The first time I heard and saw Jimmy Carter I was forever impressed by his words and demeanor. Carter was presented as a guest to the New Hampshire State Senate, a courtesy offered routinely to visiting politicians, yet another wannabe in the 1976 New Hampshire Presidential Primary, the country’s leadoff test of potential presidents. As journalist I was professionally skeptical of politicians seeking the presidency (it was my third rodeo in the quadrennial primary). But I was disarmed and indelibly impressed by Carter with his first words to the senators: “Good afternoon, my name is Jimmy Carter. I’m a born-again Christian.”

Carter didn’t say initially he was a Democrat, governor of Georgia or Navy lieutenant, aviator and nuclear submariner, but declared his core identity first. Not one impressed by God talk, nonetheless I saw and heard a kind and honest person. Struck by his simple self-introduction I thought, “this guy’s real; he’s going to be president.” No paean to Carter can ignore Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire’s senior U.S. Senator. His campaign chief promoting the southern governor essentially unknown to New Hampshire, she made Jimmy Carter possible. (Shaheen also would serve in the state senate and as the state’s first woman governor.) Take political mastermind Shaheen and unassuming peanut farmer/ nuclear engineer Jimmy Carter and you’re on the road to the White House.

Adolphe Bernotas

Penacook