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	January 29, 2007
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	The Carter Presidency: Lessons for the 21st Century
	Strong medicine: University submits proposal for re-use of Navy Supply Corps School as health sciences center
	African Studies director named University Professorupdate link; add new row
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	Honors students awarded Rotary scholarships for international travel
	Honors students awarded Rotary scholarships for international travel
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Former first lady sheds light on private thoughts behind public face

By Allyson Mann

tiny@uga.edu

Explaining her expanded role as first lady in her keynote address at the luncheon held in her honor, Rosalynn Carter said, “I was just doing what I had been doing all my life in my marriage with Jimmy Carter—being a partner.” (Photo by Peter Frey)

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter delivered the keynote address at a luncheon held in her honor Jan. 20 as part of the conference.

Displaying warmth, humor, humility, a steely resolve and, occasionally, tears, Carter recounted the high points of her life as first lady of both Georgia and the U.S., shedding light on the private thoughts behind the public face.

Exactly 30 years ago to the day, she recalled watching Jimmy Carter recite the oath of office for the presidency. Observing those in attendance, she noted the trust and faith they had in her husband.

“It was a humbling experience,” she said.

Later that afternoon, she found humor in her new surroundings at the White House. Told that she could pick up the phone and talk to anyone in the world, the new first lady picked up the phone and asked for Jimmy.

“Jimmy who?” replied the operator.

As first lady, Mrs. Carter surprised many when she eschewed the traditionally narrow role in favor of more active duties as advocate and government representative. She also revealed a quiet determination on the subjects of mental illness and child immunization—two of her pet projects as first lady and then later through her work with the Carter Center, established in 1982 in Atlanta after the Carters left the White House. Her interest in mental health issues developed during her husband’s campaign for governor.

“When I was campaigning, people talked to me about their problems,” she said. “Many had a family member with mental illness. I was moved.”

At a roundtable discussion devoted to her work on mental health policy held Jan. 19, participants paid tribute to Mrs. Carter’s hard work and dedication.

Carter served as honorary chairperson of the President’s Commission on Mental Health during her husband’s administration. When she began attending Cabinet meetings, and when she traveled to Latin America in an official capacity, she discovered that both the American public and the rest of the world were critical of her expanded role as first lady.

“I was just doing what I had been doing all my life in my marriage with Jimmy Carter—being a partner,” she said.

The Carter Presidency: Lessons for the 21st Century
Carter: United Staes should epitomize human dreams
‘No road maps’: Mondale discusses forging of a new vice presidency
Panelists: U.S. needs to develop othe fuel sources
Foreign exchange
Former first lady sheds light on private thoughts behind public face
More than 1,000 turn out for conversation with the Carters during town hall meeting
Student panel discusses policy decisions with former president
Journalists discuss Carter’s political rise. . . and fall

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