Jimmy Carter’s Greatest Term– A Life of Service Beyond Politics  

“He sought to end hunger, add flavor to the lives of the less fortunate, and bring joy and prosperity to communities worldwide.”

The Rational Rambler™

A person with sunglasses and a pen in his ear

Description automatically generated

By MARSHALL E. HIWATT 

Opinionist

In the film It’s a Wonderful Life, Zuzu Bailey famously says, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.” It is a moment in an iconic holiday classic often quoted with great affection and relevance to life events.

On December 29, 2024, my wife and I were catching up on emails and news of the day while relaxing together. A mutual gasp filled our room as we read the news on our phones at the same time: Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States had passed away. It was a moment of shared reflection and sadness. We paused to consider the immense legacy of a man who had touched so many lives (ours included) through his humility, faith in humanity, true spiritually and servant leadership.

Immediately the world began discussing and sizing up President Carter’s legacy. Carter served a single term from 1977 to 1981. Those years were a time marked by very significant social and geopolitical challenges leading many pundits and citizens to label him the worst president in our history. At that moment, I couldn’t help but think that no life—especially one spanning a full century—should ever be defined by just four years. Would any of us want our lives to be summed up by a single period, like high school, university, or a job? Carter’s true measure lies in the body of work he built over a lifetime, not just his term in office. 

I was in first grade when James Earl Carter Jr. took the oath of office.  My earliest memory of any president involved watching President Gerald Ford leave Washington D.C. on Executive One after Carter’s inauguration. I thought the helicopter was so cool and I asked my mom “Where is that man going?” Mom explained, “He gave the White House keys to the new president, and he is going home now.” It was my first introduction to the peaceful transfer of power, a hallmark of democracy and our unique constitutional federal republic. Little did I know that Carter’s legacy would extend far beyond his presidency and that his example of humility and service would resonate throughout my own life.

For my parents and grandparents, Carter’s presidency was defined by many challenges including the escalating Cold War with the Soviet Union, the Iran hostage crisis, economic stagnation, high inflation, unemployment, the 1980 Olympic Games boycott and the energy crisis.

As a young child I didn’t fully understand or really feel the economic turmoil of the era. Instead, my worldview included the fun of helping mom and dad hunt for gas stations with green flags signaling available fuel for our car. While my parents likely found the situation frustrating, I saw it as an adventure, a kind of game that brought the family together. 

Another standout memory as a child was Carter’s Presidential Physical Fitness Program, which encouraged children to develop healthy habits. The annual fitness tests were a highlight for my classmates and I, even though pull-ups were my nemesis. The program included everyone and we relished the camaraderie, cheering for one another, and especially the colorful patches we earned. 

Space exploration was seen as the final frontier and the Voyager spacecraft launched during Carter’s presidency. This was another significant event capturing the imagination of my generation. These missions, carrying the Golden Records (no, unfortunately not Houses of the Holy or Dark Side of the Moon) with messages from Earth, symbolized hope, exploration, and a desire for connection. As a child, I couldn’t fully grasp their significance, but the idea of Voyager traveling beyond our solar system (which then included Pluto as a planet) inspired awe, curiosity and dreams of one day being an astronaut myself.

Reflecting on President Carter’s life, I see his term as one ephemeral chapter in a much larger story. Carter’s work after he left the Oval Office defined true servant leadership. Unlike many public figures today who prioritize recognition, monetary compensation or social media clicks, Jimmy Carter embodied humility. He didn’t just lend his name to causes; he showed up, hammering nails alongside volunteers, demonstrating that leadership means action, not applause. The term “virtue signaling” never applied to Carter and he sought to be a good person the entire week, not just sixty minutes of a weekly Sunday church service.

Since partnering with Habitat for Humanity in 1984, Carter and his wife Rosalynn helped build, renovate, and repair more than 4,300 homes in over 14 countries through the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Habitat for Humanity itself has built, rehabilitated, or repaired over 1.4 million homes globally, providing shelter for more than 35 million people. These efforts have inspired countless others to join the cause, making it one of the most impactful initiatives in modern history.

During my time at university, my roommate and I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity on many occasions. One of my more memorable jobs included building solid supports for a family porch swing. Safe to say, we did an outstanding job—so outstanding, in fact, that the project manager joked it could hold a cement truck. We also assembled and hung the swing. Weeks later, when the home was finished, the family hosted a thank-you BBQ lunch for everyone who pitched in. My roommate and I met the family who would live, love, and grow together in that home. Meeting those impacted by our contributions had a great effect on me. It’s a day and moment that has stayed with me over my life, because I valued the experience of serving others. A trait epitomized by President Carter that moved me and many others to volunteer. 

Jimmy Carter’s example reminds us that true leadership isn’t about accolades or power; it’s about making a difference, one nail, one house, and one life at a time. His legacy of quiet servant leadership that has inspired generations set a very high bar for those who follow. Carter created an outstanding post presidency template for men and women who will serve as our future presidents.

Reflecting more on Carter’s legacy, I’m reminded of another scene from It’s a Wonderful Life, where Mary Bailey offers bread, salt, and wine to the Martini family as blessings for their new home: “Bread, that this house may never know hunger. Salt, that life may always have flavor. And wine, that joy and prosperity may reign forever.” Carter’s life—both during and after his presidency—embodies these blessings. He sought to end hunger, add flavor to the lives of the less fortunate, and bring joy and prosperity to communities worldwide.

So, to you President James Earl Carter, Jr., I respectfully bow my head and tip my pen to you sir, viewing you as one of the greatest presidents in our history and knowing that I do not have to wait for any bell to ring. Your wings, sir, were already waiting!I invite you to email me at marshall.e.hiwatt@gmail.com and share your memories and views about President Carter’s legacy!