Down to Earth

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If you’re old enough to remember Jimmy Carter’s time in the national spotlight as president, you know that a lot of people made light of his rural Georgia accent. He didn’t mind the jokes (the come with the territory), but he certainly wasn’t the least bit ashamed of the area where he was born, raised, and lived most of his life. That’s where I’m from, where time passes slower That’s where I’m from, where it’s “yes, ma’am” and “no, sir” You can’t tell I’m country? Just you look closer It’s deep in my blood (Robbie Fulks, “That’s Where I’m From”) Instead of having his campaign headquarters in the big city of Atlanta, or even a bigger nearby town like Columbus, Jimmy Carter ran his 1976 presidential campaign from the old train depot near downtown Plains. The top left photo is the outside of the station. On the top right, you see a phone (old rotary dial phone, no less!). That phone, on that desk, is where candidate Carter received a phone call from former Alabama governor George Wallace, who informed Carter that he was dropping out of the presidential race and pledging his 250 delegates to Carter. On the bottom you see photos of the some of the signs in the depot, describing the train depot and Carter’s life as he left Plains for service in the Navy. (Jimmy Carter is the only Naval Academy graduate to ever serve as President of the United States.) On that sign you see him with his beloved Rosalynn after their wedding on July 7, 1946. So many things in the campaigns are vastly different now. The notion of the candidate himself in the election headquarters taking a call from a political rival is strange, indeed. Not only were the times different, it indicates just how down to earth the man who would become our 39th president truly was. PHOTO COLLAGE: (Top left) Entrance to the train depot (Top right) Desk and phone in the same location as when Carter received the pledge of support from George Wallace (Bottom left) “Welcome to Plains” sign over a description of the town depot (Bottom right) Information about Carter’s life in Plains up to his Naval Academy graduation and marriage to Rosalynn.