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Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29 at 100, remains a figure who defies simple characterization. I talked to him several times over the years; in 2001 I interviewed him on the record. This is an edited version of the piece that originally ran in February 2001.
Jimmy Carter exuded both humility and a flicker of unfulfilled ambition. The 39th president, renowned for his integrity and compassion, often seemed to carry a quiet longing to prove himself anew — even after transcending the political fray to become a global symbol of decency.
By the turn of the century, Carter had become widely acknowledged as one of America’s finest ex-presidents. His post-presidency, defined by election monitoring and Habitat for Humanity builds, showcased his enduring commitment to service. Yet the man who was once dismissed for his somber candor — a president plagued by crises in energy and foreign policy — still sought recognition for his accomplishments. In 2001, he reflected wistfully on narrowly missing a Nobel Peace Prize (an honor he would win the following year).
When we spoke, Carter was promoting his memoir “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood.” It was a deeply personal and evocative work that traced his formative years on a Georgia farm. Written in clear, confident prose, the book captured the profound influence of the land and the people — especially the Black sharecroppers who helped raise him. “My childhood world was really shaped by Black women,” Carter wrote, crediting their guidance for instilling his moral compass.
In our interview, Carter spoke candidly about his approach to writing, revealing pride and humility. He described how he had always felt a “kind of frustration” about not having a strong liberal arts education. To make up for it, he immersed himself in studying and writing, even seeking guidance from poets like Miller Williams. “He was a very tough taskmaster,” Carter recalled. Williams assigned college-level literary textbooks and critiqued Carter’s early poems with unflinching honesty. “He could tell me a line or a word was inferior, but he never gave me a word instead,” Carter said. “That was the deal we had, and I stuck with it.”
Carter’s hard work paid off. His first book of poems, “Always a Reckoning,” was a personal exploration of themes like family, faith and social justice. With “An Hour Before Daylight,” he turned his focus to prose, crafting a memoir praised for vivid imagery and emotional depth. The New Yorker called it “an American classic,” and Carter took particular satisfaction in its reception. “I’m proud of the book,” he said, adding that he wrote “every word” himself.
The memoir is rich with sensory details and poignant reflections. Carter described growing up in rural Georgia with an intimacy that drew readers into his world. “My most persistent impression as a farm boy was of the earth,” he wrote. “There was a closeness, almost an immersion, in the sand, loam, and red clay that seemed natural and constant. The soil caressed my bare feet, and the dust was always boiling up from the dirt road that passed 50 feet from our front door.”
BLACK NEIGHBORS
Much of the book’s emotional weight comes from Carter’s relationships with his Black neighbors. One of the most significant figures in his childhood was Rachel Clark, a Black sharecropper who worked on his family’s farm. “Much more than my parents, she talked to me about the religious and moral values that shaped a person’s life, and I listened to her with acute attention,” Carter said. Until the age of 14, he had closer ties to his Black neighbors than to the white community.
As he grew older, societal norms began to create distance. “We still competed equally on the baseball field, fishing, or working in the field,” he wrote, “but I was not reluctant to take advantage by assuming, on occasion, the authority of my father.”
Carter’s reflections on segregation acknowledged the injustices of the era while also lamenting the loss of intimacy between Black and white communities in the wake of desegregation. “In the dramatic changes we have witnessed, something has been lost as well as gained,” he wrote. Speaking to me, he elaborated: “I think now with equal legal rights, people have decided voluntarily to segregate themselves geographically in housing areas, and also culturally there are some natural differences.” He cited church as an example, noting the contrasting styles of worship in predominantly Black and white congregations.
RACIAL DYNAMICS
Carter’s understanding of racial dynamics was shaped by his upbringing and later experiences. After returning to Plains following a career in the Navy, he supported the voting rights of local Black tenant farmers, even at personal and financial cost. In our conversation, he downplayed his activism, saying he had deliberately avoided inserting his future prominence into the narrative of “An Hour Before Daylight.” However, his refusal to join a local White Citizens Council — which led to a boycott of his peanut business — spoke volumes about his character.
Despite his achievements, Carter’s ambition as a writer remained evident. He spoke excitedly about a novel he was working on, set in the South during the Revolutionary War. Fiction, he said, allowed him a freedom that nonfiction did not. “The characters have taken on a life of their own, which is a surprise to me,” he said. “When you don’t have to worry about the facts and you can just kind of dream … it’s really delightful in a way.”
GROUNDED IN TRUTH
Yet Carter’s writing was always grounded in truth and a sense of purpose. He saw storytelling as a way to illuminate the complexities of human experience, whether through poetry, memoir or fiction. In Plains, Ga., where his heart had always been, he rose before dawn to write — a habit that reflected discipline and a lifelong curiosity.
Carter’s passing marks the end of a remarkable life. From his presidency and humanitarian work to literary pursuits, he exemplified integrity, compassion and an enduring drive to better himself and the world around him. Today, as we remember Jimmy Carter, we honor a man whose legacy will continue to inspire — through his deeds, his words and the unwavering spirit that carried him through a century of life.
Email: pmartin@adgnewsroom.com
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