Jimmy Carter: A Personal Reflection on an Exceptional Legacy

By Arthur Piccolo

In the course of my life, I have had the rare distinction of sharing elevator rides with two U.S. Presidents before they assumed office. This reflection, however, is dedicated to the memory of one of them: President Jimmy Carter.

My first interaction with Carter occurred in early 1976, long before he became a household name. On a whim, I called information—this was pre-internet—and asked for his home number in Plains, Georgia. To my surprise, the operator provided it. I called, and even more surprisingly, Carter himself answered. Unprepared, I stumbled through the conversation, exchanging pleasantries and expressing my support for his campaign, though at the time, few were backing him. I ended by saying, “I hope to see you soon.”

At that time, I worked for Congressman Tom Downey and was deeply involved in local politics in Suffolk County. Inspired by that call, I sought a role in Carter’s modest New York State campaign. I visited the campaign headquarters on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and met William Vanden Heuvel, the campaign’s state chairman. Although the campaign had no aspirations of winning New York’s primary, they sought a presence there. I convinced Vanden Heuvel to assign me responsibility for two Long Island Congressional districts encompassing much of Suffolk and Nassau counties.

My determination paid off when I successfully persuaded Carter to attend a major fundraiser I organized in Hauppauge. On the day of the event, I greeted him at the entrance and rode the elevator with him and a Secret Service agent to the ballroom. It was a moment I will never forget. That event marked the last time I had direct contact with Carter. Though we lost the districts as expected, I was later offered the role of deputy manager for Carter’s general election campaign in Long Island. I declined, believing I deserved to be named director.

Carter’s victory in 1976 remains a pivotal moment in history, and while this reflection may seem more about my experiences, they were profoundly shaped by my brief interactions with him. I proudly voted for him again in 1980, convinced that he would have won reelection if not for Ronald Reagan’s “treasonous” deal with Iran to delay the release of hostages until after his inauguration.

I even went so far as to urge Carter to run again in 1984, paying for an ad in a local Georgia newspaper. Though he did not pursue another term, his impact as a former president is unmatched. For four decades, Carter dedicated himself to humanitarian efforts, achieving more post-presidency than perhaps any other leader in U.S. history.

As we mourn his passing, we must remember his unparalleled contributions to society. Rest in peace, President Carter.

And as for the other president I once shared an elevator with—that distinction belongs to Barack Obama.