Democrat from Mahanoy City recounts meetings with Jimmy Carter

Feb. 22—MAHANOY CITY — James Goodman Sr. has fond memories of fellow Democrat Jimmy Carter, whom he met four times.

Goodman, 86, of Mahanoy City, served as a state legislator in Harrisburg for seven terms in the 1960s and '70s.

"I thought he was a very sincere, honest and well-meaning president," Goodman said.

Carter, 98, is in hospice care surrounded by family and friends at his home in Plains, Georgia.

Photos of Goodman meeting Carter at the White House hang in the former lawmaker's Mahanoy City office. A trip with other legislators was the reason for the visit.

Goodman described their interaction as brief.

Carter told him to "stick with me, Jim," because he needed his support.

Goodman also met him on Oct. 1, 1986, at the dedication of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta.

He would visit the library two more times, seeing the former president each time.

Goodman also was a delegate to the 1980 Democratic Convention in Madison Square Garden in New York City, where Carter was nominated for a second term.

Carter went on to be defeated by Ronald Reagan.

Goodman said that Carter, who was elected in 1976 as the 39th president, should be proud of his life.

"He had a few bouts with destiny in the last couple years where it appears he may be passing," Goodman said. "But, you know, I think he will go with the peace of mind that he did his best and he did what he thought was right.

"The rest is left to history."

Other county Democrats also spoke kindly of Carter, although they have not met him.

"I thought he was a good president and a great humanitarian," former Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney said.

Jerry Bowman, president of the Schuylkill Haven Borough Council, also said Carter was a good president.

"I liked him," Bowman said. "He did a lot for human rights."

The gasoline crisis coupled with high inflation, as well as the Iran hostage crisis, hampered Carter's presidency, Bowman said.

"If not for those two things, I think history might have viewed him much more favorably," Bowman said.

Carter is viewed by many, including historians, as an average president.

For example, C-SPAN in 2021 surveyed historians, who ranked Carter 26th. Abraham Lincoln topped the list, while James Buchanan ranked last, according to C-SPAN's website.

Kathy Laughlin Benyak, of North Manheim Twp., a member of the Schuylkill County Democratic Executive Committee, described Carter as "very community minded."

She believes he did more for the country after his presidency because of his advocacy for voting rights, human rights and other causes, including Habitat for Humanity.

"What an awesome person to do that, to want to be that giving," Benyak said.

Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023