“My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”

This was one of the late and truly great President Jimmy Carter’s favorite sayings, and he said it often. More importantly, he lived by it — every day of his gratefully long and uniquely transformational time on this earth. Like so many millions of others around the world this week, I am reflecting, with an expected mixture of sadness and joy, on my personal experiences with this great man.

We grew up about 150 miles apart, both on small family farms in rural Georgia, but we first met in Washington, DC, on January 20, 1977, when he was being inaugurated as the 39th president of the United States. I was a  journalist on my first day in a new job as the news anchor and host of a daily news and information talk program called Panorama.

As I reported that day from the presidential parade, the smiling peanut farmer from Georgia and the new First Lady broke Washington protocol immediately by getting out of the limo, and walking, hand in hand, smiling and waving to the appreciative crowd.

The message was clear. This was going to be very a different president, and I felt privileged to be there to witness that difference close-up — and yes, it felt good that day to be a Georgian, too.

One of the local DC newspapers actually ran a story in the media section with a headline that read: “Two Georgians starting new jobs in the Nation’s Capital Today!” — clearly the work of an overzealous publicist for the TV station that had employed me.

But being a Georgian, and speaking with the same accent, was probably seen more positively than my Southern accent had been for me in my previous Boston reporter work. And there’s no question that being Georgia-born and having gone to school with several of the young men now in the presidential inner circle of advisors — Hamilton Jordan and others — likely had an influence on my getting invited to a few special White House functions. Yes, even at high level State Dinners, whether welcoming visiting government leaders, royalty or rock’n’rollers, the Carters met everyone with genuine interest, and yes, with good old Southern hospitality.

Of course, as a White House correspondent, I also had a seat in the White House pressroom, and with the objectivity expected at that time in broadcast journalism, I reported on President Carter's actions and policies.

I was always impressed by his leadership, and if I had to select one characteristic that stood out in every encounter with the press, it was that he never tried to find someone else to blame when something didn't work out. Given the challenges he had with the Congress — having come into Washington as an “outsider,” and perhaps, not playing the political games some of the old hands were accustomed to — he could have named names and shared the blame from time to time, but he didn’t. Quite a different approach than what we are expecting from this next president with his list of people he wishes to punish or banish, or worse.

A Lifetime of Service

The difference President Carter wanted to make in the world did not end when he lost the 1980 election. Instead, it was the beginning of decades of service as the former President and First Lady began their work that continues today through the Carter Center and Presidential Library which they opened in Atlanta in 1982.

It was in Atlanta that our paths crossed again at one of the many Human Rights Defenders Forums they convened at the Carter Center. I sat in awe as President Carter sat all day listening to every participant’s report, answering every question from human rights activists, and religious and political leaders from all over the world, usually adding personal anecdotes that could only come from having been in their village or community or country. President Carter’s recall of names and places and observations was nothing short of astonishing.  

So is the fact that along with traveling to hundreds of countries, observing hundreds of elections, strengthening freedoms, fighting for human rights, curing diseases, and promoting peace, President Carter also wrote 32 books. He became one of the most important world leaders to advocate for an end to the global discrimination of women and girls which he called out as the biggest barrier to world peace and greater prosperity for all. When I read A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power, I knew I had to invite him to give a TEDTalk at TEDWomen. Thanks to some encouragement from the Carter Center team — he agreed.

Of course, I didn’t expect him to rehearse, as is usually required to prepare for a TED talk. Karin Ryan, who worked closely with him on books and speeches, assured me he understood the time limitations and would arrive prepared. He arrived a half hour early so he could personally shake hands with every TEDWomen staffer backstage.

When we approached the side of the stage, he asked me, “What’s the podium for?” I said, “Your notes, Mr. President.” He smiled and assured me he had no notes. Then he asked where the time clock was and I pointed to the back wall of the large theater in Monterey.

After my brief introduction, President Carter walked on stage and began a brilliant summary of the theory of change that he believed women’s leadership and greater equality would bring about in the world, citing examples he'd personally witnessed in his work. Glancing up briefly at the clock, he wrapped his talk precisely at the allotted time, graciously thanking the audience and gracefully accepting the resounding standing ovation.

It was a moment no one who was there will ever forget and thanks to TED.com, you can watch the talk, as relevant today as ever.

Interestingly, Ireland's former president Mary Robinson also spoke at that same TEDWomen — imagine the Green Room conversation!! — and together, they served as the first Elders selected by Nelson Mandela to address the world’s challenges.

Gratefully, the Carter Center, under the leadership of Paige Alexander and Board Chair Jason Carter, continues to carry out his vision and his commitment to live as he encouraged us all to “do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”

And so he did….RIP.

Onward!

- Pat