Writer James Fallows on the 'magic' of Jimmy Carter

With the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, his chief speechwriter, James Fallows, looks back on Carter's time in office – and a post-presidency that would enshrine his legacy.

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[pelarinbacosiii]

You're in a better place. Your presidency was unfairly judged in its time, but your humanity and your capacity for compassion will be your undying legacy, and a beacon in these dark political times.

[John-ctzs]

So glad to finally find a piece from a journalist-anchor I grew up with like Jane Pauley that actually remembers the Carter administration. Most of the anchors doing reports now are like 25 years old or at most 30 or 35. I miss Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, Ted Koppell, Sam Donaldson, Barbara wish one of them was doing a piece in memoriam on President Jimmy Carter.

[Nightbird]

He was too good for the Oval Office. I dare say it will never see the goodness that was him again.

[joeybaseball]

The man lived a great life. Possibly the greatest life anybody could live. And he's of the only presidents that wasn't corrupt. He was the literal embodiment of a true Christian. We've seen far too many corrupt people identifying as "Christians, " that we've completely forgotten what an actual Christian is supposed to be.

He got to see an entire century. And he was the president for four of those 100 years. Most won't even get to sniff 80 years, let alone 100. And most people are president for zero of them.

[stevekulpa]

I love this president. I love this man

[HerAeolianHarp]

We will miss you President Carter, the best of Americans.

[Creativelomax]

You call it magic. I call it faith and courage.

[ShirleyPotts-udnb]

Jimmy Carter is very special and powerful. My condolences is for the family

[emmanc]

I consider a honor voted for . President Carter . I have got a glimpse of him. When he was visiting Winston-Salem.. He was waving. One of the kind human beans. The world will miss him, and it's lovely first lady Rosilin. Appreciate their work on mental health. Our sympathies to the family.💌💐

[stevecandeloro]

"As President, Jimmy Carter was an early champion of clean energy. In 1979 he had 32 solar panels installed on the roof of The White House's West wing." By 1986, the Reagan administration had gutted the research and development budgets for renewable energy at the then-fledgling U.S. Department of Energy and eliminated tax breaks for the deployment of wind turbines and solar technologies—recommitting the nation to reliance on cheap but polluting fossil fuels, often from foreign suppliers. Also in 1986... the Reagan administration quietly dismantled the White House solar panel installation while resurfacing the roof. One man's policies for the people, another man's policies working for big business interests. How'd that work out in the last 40+ years? Beat that with a stick.

[adelaferreira]

We should only remember Jimmy Carter as a great humanitarian, generous human, and hard working men who always help the most vulnerable, his presence on foreign elections was a beacon of democracy and integrity, they don’t make them like him anymore, rest in peace beautiful men, we owe you a lot !

[Lynn-iw]

Much respect for one of the few leaders who spoke up for the Palestinian people. Thank you for your courage, openness and humanity.❤✌🏻

[johnmarbatoy]

Rest in peace our 39th president of United States. JIMMY CARTER

[finderkeeperrrs]

I think Mr. Jimmy Carter was a great man who became president. Maybe he would have been a good president in an another life time, we will never know ❤ RIP Jimmy Carter

[conotechful]

For a few minutes, before they get distracted by something else on Instagram or TikTok, Americans might consider how low are our presidential standards now. There is not a doubt how a candidate who bragged of sexually abusing women would fare in that previous era when basic decency was a value held by most Americans.

[stevekulpa]

We most likely will not see his caliber anytime soon

[dstorm]

Fallows didn't serve or he would have judged Carter less favorably for ignoring Vietnam veterans. But, despite being a poor president, Carter was a decent guy.

[Mikejohn]

I saw a photo that was taken of him last month. No disrespect to Mr. Carter but when i saw the photo i was blown away.

[Seekthetruth]

Knowingly or unknowingly, he played a big role in the destructive revival of Islamism in the world.

[nghtwtchmn]

The Carter years were not a good time to be start out working. Anyone else remember the "Misery Index, " which combines the unemployment rate with the inflation rate?