I do my best to keep this blog non-partisan and believe me, I have strong opinions that are hard to keep silent sometimes. But I will say this: I have a certain admiration for all men who have been part of the exclusive club of U.S. Presidents. It’s why I intend to visit every Presidential Library. It’s also why I love this story on Jimmy Carter.
Whatever your political viewpoint on the Carter years in the White House or his work in the 3.5 decades after, there is no denying the man is gracious and sincere.
Last night passengers boarded a Delta flight from Washington National to Atlanta. Just as the door was about to close, one more passenger appeared: the former president. When a flight delay was announced, he made his way down the aisle and extended a handshake to every passenger onboard.
The ex-President joked that it wasn’t his fault the plane was late.
Delta was happy to heap praises on the former president–
Delta is always proud to fly former President Carter. His taking the time to shake hands with fellow customers is a magnanimous gesture consistent with his decades of public and philanthropic service.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution, however, suggests an ulterior motive for proactively shaking the hands of every passenger prior to takeoff: avoiding a crowd around him during the flight.
That’s actually a genius move.
CONCLUSION
This story resonates because we have been inundated with so many horrible onboard stories lately…on United, Delta, and American. This was just a nice break from the bad news, a small gesture of kindness that should cause us all to smile and try to likewise show kindness to others.
Nice. I’ve like Jimmy Carter since I was a kid. I don’t think he was a very effective President but he is a true gentleman.
I think if there was a list of presidents that have done the most good after leaving office Jimmy Carter would be pretty close to the top.
Must have been a real treat for the passengers to have the opportunity to shake the hand of a US President.
I hope that’s sarcastic.
I sat in the seat in front of 1st lady Barbara Bush once in 1st class from Maine. Only one person approached her. I did not, but I got to overhear her opinions on Nancy Reagan!
On my next flight overseas I sat next to a lady and told her my experience. She knew Barbara as she was the wife of one of the ambassadors (to Hungary I think).
Seems more like a publicity stunt then a genius move for me.
I very much doubt he’d be approached by every passenger in flight, and I doubt that a hand shake before take off would discourage anyone who’d like to take up a couple minutes of his time later on (rather even encourage it).
Sourpuss.
As an introvert, it is hard for me to even imagine the thought process that says, “hey, we’re delayed, why don’t I get up and shake everyones hand to help pass the time”. Obviously, we have elected very few introverts as President, so my thought process is very different from an extrovert and natural politician.
Secret Service doing a nice job covering him down the aisle….
I read that when he was President, Carter treated the U.S. Secret Service, in a very rude, and condescending manner; he was not at all nice to them. One time, he and Mrs. Carter, actually had the nerve ask the Secret Service, to remove their guns inside the White House, “as Amy didn’t like them”. The Secret Service ignored their ridiculous request.
Incidentally, there was one time, when a sitting U.S. President, actually rode on board a scheduled commercial flight in the USA. During the energy crisis of 1973-74, Richard Nixon (in December, 1973), took a commercial flight to California, and chose not to fly on Air Force One, to save fuel. The passengers were shocked when they saw him coming down the aisle to greet passengers.
He did the same in March 2015
I was on that flight and he showed up and shook our hands. Cool guy