The recent news of the death of former President Jimmy Carter at the ripe old age of 100 recalls memories of his April 24, 1976, campaign visit to Williamsport, specifically, Brandon Park.
Carter was locked in a highly competitive race for the Democratic Party’s 1976 Presidential nomination against Congressman Morris Udall, Washington Senator Henry Jackson, and several others.
Carter made his appearance at the invitation of Williamsport Mayor Daniel P. Kirby, who was running as a Carter delegate to the upcoming Democratic Party Nominating Convention to be held in July at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
According to the April 25, 1976, edition of the Grit, more than 1,000 people attended Carter’s campaign rally at Brandon Park. In addition to Mayor Kirby, other local Democratic Party luminaries were in attendance as well, including Lycoming County Democratic Party Chairman R. David Frey and Lycoming County District Attorney Allen Ertel, who was running for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 17th Congressional District against Tony Petrucci. Interestingly, a plane pulling a banner, “Petrucci for Congress,” flew overhead during Carter’s appearance.
Carter told those gathered at the park emphatically that he expected to win the Democratic nomination on the first ballot. He was asked about who his running mate might be, and he made no prediction of that and said he expected to name the best-qualified person possible for it.
Throughout his appearance, he flashed his characteristic toothy smile. And had a light blue long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He proudly noted that he was a “‘born-again Christian.” His speech and the following question-and-answer period covered a wide spectrum of domestic and foreign issues.
He said that he could reduce the number of federal agencies from 1,900 to about 200 and that the Pentagon was the most wasteful bureaucracy in Washington. He also pledged to eliminate waste in the welfare system.
Carter won the April 27th Pennsylvania primary with 37 percent of the vote, and Senator Henry Jackson finished second with 18.6 percent of the vote.
Carter would go on to carry Pennsylvania and win the election against President Gerald R. Ford. Carter won 44.28 percent of Lycoming County’s votes in that election. The highest number any Democratic candidate has garnered in recent years.
Even though Carter’s Presidency was seen as less than successful, he leaves behind a legacy of service to others gained through his outstanding work with Habitat for Humanity and acting as an observer for elections in various parts of the world and for a variety of other good works during his 43-year post Presidency period. Some historians are already starting to re-evaluate his low stature in the rankings of Presidents.
He truly lived an inspirational life of faith and good works.
