The former 39th (US) President visited Austin this afternoon to sign copies of his latest book. It’s really excerpts from his diary (or journal) during his four years in the White House. I decided to attend over a month ago because when I was eight, I briefly met his mother in Plains, GA; my family stopped there on the way home from our 1976 vacation. Besides, he’s well over 80 and the oldest ex-president remaining who doesn’t turn my stomach, I may never get another opportunity; he was hospitalized several weeks ago.
How was the signing? Rather efficient. Done with assembly-line precision. There were rules I already read about online before I bought my ticket, namely, no pictures. I was rather bummed regarding that one. However, I have the autograph above to prove I did meet him along with a couple anecdotes from this encounter.
Number one: while waiting in queue, I asked a Secret Service agent what was the proper way to address him. The agent said Mr. Carter or President Carter, you don’t use Mr. President. Makes sense. Somebody else is president now. And yes, the agent had the earpiece thing you see on TV and in movies. Actually there were a few of them all around Book People. I figure additional agents were in plain clothes sans earpieces in case our enemies believe what Hollywood shows is fact.
Number two: I did manage to ask President Carter a quick question. I asked if he knew Shirley Chisholm. D’oh! I totally blanked, I mentally meant Barbara Jordan; there’s a statue of Mrs. Jordan at the airport. It didn’t matter, President Carter replied he did know Mrs. Chisholm and it didn’t have a tone of “well…duh!”