I drove 360 miles in a day to vote for Jimmy Carter

In November 1976, I was 21 years old and it was the first time that I was going to have the opportunity to vote for President. After the horrors and corruption of Watergate (which seem almost quaint now as we approach the installation of a convicted felon as President) there was no way I was going to miss that opportunity.

But somehow, I messed up. I can’t remember the exact details now. Whether I misunderstood that I could not vote where I was attending college, or whether I didn’t mail an absentee ballot on time. All I know is that election day arrived and I wasn’t going to be able to vote in my college town. And so I skipped my morning class, and along with my roommate at the time we left campus that morning and drove 180 miles so that I could vote at my hometown courthouse. And then we turned right around and drove 180 miles back because either she or I had a class in the late afternoon.

I cast my first vote for President for Jimmy Carter, a good and decent man. A man of principle. A man who lived a modest life of service.

I couldn’t be more proud of that vote than today, as the contrast of his life to the darkness that approaches could not be more stark.

Thank you, Jimmy. You remind us of what has been good in America. Of a time when this country thought character and kindness mattered. Rest in peace, faithful servant.