankfully Uncle Tom had gone to bed…
It was now only 1:30 am…I had some time.
First stop? Taco Bell, lol. The closest location that was open was in Decatur.
I did the same thing after paying my respects to George H. W. Bush in Houston…so much for kicking the Taco Bell habit in 2025…
The rains started shortly after…I was very thankful to have avoided the rain during my visit to the Carter Center, because it was relentless for the next several hours.
While I toyed with the idea of going to Waffle House instead just to try something different, I don’t eat Taco Bell at home so I’ll take it when I can get it…
Next, I pulled into a CVS Pharmacy parking lot in Decatur and took a two-hour nap…
At 4:30 am, I began the drive back to ATL, stopping at a gas station to put some gas in the rental car.
By 5:30 am I had parked the car, taken the train back to the airport, and cleared security…mission accomplished.
Very interesting read. Peace in the Middle East. Inflation. Soviet Invasions. Panama Canal. Nuclear threats. One-term presidencies. Trouble in Iran. Race relations… Sounds like nothing has changed.
There was a line at all times, even in the middle of the night, to walk past Queen Elizabeth’s casket but not for President Carter.
I wonder if Matthew had to pay the usual admission charge for the museum or if it was free?
A number of things to point out, first this was not the main repose, which would be in Washington later in the week, plus London is larger than Washington. Additionally, Queen Elizabeth was the sitting monarch, and was the longest reigning monarch. I would expect the line to see her be longer than just about anyone in history.
Musuem admission was free.
There is a serious and aggressive error in the Carter Center website condolences page. When signing the online guest book, there is a drop down box for country. It cannot be left blank. There is no selection for Taiwan or Republic of China, Taiwan. Rather, it reads “Taiwan, Province of China”. This is so wrong.
It would be like saying that Matthew lives in USA Province of China. Looks like the Carter Center has been brainwashed by the People’s Republic of China
@derek … +1 . Free Taiwan’s moral superiority , contrasts with Red China’s communist moral ignorance-stupidity .
For example , when he traveled , the Dalai Lama was frequently invited to lecture in Taiwan . Taiwan also has freedom for all religions .
Taiwan also has freedom of the press , which in Hong Kong has been smothered by Red China’s communist goons , as witness Jimmy Lai .
There is no honor in the only President who ever pardoned a child molester.
Peter Yarrow did a disgusting thing and did not deserve to be pardoned. But I won’t wholly discard Carter because of that act…and I do appreciate Yarrow’s contrition.
I can’t believe they are closing the stock market! My espp is about to pay out. Jk. Nice photos kiddo. Insert tactful but clever race-joke here.
Thank you for the report, very interesting, he was an honest man.
Absolutely first-rate!
An amazing man and a superb president who was wildly underappreciated.
One thing that struck me is that his passports say Jimmy Carter rather than James Carter.
Just some small trivia here but Carter did a substantial amount of deregulation, where Reagan continued following in Carter’s shoes. Besides airlines, Carter deregulated trucking and beer. The next time you’re enjoying a microbrew, give silent thanks to Jimmy Carter.
“when I visit museums, I like to read every placard and view every picture.”
What torture it must be to visit a museum with you.
Heidi is even worse. At least I’m a fast reader! 😉
@Chi … I learned something from Jimmy Carter’s placard that his books have provided his source of income . Now I have an reason to never purchase any book by a politician .
First they drain us dry with tax increases , and then they want us to give them income . Politicians are a flock of vultures who keep coming back for more and more .
Camel-a will pay Brandon to ghost write her book .
I used to live a couple blocks from where you parked. Too bad you didn’t get to go into Manuel’s Tavern… it was the unofficial wake location and pretty much the co-HDQ of the Democratic Party in Georgia. The area over/above the bar is pretty much a shrine to JFK with a painting that has been there forever.
I’m sorry I missed it as well!
I noticed that your penmanship is very similar to Walt Disney’s.
Especially the Y s and the circular dots over the I s resemble Walt Disney .
Young people raised on mobile phones have terrible cursive handwriting .
Are you commenting on my handwriting?
Truly a great American,humanitarian,and yes president.He didn’t contradict himself,he was true and consistent.He wasn’t intimidated to prevent expressing the truth of the Israeli apartheid regime,wouldn’t give into stifling any serious debate,like the closeted gay blabbermouth sycophants who fearing for their careers do.
Matthew, I was deeply inspired by your trip to pay your respects to the Queen a few years ago. When I heard that President Carter had passed, I knew I had to pay my respects to an amazing human being—as well as the President under whose administration I was born!
So I worked a full day in St. Louis on Wednesday and flew STL-ORD-DCA, arriving at 2300. I took Metro to L’Enfant Plaza, checked into my hotel, and walked about 20 minutes to the Capitol (many roads and pathways are closed off by the now-ubiquitous fences all over the city)… and was shocked when I saw the lines.
I had visions of perhaps waltzing right in at 1 am but nope! There were thousands of people waiting to pay their respects. Ended up waiting about 3 hours in 18 degree temps before even getting inside to go through security. But it was all worth it! And I’m glad so many people were there to do the same thing.
When I left just after 4 am, there was no line at all! I should have just waited but who knew?
Anyway, I’d like to thank you, Matthew, for your posts about paying your respects to world leaders, and for inspiring me to do this! I’m so thankful I was able to get it done!
Appreicate your comment, Mark!