With tributes and remembrances pouring in from around the world following the death of Former President Jimmy Carter at age 100, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner recalled meeting Carter in the 1970s.
“Most people will remember Jimmy Carter for his exceptional humanitarian endeavors during his post presidency. Â I will remember our former president not only for the good deeds he did during his lifetime but also because of a brief interaction I had with him before he became president in 1974 or 1975,” Feiner said. “I was the chairman of the Teen Democrats of Westchester and coordinator of the Task Force for Bikeways in Westchester. The Westchester County Democratic Committee was holding their annual fundraising dinner, which I attended. Governor Jimmy Carter was the speaker. He was a little-known governor, a presidential candidate who most activists did not take seriously at that time.
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“Fortunately, for me, most of the attendees at the dinner were more interested in a Democratic Party leadership contest. There wasn’t a line of people who were interested in chatting with the  little known guest speaker who wanted to be president during the cocktail hour,” Feiner recalled. “I went up to Governor Carter, introduced myself and to my surprise had a nice conversation that lasted about 10 minutes. That 10-minute conversation I had with Jimmy Carter made a great impression on my life. The governor had time to speak to a teenager – to make the teen feel important. He looked me in the eye when he spoke, gave me undivided attention, didn’t try cutting our conversation short and he asked me about myself. I left the dinner excited, feeling good about politics and governing and very inspired. It was the first time a Governor of any state or national political figure ever talked to me. He made me feel that my opinions were deserving of respect. He was a good listener.”
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Feiner said that he learned an important lesson from Jimmy Carter: to treat everyone with respect and that even short interactions with young people can encourage our youth to become informed, active, and engaged citizens.
“Jimmy Carter could have spent that evening only talking to wealthy potential donors or prominent political leaders,” Feiner said. “He spent quality time with me at the dinner – I will never forget that experience and have tried to treat students who now call me no differently than how Jimmy Carter treated me.”
