by Claudia Bushee

Created on: June 06, 2008

Jimmy Carter signed copies of his latest book, A Remarkable Mother, at a bookstore on Van Ness in San Francisco a few weeks ago. There were about 200 of us waiting in the sunny, but wind-chilled line that wound around the side of the building. What was remarkable was the group of folks waiting to have their books signed.

Jimmy Carter was president from 1977 to 1981. He was the first presidential candidate to get my vote. After class, I bolted to the polling place on my bicycle. I was ecstatic that he had won. But this was an altruistic man who did not delegate efficiently and ultimately his administration failed. I was sad that he got ripped apart by public opinion and the press for not bringing home the hostages held in Iran. And yet, on October 23, 1983, under President Ronald Reagan's watch, 241 U.S. military personnel were killed in a Marine barracks in Beirut by a Lebanese terrorist driving a truck filled with explosives, and the public outcry was subdued. I can only conclude that Reagan's engaging personality he seemed like a kindly uncle helped him avoid a lot of criticism.

This digression was to show the contrast between those two men. Jimmy Carter is a brilliant and moral man. His works after his presidency will probably leave a more lasting legacy. In 1982, Carter created the Carter Center to promote human rights and end human suffering. He brought international attention to Habitat for Humanity in 1984 when he and his wife, Rosalynn, took their first work trip for the organization to New York City. He has won both the Nobel Peace Prize - only the third U.S. President to win this honor - and the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism. He is also a heck of a furniture builder, having crafted most of the pieces in their Plains, Georgia home.

While I stood in line to have my book signed, I cast an eye about at the other patrons. This was a queue of diversity. The young professional behind me was having the book signed for his mother. The woman beside me worked two jobs to support herself. The woman in front of me continually corralled her two young, robust boys with pleas, threats and bubbles. She was in her late twenties, Black and very serious. Her clothing suggested she didn't have a lot of money. Nor, did she have time for conversation like the rest of us in line. She was focused on her boys, reinforcing that they were about to meet a great man and to act accordingly. I was behind her when she positioned her boys on either side of President Carter and snapped a photo. She was teary as she took her boys' hands to lead them out of the bookstore. I was next; he signed my book and I said, "Thank you, Mr. President."

His sharp blue eyes shot up from his task. "Thank you for coming, sweetheart." I have to say, I definitely thought of the quote from his 1976 interview with Playboy Magazine, "Because I'm just human and I'm tempted and Christ set some almost impossible standards for us. The Bible says, Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Christ said, I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.' I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times.... This is something that God recognizes, that I will do and have done, and God forgives me for it." Did he look at me with lust? Nah. But that statement is one that resonates; I can look all I want, but touching is off limits. Thanks, Jimmy.

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