Jimmy Carter’s journey to and from Memphis
Jimmy Carter visited Memphis for a Habitat for Humanity project. (The Daily Memphian file)
Former President Jimmy Carter was never far from the issues that defined his one term in the White House, even decades later, while wielding a hammer and wearing a hard hat and tool belt on a home construction site in North Memphis.
President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter, along with Coretta Scott King and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, right, center, stand on the balcony of the hotel in Memphis, Dec. 9, 1978 where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Carter stopped at the site and placed a wreath on the door while en route to the airport for a flight to Washington. On the roof at upper left, a security agent keeps a lookout with binoculars. (AP file)
“Before this, I’ve been to the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, which was a tragedy for us, but I think the aftermath of that has shown that we have a long way to go,” Carter said during a 2016 visit to the city, referring to the National Civil Rights Museum, which honored Carter with a Freedom Award in 1994.
Carter came to Memphis for the awards ceremony fresh from his efforts to mediate Haiti’s transition from the Duvalier family’s iron grip on the country.
After touring NCRM, Carter stopped to talk with Jacqueline Smith, a protester who has camped outside the museum since before its opening and remains a presence there. He extended his hand to Smith, who refused to shake his hand because he supported the museum.
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Jimmy Carter Tennessee presidential primary National Civil Rights Museum Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
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Bill Dries
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.
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