Congratulations to the 39th US President, Jimmy Carter, on becoming the first to reach his 100th birthday on 1st October 2024.

There's a remarkable film of him appearing on game show What's My Line as an unknown on 13th December 1973 just a couple of years before his Presidential run and when he was Governor of Georgia as the panel tries to guess who he is and what he does. Clearly Georgia governor wasn't very high profile then in public consciousness nationally. Amusing to think this guy before them as this unknown was about to become their President within only three years of this.

youtu.be/bwykRTPJwoI?si=aWPn5meatyez_rmU

Great to hear he's reached 100. He always struck me as a decent person.

That's an interesting film clip. Amazing by today's standards that he could appear as a Mr X. But perhaps in the pre-internet era it was easier for governors to be less identifiable outside their state.

Yes I always thought he was a decent man and a good President. A Democrat in Georgia is, I would have thought decades ago, quite a rarity. 100 is a good age. I'm hoping to reach it myself though I notice the marbles rolling away. I only want to reach 100 retaining most marbles and being physically fairly fit.

And look at what we've got now. Jaysus wept. Not sure when world leaders started either having zero charisma and clout or be batshit crazy.

Downing Street Cat wrote:
And look at what we've got now. Jaysus wept. Not sure when world leaders started either having zero charisma and clout or be batshit crazy.

Zero charisma, we had a US President and a British PM as recently as 2020 with bags of charisma and personality didn't we, Trump and Johnson.

One of the panellists on that What's My Line is also nearly 100 years old too, Gene Shalit.

I always imagined American state Governors were well known people, and it did seem odd to me that Carter who was Governor of a rather big state like Georgia was widely unknown to the masses there.

If all world leaders were like Jimmy Carter wouldn't this be a peaceful planet. They say the good die young, so pleased to see Carter defying that and reaching a well deserved 100th birthday.

This is more evidence that evil people die old.

JK2006 wrote:
A Democrat in Georgia is, I would have thought decades ago, quite a rarity.

US politics obviously isn't your strong suit

Green Man wrote:
This is more evidence that evil people die old.

WHAT?

ARE?

YOU?

TALKING?

ABOUT?

Carter is essentially a decent and honest man.

He has spent his considerable presidential pension on building homes for the homeless.

Now look at the choice..one dementing maniac whose knowledge of the vast world stops at the edge of NYC and the other who will continue to allow Israel's carnage.

hedda wrote:
Carter is essentially a decent and honest man.

He has spent his considerable presidential pension on building homes for the homeless.

Now look at the choice..one dementing maniac whose knowledge of the vast world stops at the edge of NYC and the other who will continue to allow Israel's carnage.

Carter, botched up the Iran hostage crisis.

Hedda, you could always try and reason with Israel. I am just waiting for WW3 to happen soon. It will be the Western world who light the fuse not the Middle East. Before the banks and market stocks crash.

Green Man wrote:
hedda wrote:


Now look at the choice..one dementing maniac whose knowledge of the vast world stops at the edge of NYC and the other who will continue to allow Israel's carnage.



So will the dementing maniac Hedda. Some choice...

Carter would have defended Israel to the hilt at this moment as well. Quite right.


Carter was likeable but I thought soft. It was right Reagan beat him and took over. Reagan was also likeable but firm.

I attended the Democratic Convention (Carter) in New York and was backstage when Edward Kennedy was about to go on. Fascinating watch him milk the applause before coming on. Like Elvis or Sinatra.

Wyot wrote:
Green Man wrote:
hedda wrote:


Now look at the choice..one dementing maniac whose knowledge of the vast world stops at the edge of NYC and the other who will continue to allow Israel's carnage.



So will the dementing maniac Hedda. Some choice...
Really, Wyot? Doesn't sound like you.

The former and current Presidents all wishing Jimmy Carter a happy 100th birthday.

youtu.be/MgYgipF3oYQ?si=uQhkbUSmWhMFRsJW

If they all remain alive the next to hit 100 is Biden himself in late 2042, so quite a while even though he looked 100 at the recent debate.

Interesting to note if Bush, Clinton and Trump all make 100 then three US Presidents would reach their centenary within weeks of each other, having all been born close together in the summer of 1946, 14th June (Trump) 6th July (Bush) and 19th August (Clinton).

Jo wrote:
[quote]Wyot wrote:
[quote]Green Man wrote:
hedda wrote:




So will the dementing maniac Hedda. Some choice...
Really, Wyot? Doesn't sound like you.

Yep me Jo ta. Just deciding to be brief more often!

I notice you've started a Reagan thread JK but I'd like to place this one here if I might.

This is another time five Presidents appeared in public together, at the Reagan Presidential Library opening in November 1991, Carter is now the only one of the Presidents left from this day, which had all the Presidents 1969-1991, Nixon/Ford/Carter/Reagan/Bush Snr. We've had another five since! But I'll leave the clip here to kick in a couple of minutes in as Charlton Heston gives a speech which i thought was really profound in his description of these men. I've also seen Heston deliver an impressive speech about the Presidency at an All Star Party for Reagan at Burbank while President in December 1985. He changed party allegiance not long after. The event is on the Reagan Library You Tube.

Watching Charlton Heston here makes me wonder why he didn't consider being another actor, like Reagan, to go for US President. He might have made a rather good one himself and looks and sounds the part at the Presidential lectern in front of the seal of office. According to his biography he switched parties from Democrat to Republican in the late 80s, and his real name was John Charles Carter, so he could have been another President Carter if he'd successfully done so and used his real name.

youtu.be/ysqbx_EDxVM?si=II3-bLWdGkI6jJY3&t=154