History In Ink®  Historical Autographs


2435201

Jimmy Carter

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“. . . your trip all the way to Plains was especially thoughtful.”

James Earl Carter, Jr., 1924–2024.  39th President of the United States, 1977–1981.  Scarce autograph letter signed, Jimmy Carter, one page, 5” x 7”, on stationery of The Carter Presidential Center, [no place], October 2, 1989.

This is a beautiful example of Carter’s holograph, with a full signature as well.  While Carter’s autograph material is abundant, owing primarily to the number of books that he wrote and signed, his handwritten letters are scarce.

Here, the former President thanks Rev. D. Wayne Smith, the founder of Friendship Force International, for a fishing rod, for which he undoubtedly had already thanked Smith in person.  Since Carter wrote the letter the day after his 65th birthday, the fishing rod was likely a birthday gift that Smith had delivered to Carter at his home in Plains, Georgia, on his birthday.  Carter thus writes, in full:  “The rod is great - - & your trip all the way to Plains was especially thoughtful.  I’ll be remembering you on the 4th fish - - and on all the others.  /  Your friend . . . ”

President Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter were enthusiastic supporters of Friendship Force International, which Smith founded in Atlanta in March 1977, less than two months after the Carters entered the White House.  The organization seeks to “promote global understanding across the barriers that separate people” through cultural exchange “Journeys” by individuals and groups of people who travel to other countries to stay a week in the homes of host families, making friendships and developing shared understandings of each other’s cultures. President Carter introduced the idea at a White House dinner honoring state governors attending the National Governors’ Conference on March 1, 1977, urging the governors to work in their states to participate in the project and to coordinate their efforts with Mrs. Carter.  See Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Jimmy Carter, 1977, at 268, 270 (remarks of Mar. 1, 1977).  Friendship Force sponsors some 250–300 Journeys annually and also now hosts virtual experiences.  It has more than 300 chartered clubs in more than 60 countries on six continents.  Mrs. Carter was its honorary chairperson until 2002.

Carter has written and boldly signed this letter in black rollerball with a full Jimmy Carter signature, in contrast to the “J Carter” that he routinely signed after his presidency.  The signature is 3¼” long and 1” high.   The letter has some unobtrusive handling marks at the top that we mention for the sake of accuracy, and there is a small ink stain, likely from Carter’s pen, on the very right edge of the paper, affecting nothing.  Overall, the letter is in very fine condition. 

Unframed.

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$1,250.00

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