During his four years in office (1.20.77 to 1.20.81), Jimmy Carter was more of a gentle country preacher than an effective U.S. President. He spoke softly, wore cardigan sweaters, urged Americans to try and use less energy and be better people. Ethically and morally he was easily the 20th Century’s finest and noblest Oval office occupant — a real Christian and a peace-seeker who talked the talk and tried to walk the walk.

Alas, most Americans don’t really want a good and gentle man running the show — they want a Gary Cooper-in-High Noon or an Alan Ladd-in-Shane type of guy….a mature, steadfast fellow who wears a pair of iron revolvers but also believes in justice and restraint…but also a man who doesn’t back away from a fight.

Carter was too gentle, too thoughtful, too much the peanut farmer, not “street” or slick enough.
When his Iranian hostages rescue mission failed, his presidency was kaput.

If you want to analogize recent presidents with the main characters in Deliverance, Carter was Ronny Cox‘s Drew Ballinger — easily the most morally driven, the most concerned about decency and fairness. Barack Obama was Jon Voight‘s Ed Gentry — an intelligent, fair-minded man who stepped up and did the necessary thing when the situation required it. In his dreams Trump thinks he’s Burt Reynolds‘ Lewis Medlock but he’s really Ned Beatty‘s squealing Bobby Trippe.

I don’t know who Joe Biden or Bill Clinton were….maybe James Dickey‘s Sheriff Bullard.

A moment of respectful silence for dear Mr. Carter, a good man whose presidency, I’m sorry to say, mainly served as a cautionary tale.