Former President Jimmy Carter visited WBEZ studios on July 8, 1988, for an interview with Sondra Gair and Ken Davis. Then-WBEZ host Ken Davis jokingly remarked that Jimmy Carter needed no introduction. The 39th president, who passed away on Sunday at age 100, was in Chicago promoting his book, *An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections*.
Carter, 63 at the time, had been out of office for eight years following his 1980 election loss to Ronald Reagan. Throughout the 1980s, he remained active, writing books, launching the Carter Center, and collaborating with former President Gerald Ford on diplomatic initiatives. His visit to WBEZ coincided with a heated presidential campaign between George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis.
The interview primarily focused on Carter’s book, which chronicled his love for the outdoors. However, Davis and Gair also delved into contemporary issues. While measured in his criticism of Reagan’s administration, Carter expressed concern about environmental policies, predicting the need for international action to address a warming planet, a sentiment strikingly relevant today. He also offered his perspective on presidential qualities, highlighting the importance of truthfulness, competence, and compassion – suggesting Reagan fell short in at least one of these areas.
The interview also touched on Carter’s personal life. His wife, Rosalynn, who passed away in November at age 96, joined him. The day before the interview marked their 42nd wedding anniversary, a reason for their shared presence. Carter humorously commented on their collaborative book, *Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life*, describing it as “the worst thing we ever did.” Despite this, he reflected fondly on their life after leaving the White House.
In closing, Carter expressed gratitude for his time as president and offered a final endorsement of NPR. The full 1988 WBEZ interview is available for listening.
Courtney Kueppers is a reporter at WBEZ. Justine Tobiasz is WBEZ’s media archivist.