The essence of power is a towel

Written by
Wednesday, 08/01/2025

Editor’s note: This story originally ran in The Smoky Mountain News in November 2018 following Politics Editor Cory Vaillancourt’s trip to Georgia to meet President Jimmy Carter.  The former president died Dec. 29, 2024.

There, in Sumter County, Georgia, not far from the Alabama line lies the tiny town of Plains (pop. 784), a most unremarkable place home to a most remarkable man. 

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Godspeed, President Carter

Written by
Tuesday, 07/01/2025

To the Editor:

Not being particularly tearful yesterday (Dec. 29) was a terrible moment for me. It was the day that marked the passing of President Carter, a man of unsurpassed moral integrity.

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