On a cold January night, I made my way to The Carter Center in Atlanta to pay my respects to President Jimmy Carter as his body lay in repose. Several years earlier, I had the honor of meeting and talking briefly with President Carter. I’m glad I took the opportunity then to thank him for being an intellectual and spiritual role model for me personally and the world at large. About a year earlier, I made the same short drive from my home to pay respects to Roslyn Carter. I regretted having to be on familiar ground to again pay my respects.
Image Credit: Carter Center
The passing of the Carters has marked the end of an era, which I could feel through the quiet reverence of the many others who had likewise come to pay their respects. The vibe felt heavy with sorrow, yet there was a sense of gratitude for an extraordinary man and public life dedicated to truth, service, and humanity. The odd combination, both somber and uplifting, was a reminder of the positive impact that values and actions can have on the world.
As I made my way toward President Carter’s coffin, I passed the exhibits that chronicled his adventurous life. Each display told a story of commitment and compassion, from his early years serving his country in the Navy, to serving his family and community running the family farm, to serving as Governor of Georgia and then President, and continuing to serve all of humanity in his productive post-presidential career.
The walls of the Carter Center are adorned with photographs capturing moments of leadership, humility, and joy, as well as memorabilia that spanned decades of public service. (Anyone can take a virtual tour here.) Among these, the quotes stood out the most, offering glimpses into the principles that guided him. One quote in particular caught my attention. It was from Vice President Walter Mondale, Carter’s steadfast partner during his presidency: “We told the truth. We obeyed the law. We kept the peace.”
Image Credit: Carter Center
Simple yet powerful, these words summarized the essence of Carter’s leadership and the principles that guided him. They then echoed through my mind as I continued toward President Carter’s coffin, a poignant reminder of what our every political leader should aspire to and we citizens should demand of them. (See here the Better Capitalism essay Priest-Prophet–Politician on the Ballot and in Office, which Carter so clearly exemplified.)
When I reached the space where President Carter lay in repose, I paused to say a blessing for him and his legacy. It was a deeply reflective moment for me, standing before the man who had exemplified integrity and humility in an office too often marked by ambition and compromise. The silence in this space felt sacred, as though everyone present was united in a shared sense of loss and respect. For me and others near the coffin, our timing was fortunate because the color guard began their ritual changing of the guard. The crisp movements of the guards, their unwavering focus, and the quiet precision of their steps created a powerful sense of reverence.
Watching the precision and dignity of the ceremony, I couldn’t help but recall the previous presidential transition of power on January 6, 2021. That Trump-Biden change of administration had been fraught with tension and division, a stark contrast to the values that Carter had embodied. I reflected on the importance of leaders who, like Carter, choose to tell the truth, obey the law, and keep the peace. In a time when these principles often seem undervalued if not ridiculed, Carter’s life stood as a testament to their enduring significance and the intentional decision to serve with their guidance. His example reminded me that the highest office in the land is not just about grabbing and keeping power but about the moral responsibility to serve with honesty and integrity.
My curiosity about Walter Mondale’s quote led me to learn more about the man who evolved into President Carter. I quickly found two pieces of strong evidence, both from Carter’s journey to the White House, that heralded his steadfast commitment to living into Mondale’s later quote. One was his December 1974 announcement of his candidacy for President at a rally in Atlanta while still governor of Georgia. I provide all but the last couple of paragraphs of the transcript here, with promises and crucial statements in bold. The full transcript is available here, courtesy of the UC Santa Barbara's American Presidency Project.
If you'd give me your attention just a minute, I have a brief announcement to make. As of this time, here in the state that I love, surrounded by friends of mine from all over the nation, in fact even from the moon, I'd like to announce that I am a candidate for President.
Thank you. I want to say just a couple of other things. First of all, this will be an absolute and full commitment of mine. I'll be there when the last votes are counted. I'll work at it full-time. And I know that you realize it's going to be a very tough, uphill battle before we achieve the Democratic nomination and ultimately before I'm elected President.
I need your help. I'm going to be campaigning in the State of Washington; I'm going to be campaigning in the State of Texas; I'm going to be campaigning in the State of Alabama.
The country is eager to see a couple of things accomplished in government. One of them is to restore the basic integrity of our nation. And I believe that the time to begin that restoration is at the initiation of the campaign for President in 1976.
With the deep shame and embarrassment that has been brought on us in the last couple of years, and with the coming of the 200th anniversary of our great nation, I feel that the restoration of what this country has lost is extremely important.
I have to tell you with complete candor that being elected President of the United States is not the most important thing in my life.
There are many other things that I would not do to be President. I would not tell a lie; I would not mislead the American people; I would not avoid taking a stand on a controversial issue which is important to our country or the world. And I would not betray your trust.
Raising adequate funds for the campaign around this country for the next 18 months or so will be a difficult thing for us. I would not accept any contributions now that would be illegal after the first of January because I think that there is a standard of what's right and what's fair and what's open and what's honest that needs to be established at this very early date.
And even though very large contributions from very rich contributors are technically legal now, the passage of the new campaign finance law overwhelmingly by the House and Senate of our national Congress, and signed into law by the President, is morally binding on us all.
So restoration of the reputation of our country will be foremost in my mind every time I make a statement, every time I study an issue, every time I meet a person, every time I visit a state, every time I accept a contribution, every time I receive and carry out a suggestion.
The second thing that's important to me is to initiate ultimately in Washington tough and competent businesslike management of the American government.
There is nothing which the 200 million American people cannot accomplish if they have trust in their leadership, if this trust is never betrayed, if the goals and ideals, the hopes and aspirations, the purposes of our nation are clearly defined and if we adhere to the utmost standard erf excellence and even perfection. Because one of the most serious defects in public life in recent years has been a slow deterioration in our standards and a subtle acceptance of mediocrity or failure in government which would be contrary to the best hopes and ideals of individual human beings as they shape and reshape and reexamine their own lives in their homes among people that they love, in their places of worship where they reestablish their relationship with God.
And I want to see the government of this nation exemplify in the purest and highest way the hopes and ideals of the American people.
. . . .
(Shortly after completing his formal remarks, Governor Carter returned to the microphone, and added: "There is one thing I forgot to say and that is: I intend to win; I intend to be your next President.") As he intended, he won and was.
Image Credit: Carter Center
These statements by Carter were not just rhetoric; they reflect the spirit and soul of his approach to governance. His commitment to truth-telling, integrity, transparency, and ethical leadership was evident throughout his presidency. He navigated challenging moments, such as inflation, the oil/gas/energy situation, and the enduring Iranian hostage crisis, with an unwavering dedication to honesty, even when the truth was difficult to hear. Indeed, my research indicates no historian or critic of Carter’s has pointed to a material misstatement, much less a lie, by Carter to the American people.
The second evidence was Carter’s “Code of Ethics,” a position paper of his that addressed two pivotal questions: "Can our government be competent?" and "Can our government be honest and decent and open?" In it, Carter laid out a vision for a government that was both effective and morally grounded. He argued that the American people deserved leaders who were accountable, transparent, and guided by a sense of duty rather than personal gain. The paper provides a blueprint for a presidency defined by integrity, emphasizing that competence and decency are not mutually exclusive but inherently linked.
This paper is a remarkable articulation of the responsibilities of leadership. He acknowledged that mistakes and mismanagement were inevitable but emphasized the importance of immediate transparency and corrective action. The paper also underscored his belief that the President must set the moral tone for the entire executive branch, demonstrating honesty, openness, and accountability. Carter’s words resonated deeply with the idea that effective governance is not just about policies and programs but about the character and principles of those in power.
The hunger for trustworthy leadership remains as strong today as it was during Carter’s time. The American people long for leaders who are not only capable but also principled - leaders who prioritize the public good over personal or partisan gain. Trust is the cornerstone of any democracy, and without it, the social contract that binds citizens and their government begins to fray. Carter’s presidency serves as a reminder that trust can be earned through consistent honesty, transparency, and a commitment to ethical governance. His example challenges us to demand more from those who seek to lead us and to hold them accountable to the highest standards.
Further, a prosperous democracy requires trust not only between leaders and citizens but among all its stakeholders. This includes institutions, the media, and civil society organizations that play critical roles in upholding democratic values. Trust fosters collaboration, encourages civic engagement, and creates a foundation for resolving conflicts and addressing challenges. When trust erodes, so does the capacity for collective action, leaving societies vulnerable to division and dysfunction. Carter understood this, which is why, seeking to raise America from the ashes of the Nixon administration, he worked tirelessly to restore integrity to the presidency and to promote peace and cooperation on the global stage. His legacy reminds us that trust is not a given; it must be cultivated and protected through intentional actions and unwavering commitment to the common good.
Carter’s Code of Ethics, the entirety of which is available here, also courtesy of the UC Santa Barbara's American Presidency Project, concludes with these powerful words:
“As President, I will be responsible for the conduct of the Executive Branch of government. Errors or malfeasance will be immediately revealed, and an explanation given to the public, along with corrective action to prevent any recurrence of such actions. The same responsibility for campaign actions will be assumed by me as a candidate.
There is only one person in this nation who can speak with a clear voice, who can set a standard of morals, decency and openness, who can spell out comprehensive policies and coordinate the efforts of different departments of government, who can call on the American people for sacrifices and explain the purpose of that sacrifice and the consequences of it. That person is the President. The President ought to be personally responsible for everything that goes on in the Executive Branch of government, whether that be the appointment of major officials, the clear description of policy, the relationship of the Executive with Congress, the revelation of mistakes and mismanagement, if any, or violations of the law, should they occur, unfairness on the part of regulatory agencies and so forth” (Emphasis ours).
As I left the Carter Center that night, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we, as a nation, are again at ugly crossroads. Jimmy Carter’s life and legacy remind us of what is possible when our leaders prioritize integrity, compassion, and service. His example challenges us to demand better from those who hold public office and to strive for a government that tells the truth, obeys the law, and keeps the peace. In honoring his memory, may we also recommit ourselves to the values he so steadfastly upheld.
Image Credit: Britannica Kids
To the current President of our beloved America, no matter when this post is read, let this post be your spiritual call to action: Embrace the ethics and principles that Jimmy Carter championed. Incorporate his promise not to lie and his unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability into your administration.
The trust of the American people is a sacred bond, one that can only be earned through honesty, humility, and dedication to the greater good. Our nation and her people yearn for a leader who will set favorable moral standards, who will prioritize unity over division, and who will lead with both competence and decency.
If you hope to have nearly as powerful a legacy as President Carter, embrace these values as your steadfast reality. In doing so you will move us closer to a future that reflects the best of what America can be - including improving our form of capitalism - and create for yourself both an administration and legacy that reflect the best of what you can be.
Not sure? Let's schedule a call and talk.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our Amazon number 1 new release: Unleash more with Better Capitalism: Jesus, Adam Smith, Ayn Rand, & MLK Jr. on Moving from Plantation to Partnership Economics.
"This book merits close, sustained attention as a compelling move beyond both careless thinking and easy ideology."—Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary
"Better Capitalism is a sincere search for a better world."—Cato Institute
Σχόλια