My first time to vote in a presidential election was 1976. The 26th Amendment had been adopted five years before, toward the end of the Vietnam War, so people were allowed to vote at 18. I turned 18 in mid-September, which was plenty of time to register and sign up for an absentee ballot (since I was a college student).
I voted for Jimmy Carter. Ever since learning about FDR in my 11th grade U.S. history class, I had known I preferred the philosophy of the Democratic Party. But more than that, I passionately believed in Jimmy Carter. I began following the campaign in the spring and made my choice as early as April. (For months, my mother went around telling people that I had "predicted" the outcome of the election.)
Even though the economy was in bad shape, I didn't stop supporting Carter in 1980. I loathed the very idea of trickle-down economics. (BTW, does anyone even remember anymore that Bush the elder called it "voodoo economics" when he was running against Reagan in the primaries? I guess he changed his mind when he had the chance to be Veep.)
Elections were so different in those days. News stations weren't publishing polls every other day. The Internet hadn't yet been invented. The press and the two campaigns knew full well that Carter was going to lose the election, but the general public didn't know that.
I voted in the morning, and then I went to teach school. After the school day was over, I stayed late because I was directing the fall play. Rehearsal finished a little after 8:30. I waited until the students left, locked up the school, and got in my car for the half hour drive home. As soon as I turned on the radio, I heard Jimmy Carter giving his concession speech. It was quite a scandal at the time because a television announcer had called the election before the last polls closed on the West Coast, and Carter then conceded immediately.
I was devastated and cried all the way home.
And because of that experience, I'm skipping my pastor's Bible study tonight to stay home and watch the returns. I can't bear the thought of getting in the car at 9:00 and finding out that it has already been decided . . . one way or the other. Michael and I will be glued to our television from 6:00 pm on.
What are you doing this evening?
P.S. Here is one of those very weird "small world" coincidences. I looked up an account of the 1980 election online just to make sure my memory was accurate. The search took me to the blog of a media critic. I read the story and then I looked up at the author of the blog. It's someone I used to attend church with in the 1980s. I worked with his wife, and I even went to their wedding. I'm feeling weirded out. Cue Twilight Zone music here.
17 comments:
I loved and still love Jimmy Carter! He was/is in my estimation, an honest man, a good Christian man and an upstanding person. Probably the only one ...or one of very few who have held the office of President.
I wish we had a choice like that this time.
I waited in line at my little village polling place at 5:55am this morning and was amazed at the turn out, even that early! I made it to work in the nick of time...but voting only took about 20 minutes. I'm proudly wearing my "I voted" sticker on my chest!
great story, Rull.
LOveD Carter too...remember that election well.
The hubby and I will be hosting an election eve party with friends and children. I voted early last week.
This country wasn't ready for Jimmy Carter yet in 1976. To watch him now, to see his open humanitarianism, it's obvious that the political world wasn't where he had the most to offer the world. He has offered so much since then.
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I will be watching the results until I leave for work then watching periodically until I get off work tomorrow morning.
The first time I voted was in 1980 when Reagan ran. I think I ahve the year right..lol
I have a book by Jimmy Carter called The Carpenter's Apprentice...I've admired him ever since I read it. The first election that I ever voted in was when Bill Clinton was running against George Bush.
we will be watching the election returns all evening :)
Loving Carter here, too [and the very talented & intelligent Roselyn]. He was so mistreated, yet his continued love and loyalty to the USA inspires me to keep hope alive too.
No plans for Election Night, just at home checking in from time to time. Maybe participate in some live blogging?
I voted today. It's kind of weird being on the west coast, it's almost like our votes don't count because the race is usually decided before we are even done voting. I pray that God's will be done for America.
:0) Sharon
Carter's election is the first one I remember..I was 6 1/2 when he was elected. (My daughter is now 7, so just about the same age, with this historic election!)
The first presidential election I voted in was GW Bush Sr. vs. Michael Dukakis in 1989. I think I voted for Dukakis...
The first election I voted in was Nixon-Humphrey (1968). I was old enough for Johnson-Goldwater (1964) but I was in the military and not stationed in my home state of Texas, so I was not allowed to vote absentee. My new wife, on the other hand, had spent all of one week in Texas, but she could vote absentee because she was a civilian. I was 19 during the Kennedy-Nixon election in 1960, but you had to be 21 to vote then except in a couple of states.
The first conventions I remember watching were the Eisenhower-Stevenson ones of 1952 and 1956. John Kennedy almost became Stevenson's running mate in 1956 but was edged out by Kefauver when Stevenson threw it open to the delegates. I remember the hole in Adlai Stevenson's shoe. And I remember that he told a reporter on the day after losing to Eisenhower, "I'm too old to cry, and it hurts too much to laugh."
Memories, memories....
And we had just moved to Georgia a year before the Carter election. An old lady I know was in his "Peanut Brigade" in the New Hampshire primary.
Popcorn. I hope you'll have popcorn too. :)
It's fun to watch, to wait!
Hi, Ruth -
I'm taking a break from watching the election returns...Was intrigued and nostalgic about your post. I voted for Carter in 1976, which was the first time I ever voted. To think that was over 30 years ago. Whew!
Take care,
Elizabeth
My sister works for The Carter Center at Emory University. She sometimes has meetings with President Carter. It sounds so weird to hear her say she that. I still can't get used to it.
I was, and am, very fond of Jimmy Carter. As another commenter has said, he was a good and honest man. He shot himself in the foot, as it were, by being too trusting, as several of his advisors were not honorable men.
I have a lovely little book of poetry by Jimmy Carter, "Always A Reckoning and Other Poems (1995)." It's full of treasures.
I haven't turned on the tv all day - I'll just wait and see what happens in the morning...tonight I think I'll read a good book or watch a tear-jerker movie instead of returns. It'll still be the same in the morning whether I am glued to it tonight or not! lol
I turned 18 in 1979 so my first vote was cast for Reagan in 1980.
I liked Jimmy Carter, too. Like you, my natural inclination is towards Democrate type politics because it seems only reasonable to share what we have with those less fortunate and to practise sound environmental policies.
My MIL used to call him Peanut. LOL!
Despite being English and not particularly interested in politics of any colour, I stayed up till nearly three watching the results. It's a truly historic election for sure!
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