Hamilton County Historian looks back at former President Jimmy Carter’s legacy

Hamilton County Historian, Linda Moss Mines, joins news 12’s Chip Chapman to reflect on the legacy of late former President Jimmy Carter.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Georgia native, peanut farmer, humanitarian, and a former president, Jimmy Carter left a remarkable legacy during his 100 years of life.

“It was a loss for the nation and especially to those who were impacted by former President Jimmy Carter,” says Linda Moss Mines, the Hamilton County Historian.

Mines looks back at Jimmy Carter’s impact, commenting how many people can live to 100 years old but never leave a mark. “My mom had a saying. You either wear out or you can rust out. Jimmy Carter was the epitome of wearing out. He was going to use moment he was given to make a difference in someone else’s life. In doing so, he enriched his own life.”

One of President Carter’s great influences and impacts was his work with Habitat for Humanity. Mines explains how President Carter believed in the importance everyone having a safe home where there is a sense of belonging.

Many believe that President Carter was a better statesman than a better president, and Mines re-enforces that belief after looking back how political pundits have critiqued about his presidency for over 40 years. But Mines believes there is no argument on how he was a great statesman given his love for the country, people, and his values.

From his honorable background of being a naval academy graduate to continuing humanitarian work to improve the lives of people across the globe, historian Linda Moss Mines says, “Americans whether they are conservative, liberal, or moderate or you don’t know what you are, you can look at Jimmy Carter and say ‘there walked a good man.'”