A Story To Remember About 39
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DAVE’S WORLD
By David Howell
I wasn’t even two years old when James “Jimmy” Carter was sworn in as our nation’s 39th President – too young to remember his presidency. And during my school years that followed, his time in office was too recent for our history books. Maybe this is why I enjoyed watching the ongoing media coverage about his life and legacy during the week of funeral proceedings. Or maybe it is because it is refreshing to see so many accounts about his integrity, especially considering how little character seems to be valued on the political scene now.
Jimmy Carter was emphatic that there were things he would not do to become President – not tell a lie, not mislead the American public or betray the people’s trust. Although history has not judged his time in office kindly, his integrity has withstood the test of time. Historians have stated that his honesty made it harder to get things done while in office and stay in office. And for his accomplishments in the four decades after he served as President, we have all seen story after story.
I have an interesting story to share about a Water Valley resident who spent time with Carter before he was president or governor. W.G. Griffin was working as an assistant sales manager for a fertilizer company in the 1960s in Macon, Ga., only a few years after graduating from Mississippi State University.
The company W.G. worked for did a lot of business with the Carter family’s farming and related operations and were in the process of installing the first suspension fertilizer system in Georgia in a joint venture with the Carters. The company W.G. worked for fired a sales rep who serviced this account. This sales rep had a close relationship with Billy Carter, Jimmy’s brother.
Immediately after the man was fired, W.G. and his sales manager, Charlie, drove to Plains, Ga.
W.G. and Charlie rolled up to the business and, not surprisingly, learned the now-terminated salesman had already had a conversation with Billy Carter. W.G. said that when they walked in, Billy
Carter took off his hat and threw it on the floor. He also had a few choice words about what he thought about the company firing this salesman. After listening to Billy rant a few more minutes they were ushered into Jimmy Carter’s office. This time the conversation was more diplomatic and Jimmy Carter told Charlie he had one request. He pointed to W.G. and said he wanted him to be the liaison between the two companies.
W.G. was familiar with Carter’s time in the Navy, and his accomplishments as a seaman, and it wasn’t taken lightly when Carter pointed to him.
“I was humbled,” W.G. told me.
W.G. didn’t call it a friendship, but he would forge a strong working relationship with a man who would later serve as the President of the United States.
W.G. recalled a big Christmas gathering hosted annually by Jimmy Carter. Suppliers were invited, customers were invited and competitors were invited. Basically if you were connected to the peanut growing business in Georgia, you attended this party.
“He was definitely a true southern gentleman,” W.G. reported.
He also connected with Billy Carter.
“He showed me some of those night-time honky tonks in south Georgia and they were about as rough as some of them in Mississippi,” W.G. added.
Most of the bars in that area offered free peanuts with a beer, and W.G. recalled that Billy would never eat them. Apparently Billy was offended that they would give peanuts away.
By the time W.G. left Macon, Ga. for greener pastures, he said the Carter operation purchased all of their ag supplies from the company. Back then it was a million-plus dollar account.
Years later when Carter was running for President, W.G. learned of a political event in Jackson for Carter.
“I got all dressed up and went down there,” W.G. continued.
When he got to the front desk, the receptionist asked if he had an invitation. When he told her no, she asked why he was there.
“I said I know Jimmy Carter,” W.G. recalled. “Her eyes got big, and she said ‘You may be the only person in Mississippi that knows him.’”
You could say the rest is history, but there was an obvious question during our conversation. Did he vote for him in the 1976 Presidential Election?
This led to another story as W.G. explained that his father-in-law was a career military man, serving 33 years.
“He told me if I voted for Carter, the wedding would be annulled. I am not going to tell you how I voted, but I will say I am still married to that gentleman’s daughter,” W.G. quipped.
W.G. offered more insight, explaining there was a rumor circulating that Carter would not be a strong supporter of the military, and that likely influenced his father-in-law’s opinion.
W.G. also recalled how times have changed. Decades ago just about every senator, representative or governor had a strong agrarian background.
“Farmers are smart,” he explained. “They have to be to survive.”
