Prominent Iowans remember Jimmy Carter, catapulted by Iowa Caucuses to the presidency

Prominent Iowans remember Jimmy Carter, catapulted by Iowa Caucuses to the presidency

Prominent Iowans reacted to the death of former President Jimmy Carter by praising his humanitarian work and remembering his role in cementing Iowa’s reputation as a springboard for long-shot presidential candidates to catapult to the White House.

Carter died Sunday. He was 100.

The 39th president, Carter was elected to one term in 1976. He promised to make government “competent and compassionate,” but his time in office was dogged by a slow economy, an energy crisis and the Cold War.

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Despite being a one-term president, Carter went on to win the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his work “to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”

In-depth: Why Jimmy Carter has a special place in Iowa history: How he created the Iowa Caucus playbook

Carter’s presidential career launched in Iowa. In doing so, he solidified Iowa as the place for presidential candidates to make their mark. He arrived in the state months ahead of that year’s caucuses and built a grassroots campaign predicated on face-to-face interactions with caucusgoers in living rooms and cafes and backyard barbecues.

He dutifully introduced himself to Democrats across the state in an effort to raise his profile.

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“We went over to the Varied Industries Building, where we thought we’d find some friends at the Democratic booth, and introduced ourselves,” former Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro recalled of one of Carter’s first visits. “He just began shaking hands and during his handshaking routine he would tell everybody, ‘My name’s Jimmy Carter and I’m running for president of the United States.’”

Mauro, one of the earliest volunteers on Carter’s campaign, organized events and acted as chauffeur for the candidate as he traveled the state and ultimately gained enough steam to overperform expectations in the caucuses.

Carter didn’t actually win the caucuses that year. He came in second place behind “uncommitted,” meaning more caucusgoers were undecided on their presidential preference than were committed to supporting Carter.

But it was enough to vault him into serious contention, and he rode the wave of support and media attention all the way to the presidency.

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Would-be presidents have been trying to replicate that springboard effect ever since — traveling to Iowa to build a grassroots network of volunteers and meet Iowans one-on-one and face-to-face.

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, said Carter’s “presidential fortune” started in Iowa by using his peanut farming background to connect with Iowans.

“I am praying for his family during this difficult time. I hope they find solace in knowing he is reunited with his wife Rosalynn in eternal rest,” Miller-Meeks posted on X.

Rosalynn Carter, his wife of 77 years, died in November 2023.

In a post on X, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he and his wife, Barbara, are praying for the Carter family as “the country grieves.” He said the two had much in common, including “love of the Lord.”

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, recognized Carter’s humanitarian work and said she is saddened to hear of his death.

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Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa reacts to death of Jimmy Carter, who secured caucuses’ importance

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