Jimmy Carter and Jonathan Demme...together! [View All]

[reichstag911]

I just met Demme last night at a Jimmy Carter book signing in Glenview, IL. He's apparently working on a documentary dealing with the subject of Middle East peace. He was wearing a badge that had "PEACE" on it, then under that, what appeared to be the Hebrew and Arabic translations for "peace." He was walking through the line holding a small digital camcorder and talking to the people about Carter's new book and why they'd come out to see the ex-president.

Having seen a small band of Israel-right-or-wrong protesters out in front of the store ("Terrorists love Jimmy Carter," "Carter: America's Worst President," etc.), I sidled up to Mr. Demme and told him, sotto voce, that he'd missed the little right-wing freak show out in front. He asked me what happened and if they were still out there; I informed him that the local police had removed the protesters from the private property to the sidewalk, from which they realized the futility of their attempt at protest and dispersed. I then complimented him on his body of work, and he responded with a big smile and a gracious "thank you very much." Classy guy.

As for Jimmy, he was, as always (I've met him at four of his book signings now), gracious, kind, conversational, and just plain great. He signed 10 of his new book for me and 21 of his backlist books, despite the fact that the Costco had said he'd only sign the new book. He asked me what I did -- I told him I was a collector (and seller) of signed, collectible books, having found myself unsuited to corporate America, despite my college background in accounting and management. He went on to discuss his switch to politics from his background in nuclear physics, to which I responded with my knowledge of his time in the Navy on nuke subs. He then mentioned that he thinks his new book will wind up being the biggest seller of all his books, and said he's got another one in the pipeline. When I mentioned it was the fourth time I was seeing him, he told me he looks forward to seeing me next year when the new one comes out and he tours for it. All around, a very interested and interesting man, and certainly the most thoroughly honorable man to serve as president in my lifetime.