Carter still ‘ambitious and able’

Press, 26 November 1981, Page 17

Carter still ‘ambitious and able’

From

ROSS MADDEN,

Features International

in Washington

The television cameras have disappeared; the tourists arrive in twos and threes, instead of by the busload. Today, nothing much is left to remind Plains, Georgia, that until a year ago it was perhaps the most famous small town in the United States. There are a few tell-tale signs—like wooden barriers across certain roads with notices reading, “Restricted Area. Do Not Enter.”

And sharp-eyed visitors occasionally see a grey-haired man in a track-suit on an early morning jog—closely followed by a big black car full of Secret Service agents. The jogger is the most famous of Plains’ 700 citizens—James Earl Carter, former president of the United States, and now, he says, enjoying the novelty of being America’s most celebrated forgotten man. It is just five years since he was elected to the highest office in the land; and one year since the voters overwhelmingly threw him out of the White House.

Now the former president has a much more modest address, the house he rents for $5OO a month, as he and his family settle down to life away from the limelight. By alll accounts he’s enjoying it. “He has been slowly unwinding after the pressures of Washington,” said one family friend. “He has got over the disappointment of his election defeat; he can even joke about it. Recently he remarked, ‘I like being a forgotten man. At least I can get the garden done! ’ ” Even so, talk has already started about a possible comeback to public life. His associates say there are no firm plans, but they are careful not to scotch the possibility. “Mr Carter still has ambition and ability—and no one has - ever questioned his integrity. There’s certainly nothing to stop him coming back at some future date,” one says.

Most experts believe that will not be too soon. It will take time to dim the public memory of Jimmy Carter’s disastrous performance in the 1980 election contest against Ronald Reagan. It was the worst result for a sitting President for 50 years. However, he has begun making public and official appearances, and was one of America’s representatives at the Cairo funeral of President Sadat.

His main preoccupation during his first year out of office has been writing his memoirs. He decided to make use of the latest technology by having the manuscript typed up on a visualdisplay screen, linked with a computer. But there was an early setback when Mr Carter pressed a wrong button—and erased everything he had written so far.

He has also been giving more time to the family peanut business, which was in the doldrums throughout his presidency. A bad winter

last-year affected the crop, but he is hoping for better results this year. For two days a week, Jimmy Carter has recently been working in an office suite he has taken in Atlanta, where his Presidential Library is being established.

“He is convinced that the record of his Presidency will ensure him a place in history—not least for the Camp David agreement on the Middle East,” says one of his aides. ‘lt’s noticeable that this has survived even the assassination of Predident Sadat, and still offers the best hope of peace to the Middle East."

During their White House years, the Carters became famous for their frugal style of living, which they expected their staff to copy. This has continued back in Plains.

Money worries hardly exist for a former president, but it is known that the

Carters have not taken full advantage of the financial benefits available.

Mr Carter draws his pension of $70,000 a year, plus an allowance for his private staff of $150,000 a year. But he has taken much less thansome other former presidents from the almost unlimited allowances to cover travel for himself and two aides, rent, telephones, postage, and other expenses.

It is reckoned that this could easily amount to $600,000 a year, but the Carters have kept it well below that.

They never had much enthusiasm for parties at the White House, and have not been the leading socialites that Georgia society had hoped, following their return home.

The big question is, what will he do when, and if, he returns to public life? ‘.He is now 57, and could remain active in politics for at least .another decade, or even longer,, as he reminded his listeners when he spoke at a recent dinner in Washington. in honour of the veteran diplomat, Avereil Harriman.

Then he said: “In 1976, I thought it was funny when I heard him described as ‘an ambitious 70-year-old man,’ but in 1980 I was no longer laughing at ambitious 70-year-old men!’