Michigan political leaders are reacting to the passing of former President Jimmy Carter.
Rep. Debbie Dingell said Carter’s advocacy work involving the environment, conservation, and human rights can still be felt today.
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“President Carter cared about humanity and believed so deeply in the importance of public service and giving back, and I hope we all continue to learn from the example he set,” she said.
Dingell said her late husband, Rep. John Dingell, had a candid and honest relationship with Carter.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow said America and the world have lost an incredible leader.
“Thank you President Carter for showing all of us what it means to lead with your values both in and out of public service. You showed us what “faith and works” really mean,” she said.
Sen. Gary Peters said he and his wife are thinking of the entire Carter family.
“He will be remembered as a true public servant –– from his time serving in the U.S. Navy & as President, to his decades of selfless humanitarian work,” he said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Carter lived an impressive life.
“In the White House, President Carter brokered peace, established the Departments of Energy and Education, advocated for solar energy, and doubled the amount of land for national parks and wildlife refuges,” she said.
Whitmer also highlighted Carter’s impact after leaving political office.
“He dedicated decades of his life to helping those around the world who had the least. He helped build thousands of homes with Habitat for Humanity, and established the Carter Center, focused on health and human rights. And he made time to preach from his community pulpit on Sundays,” she said.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said Carter created a more prosperous and peaceful world.
“He understood the unique mission and meaning of public service: helping his fellow citizens live their best lives and reach their full potential. As the nation grieves his passing, let us reflect on the lessons of his life and recommit to following in his footsteps, creating a more connected and conscientious world for all of us,” he said.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel described Carter as a model citizen.
“Among his lifetime of accomplishments, President Carter will surely be remembered for his service to our nation, his pioneering civil rights activism, his staunch commitment to environmental policy, and his extensive post-presidency humanitarian work. His legacy will honor our country for generations to come,” she said.
Former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard worked with Carter on the financial rescue of Chrysler in 1980.
President Carter signed the law granting Chrysler $1.5 billion to save the company from bankruptcy.
Blanchard was serving in the House of Representatives at the time. He was the author of the House bill.
“That was a big deal. It saved the largest employer of Detroit, the largest employer of African Americans. It was a real help to the entire auto industry, which if Chrysler would have gone down, (it) would have reverberated throughout the other companies and suppliers. So, economically it was a real help to Michigan,” Blanchard said.
But it wasn’t enough for Carter to win Michigan during his re-election campaign against Republican Ronald Reagan.
Blanchard said initially when Chrysler ran into trouble, Carter was against any corporate bailouts or subsidies.
That initial reluctance impacted his standing in Michigan, Blanchard said.
“He never got the credit he should have. It’s all in the books they write about him because he did the right thing,” he said.
Reagan secured 489 electoral votes to win the presidency, making Carter a one-term president.
“When you only get one term, it’s hard to be considered a great president. I can tell you this, he was a good man. And he continued to serve the public for all these years since his defeat in 1980,” Blanchard said.
Carter also didn’t win Michigan in 1976 in his race against Republican Gerald Ford. Michigan was Ford’s home state.
From the Vault: Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford campaign in Detroit in 1976
