Before discussing his new work of fiction, the former president credits Robert Redford for helping him in the 1976 election
by Christy Karras
Salt
Lake Tribune
SUNDANCE RESORT - Little known fact: Jimmy Carter may never have become president if it hadn't been for Robert Redford.
That's what Carter himself said during a short speech at Redford's Sundance
Resort on Saturday, where the only American president to ever write a novel
appeared as part of the Tree Room author series.
"I was probably president because of Bob Redford," he said, describing
himself before the 1976 election as a poor peanut farmer who, faced with a
debate with incumbent President Ford, "didn't know what in the world I
was going to do."
Carter described how Redford came over to his house with a projector and films of the historic debate between a sour-looking Richard Nixon and the charismatic John F. Kennedy, which are partly credited with helping Kennedy win the 1960 election.
Redford, Carter said, "played the tape over and over and gave me advice."
Carter said just knowing Redford had helped him was enough to scare Ford into
blundering through the debate. Carter won, and so Redford gets some of the
credit - or the blame - "for all the things I did as president, good
or bad," he joked.
(He also mentioned that Redford offered no such coaching in 1980, when Carter lost.)
Redford introduced Carter and the two embraced before Redford took the podium to praise his old friend.
"His concern for peace, human rights and justice was more than evident when he was in office but even more so after he left office," Redford said.
Redford also noted, to applause from the audience, that comparisons with other former presidents who spend their time golfing, raising money and stocking their presidential libraries "are unfortunately easy and not that great."
For the most part, Carter's speech detailed his career as an author and how he researched and wrote Hornet's Nest, his saga of colonists living in the Deep South during the Revolutionary War. The characters were patterned after Carter's own ancestors, who helped settle the Georgia area during the 18th century. Critics have praised his exhaustive research, if not the plot, and Carter said he hasn't heard anyone complain about inaccuracies.
Carter, the author of 17 nonfiction books, said writing fiction is tough.
"When I was about halfway through, I understood why a president had never
written a book of fiction," he joked.
Even before his first novel was finished, though, he was planning a sequel that he is writing now.
Carter, who turns 80 this year, appeared healthy and cheerful as he greeted fans, shaking hands and posing for pictures. During his days in Provo Canyon, he said, "We've had a good time climbing mountains and looking at waterfalls and catching trout - and releasing trout."
Joseph Bento of Pleasant Grove, at the event with his mother Lola and sister Nancy, said he counts himself one of Carter's admirers. "He seems to relate really well to just the common man, or the common citizen rather than the concerns of corporate America," Bento said, noting Carter's work with humanitarian organizations.
Other guests agreed. "Of all the former presidents, he's done the most good," said Debra DuHoux.
© Copyright 2004, The Salt Lake Tribune.