atlanta — Dr. Meredith Evans was only 4 years old when she wrote a letter to the President. jimmy carter.
Evans sent a dollar and a penny and wrote, “Dear Jimmy Carter…I have money that will help you become president.”
Evans eventually got his money back and more. She currently serves as director of the Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. A memorial service was held A six-day funeral was held on Saturday for the late president, following his death last weekend at the age of 100.
“When I first met President Carter, I told him about the letter and we both laughed,” Evans told CBS News.
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Evans says Carter’s compassion and authenticity are woven throughout the museum, starting with his childhood spent in the rural farming communities of Plains and nearby Archery.
“It was an African-American community,” Evans said of Plains. “I think it was from Plains that we realized how difficult it was to segregate people of color.”
It was the Plains people who helped a small-town peanut farmer become governor of Georgia and ultimately the White House. Evans said Carter overcame a lack of recognition to become president.
“Nobody had any idea,” Evans said of Carter during the early parts of both races. “And some of the campaign videos talk about Carter. Who is that guy? And then there’s the conversation about who he is and what he represents.”
Carter defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 Put your own stamp on it. At the inauguration ceremony, he became the first president to get out of a limousine and attend the inauguration parade.
“He was the first one out of the car,” Evans said. “And I thought, look at this, he’s a pioneer and he doesn’t even realize he’s a pioneer.”
The museum highlights the Camp David Accords, where Carter negotiated a 1978 peace agreement between Israeli and Egyptian leaders.
“It’s probably one of the greatest things he’s ever done,” Evans said. “He brought two archenemies together and made a treaty. Not many presidents can say they’ve done that.”
But Carter’s presidency was mired in controversy, from record inflation to the Iran hostage crisis, and he was ultimately defeated by President Ronald Reagan. 39th President We set out to establish carter Center, concentrate He was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.
According to Evans, Carter received the Nobel Prize with “joy and humility.”
“He doesn’t see himself as better than anyone else.”
Nicole Killion
