Jimmy Carter 1924-2024. Plus Rabbits and Fish.

I was going to keep posting light over the holidays and early January, with an ‘in and out’ list and things in that vein. But Jimmy Carter’s passing certainly occasions mention. First, though, in case you missed it, here’s the Eduwonk holiday book list (good books for any time of year) and the year-end Wonkyfolk.

The conventional wisdom is that Carter was a better ex-president than president. There is certainly some truth to that given all he, and his wife, did for others after he left office and the challenges the country faced during his single term. Yet his accomplishments in The White House generally get short shrift. (And the hostage story is more complicated than the popular narratives.)

This 74 interview with Carter aide Greg Schneiders from 2020 (Greg sadly left us unexpectedly in 2024) highlights some of what Carter accomplished. While peace in the Mideast remains elusive and the circumstances on the ground have changed since the interview, Carter contributed there. If you like jetting around for quick weekend getaways or cheap air travel in general, thank Carter who deregulated the airlines. And if you get cheap goods then thank him for doing the same with trucking. This Reason interview with Nobel Laureate economist Vernon Smith discusses those issues in more depth.

Carter also established the Department of Education. Yes, it was payback to the powerful National Education Association. But it’s also an important agency. I’m continually astounded at how many people poor mouth our national educational competitiveness and then call for abolishing the department – sometimes in the same breath. Sure, the department is long overdue for some reform to better align its operations with today’s educational realities and government bureaucracies are challenging. But any sort of national competitiveness and economic mobility strategy demands cabinet level leadership and coordination on the issue. President Trump wants to bring manufacturing back to our shores. That’s a great goal. But who is going to do all that high-skill work?

In any event, they say you are influenced by the presidents in your formative years. If that’s the case perhaps it’s why I have a strong affinity for decency and people-first politics as well as for The Allman Brothers.

Jimmy Carter lived a great American life and we’re better for it.

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On a lighter note, there was also the killer rabbit episode. A funny story, even funnier in the retelling by Carter hands. The Onion offers a reminder of its old fastball.

Carter was out fishing when the rabbit attacked. And Carter’s ‘adultery in my mind’ comment to Playboy had an impact on the campaign and politics more generally. So in that spirit, and to start 2025, here’s some fish porn: Education maverick Steve Rees with a beautiful striper caught late this past fall off the New Jersey coast.

Here for the Carter content and ‘Friday fish, wait, what did you say?’ Yes. Here are hundreds of pictures of education types with fish in this one of a kind archive, that also includes Fish Pics as appropriate. And it’s always fish pics if you get Eduwonk via Substack to keep emails out of the filters.

Best wishes for a peaceful and happy 2025 filled with whatever brings you joy.