Peter Baker

Well, it definitely felt that way at the time. And Carter certainly felt that way, you know, that they were tormenting him in effect, that they were adding insult to injury. Look, it's important to remember there were other factors going on in that election as well. And it's possible Carter would have lost anyway. I mean, there was kind of an exhaustion with him at this point.

And Americans were struggling with inflation and unemployment and economic troubles. Reagan famously said in one of the debates, you know, are you better off than you were four years ago? And a lot of Americans thought the answer was no. And Reagan was this more optimistic figure at a time when the country was looking for it. He was the anti-Malays candidate in a way, right?

And Americans were struggling with inflation and unemployment and economic troubles. Reagan famously said in one of the debates, you know, are you better off than you were four years ago? And a lot of Americans thought the answer was no. And Reagan was this more optimistic figure at a time when the country was looking for it. He was the anti-Malays candidate in a way, right?

He talked about America as a shining city on a hill. He didn't appear in a cardigan. He believed in the grandeur of the office. And so where Carter wanted to make the presidency smaller, more accessible, more approachable, less pomp and circumstance, Reagan was this Hollywood actor who,

He talked about America as a shining city on a hill. He didn't appear in a cardigan. He believed in the grandeur of the office. And so where Carter wanted to make the presidency smaller, more accessible, more approachable, less pomp and circumstance, Reagan was this Hollywood actor who,

turned governor, who wanted to bring back kind of black tie swagger to Washington and convince America that it was this exceptional place in the world, which is what a lot of Americans wanted to hear then.

turned governor, who wanted to bring back kind of black tie swagger to Washington and convince America that it was this exceptional place in the world, which is what a lot of Americans wanted to hear then.

Yeah, I mean, I think these are attributes that really worked for him in 1976 when there was this Watergate hangover, this Vietnam hangover. They just didn't work for him in 1980 when there was kind of a Carter malaise, if you will, right?

Yeah, I mean, I think these are attributes that really worked for him in 1976 when there was this Watergate hangover, this Vietnam hangover. They just didn't work for him in 1980 when there was kind of a Carter malaise, if you will, right?

That they didn't serve him as effectively while he was president and running for reelection as they did the first time he asked voters to put him in office in the first place. And he didn't adjust. He didn't adapt. But when he leaves office, it turns out that it wasn't an act. This was who he was.

That they didn't serve him as effectively while he was president and running for reelection as they did the first time he asked voters to put him in office in the first place. And he didn't adjust. He didn't adapt. But when he leaves office, it turns out that it wasn't an act. This was who he was.

Well, what distinguishes it is its utter modesty, right? Most presidents, after leaving office, become rich. They sign multimillion-dollar book deals or, like with President Obama, podcasts and TV deals. They give paid speeches, and they live a life that resembles the splendor of the office that they had held. But Carter didn't do that.

Well, what distinguishes it is its utter modesty, right? Most presidents, after leaving office, become rich. They sign multimillion-dollar book deals or, like with President Obama, podcasts and TV deals. They give paid speeches, and they live a life that resembles the splendor of the office that they had held. But Carter didn't do that.

He first literally goes back to Plains, Georgia to the same house, this little ranch house that he and Rosalynn had lived in since 1961. Modest, very unassuming. At one point, the house, in fact, is worth less than the large Secret Service vehicles that are parked outside of it. And the first thing he does is start teaching Sunday school. Wow.

He first literally goes back to Plains, Georgia to the same house, this little ranch house that he and Rosalynn had lived in since 1961. Modest, very unassuming. At one point, the house, in fact, is worth less than the large Secret Service vehicles that are parked outside of it. And the first thing he does is start teaching Sunday school. Wow.

And when he does finally reappear in the public arena, it's when he opens the Carter Center in 1982, just two years after his defeat in the election. And it's through this nonprofit group that we witness a post-presidency of service and civic-mindedness that's really unlike anything we've seen in the modern political era.

And when he does finally reappear in the public arena, it's when he opens the Carter Center in 1982, just two years after his defeat in the election. And it's through this nonprofit group that we witness a post-presidency of service and civic-mindedness that's really unlike anything we've seen in the modern political era.

He travels the world promoting human rights and monitoring elections in emerging democracies, countries like Panama and Nicaragua and Venezuela.

He travels the world promoting human rights and monitoring elections in emerging democracies, countries like Panama and Nicaragua and Venezuela.

He physically shows up during these elections. He stands at the polls and watches people vote, election after election, to assure that the process is free and fair. The worm comes out of a joint, say, in your knee. It swells up and destroys the tissue.