Kansas City looks back to Jimmy Carter’s time in the metro

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - With the news of former President Jimmy Carter’s death at 100 years old, KCTV5 News remembers his time in the Kansas City metro fondly.

Former President Jimmy Carter’s son announced on Sunday, Dec. 29, that his father had passed away at his Plains, Georgia, home. While Carter spent time in and out of the hospital over the past year, his cause of death has not been released.

The former peanut farmer who became the 39th U.S. President was most well known for his post-presidency as he rolled up his sleeves and worked with charitable causes.

During Carter’s time in office, between 1977 and 1981, he made several stops in the Kansas City metro. Between speeches at Bartle Hall and shuffling to and from Air Force One, he had time to enjoy Arthur Bryant’s barbecue, but not before Bryant could talk Carter’s ear off.

Amid deals with former Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett and honoring former president Harry S. Truman graveside Carter took time to speak with KCTV5. Only one other local news station in the country was afforded the same opportunity during his tenure.

“Well some of the problems that I face are the same ones that President Truman faced, in 1948 to 1952,” Carter told KCTV5 News. “And I don’t have any doubt that inflation, our nation’s security and the search for peace, dealing with the unemployment question, and improving healthcare - which was a major responsibility of his - will all continue to be responsibilities of my own.”

After Carter’s time in office, he returned to the metro to accept the Harry S. Truman award. An appropriate award for a man who was known for his service to the public for his entire life.

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