Posted on 06/06/2004 11:32:58 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
PLAINS, Ga. - Former President Jimmy Carter said Sunday he joins the rest of the nation in mourning the loss of former President Ronald Reagan, the man who defeated him in the 1980 presidential election.
"This is a sad day for our country," Carter said before teaching Sunday school at his church, Maranatha Baptist Church, in his hometown of Plains. "I probably know as well as anybody what a formidable communicator and campaigner that President Reagan was. It was because of him that I was retired from my last job."
Carter normally issues statements through the Carter Center in Atlanta, but as of Sunday the Center had not released any response. Carter told a handful of reporters gathered at the church Sunday that he would make no formal comment or answer questions after the service.
But he told about 300 people gathered for his Sunday school class that he and his wife, Rosalynn, had been close to Reagan's widow, Nancy, in recent years, while Nancy Reagan comforted her Alzheimer's-stricken husband. He did not elaborate.
Carter said Nancy Reagan recently gave his wife advice on how hard to swing the champagne bottle when she christened the Navy's latest submarine, the USS Jimmy Carter, on Saturday in Connecticut.
The couple learned of Reagan's death upon their return to Plains on Saturday, Carter said.
"He presented some very concise, very clear messages that appealed to the American people," Carter said. "I think throughout his term in office he was very worthy of the moniker that was put on him as the 'Great Communicator.'"
While campaigning against Carter, whose term was plagued by an energy crisis, unemployment and inflation, Reagan said, "Inflation is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose your job. Recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his job."
Carter, a Democrat, served as the nation's 39th president until his defeat to Reagan, a Republican who became one of the nation's most beloved presidents and whose policies set the stage for the collapse of Communism.
The other surviving ex-presidents are Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
"It was a very sobering day for the country to lose a former president," Carter said. "I want to express my admiration for him and his wife and associate myself with the grief that America feels."
Carter's lesson was on the Book of Hebrew, which he said was written to inspire and strengthen the beliefs of early Christians. Carter said that in his own life there have been "times of disillusionment and doubt."
"We go through ups and downs," he said. "I was distressed when we lost (to Reagan). But I think it's important to ask, 'What am I in the eyes of Jesus Christ?'"
Took him a bit.
Go back to building houses, Jimmy.
No doubt as he governed. Badly.
carter needs to look for a burial hole somewhere ... in Cuba! or even in a pig sty in south africa would be better.
If he thinks that he can be buried here in the country he DESPISES...
Carter and Reagan were textbook cases of christians who went in opposite directions when it came to expressing faith.
Reagan believed that as a Christian he had to work to end the Soviet threat to all people. Carter thought it best to seek peace at whatever cost.
Reagan will ultimately be remembered because his way worked.
I the eyes of Jesus Christ, your a disappointment in leadership.
Just shut up and direct the pounding of nails.
Glad to see he could muster up a classy statement. Not many of his ilk have done so without some disclaimer attached.
Thank God.
I haven't actually heard anything bad about the houses....
What a strange quote. It almost sounds like America is a separate thing from him, and he just vaguely wants to associate with it.
I'm not really trying to criticize him, I appreciate these comments coming even from people who have been real opponents. It just strikes me as odd.
The houses are good. It's great that Carter does that.
But where Carter built houses to express his love for God Reagan made sure that people were free inside of them.
"We go through ups and downs," he said. "I was distressed when we lost (to Reagan). But I think it's important to ask, 'What am I in the eyes of Jesus Christ?'"
Jimmeh, I don't know. What I do know is that you may have "faith" but you were misguided by humanism. Your years as a President were a disaster.
Dunno.
My husband was on a few of thos eprojects up her ein Michigan because he worked for Home Depot and they provided materials.
As far as i know, he never met Jimmy, but the houses were really cute and well-dome.
No, it was because you were an incompetent socialistic Maroon!
He's certainly a little slow. But the sentiment is good.
sKerry will be the social faux pas...
I fear we are losing our class as Freepers. The man made decent comments, and we all act like a bunch of Dem attack dogs. Can't we be all be a little more gracious. I've thought many of things said here, but I have refrained from writing them.
He had to make it about him by reminding people that Reagan "retired" Carter.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.