I first heard the name Jimmy Carter at an Allman Brothers concert at the old Omaha Civic Auditorium.

The band played for a while, then went backstage to take a break. Just before they came out for their second set, one of Jimmy Carter’s sons, I believe it was Chip, came on the stage to talk about his dad and to ask any Iowa residents in the crowd to show up for him at the Iowa Caucus.

As I recall the crowd didn’t boo or anything, but they were restless and wanted the band from Georgia on the stage and not the son of a Georgia peanut farmer.

Carter didn’t win the Iowa Caucus, but he did show those who came after him how to campaign in the state and went on to win the nomination.

The first time I voted for president was in the 1976 election. And I voted for Carter. I voted for change. Sound familiar?

The world had a lot of similar problems to the ones we face today. Inflation was worse than it is now, there was an unpopular incumbent president, The Middle East was in shambles, the United States and the Soviet Union were in the middle of a Cold War, and minorities were fighting for their rights.

I often wonder what America would have been like if, during that time, there were social media, talk radio, 24-hour news channels, and smartphones. Would things have seemed even worse than they do today? Would the memes, posts, and TikTok videos have changed the course of history?

As President, Jimmy Carter had a lot on his plate. Not only did he have to face the previously mentioned problems, but other issues like the Iran hostage situation complicated his term in office.

He also had some successes like the Camp David accord that orchestrated a sense of peace between Egypt and Israel. He also promoted alternative forms of energy by installing solar panels on the White House.

Through it all, he remained true to his principles. Good people can agree or disagree if Jimmy Carter was a good president, but nobody can disagree that Jimmy Carter was a good man.

He not only talked the talk he walked the walk. He talked about the bible without selling it to make a profit. He didn’t hug the flag but respected what it stood for. He admitted in a Playboy interview that there were times he lusted in his heart for other women but had remained faithful to his wife Roslynn. A woman he stayed married to for 77 years until her death.

Fast forward to 2024. America has voted for change once again. But now 48 years later this change looks a lot different than when Carter took office. While Carter lusted in his heart, the incoming president has been found liable for sexual assault and had sex with a porn star while his wife was recovering from giving birth to their son.

48 years ago, we never would have imagined an incoming president using his Christmas message to attack fellow Americans with a different political view and keep patting himself on the back. 48 years ago, we voted in a man to restore the rule of law. Now we have voted in a convicted felon.

America has changed a lot in the past half-century. Change looks a lot different now.

As I think about the death of one president and the resurrection of another, I hope that the American people will still stand up for the decency that President Carter exemplified and not fall into the trap of division, anger, and tribalism.

RIP President Carter. May your message of promoting peace and unity, your actions of volunteering, and your example of decency in our leaders not die with you.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

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