January 5th 2025.
Rick Jasculca has been involved in the world of politics for almost 50 years, with a special connection to former President Jimmy Carter. Sadly, Carter passed away on December 29 at the remarkable age of 100. As a 77-year-old resident of River Forest, Jasculca had one final task to fulfill for his dear friend.
Jasculca, along with three of his four children, played a significant role in planning and organizing the state funeral for Carter. He shared, "He and Rosalynn were not just a part of my life, but they were a vital part of my family's life as well." As a co-founder of Jasculca Terman, a prominent strategic communications firm in Chicago, Jasculca and his family have been involved in Carter's endeavors for many years. In fact, three of his four children regularly accompanied him on trips for the Carter Center.
It all started in 1975 when Jasculca's friend, Lou Lerner, who was actively involved in Democratic Party politics, offered him a life-changing opportunity. Lerner told Jasculca that he had the chance to work for the next president of the United States. Jasculca, already experienced in political campaigns, was curious and asked, "Who are you talking about?" When Lerner responded with "Jimmy Carter," Jasculca had to admit, "Who the heck is Jimmy Carter?" He had never heard of the former governor of Georgia, who was then launching his campaign for president. But Jasculca accepted the offer and began doing advance work for the Carter campaign. Initially, he focused on Rosalynn Carter's campaign stops, but also had the opportunity to work with Jimmy Carter. When Carter won the 1976 presidential election, Jasculca continued to assist with advance work for the next four years, including trips to Japan, Rome, and the Vatican.
Reflecting on his time with Carter, Jasculca recalled how down-to-earth and punctual he was. He also admired Carter's ability to connect with people. After Carter's defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Carters and Jasculca remained in touch. Eventually, his children Aimee, Andrew, and Lauren followed in his footsteps and joined him in public relations work. Together, they continued to do advance work for the Carters' trips through the Carter Center, including numerous trips to Africa. Over the years, the two families became close friends, with Carter becoming a father figure to Jasculca and an additional grandfather to his children. Jasculca admitted, "He became my North Star."
Although Jasculca went on to do advance work for other political figures such as Bill and Hillary Clinton and Rahm Emanuel, his bond with the Carters remained strong. As time went on, their friendship only grew deeper. Jasculca was amazed by Carter's humility and hardworking nature. He always carried his own suitcase and had a relentless energy that sometimes left Jasculca exhausted. But what stood out to Jasculca was that Carter never forgot where he came from.
As they got to know each other, the Carters also became acquainted with Jasculca's four children. He fondly remembered how they made him feel like a part of their family. Jasculca said, "That is just who they are as a family, and I love them like family." In 1986, the Carters were in Chicago for a Habitat for Humanity project and needed to do laundry. Jasculca's wife, Judy, offered to take their laundry to their home in River Forest and do it for them. But Rosalynn refused and insisted on doing the laundry herself. Jasculca shared, "That's exactly who they were."
In 2010, when Jasculca's wife passed away, the first phone call he received was from the Carters, offering their condolences. He was deeply touched by their gesture, along with the calls he received from President Barack Obama and the Clintons. In 2014, when Jasculca was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Publicity Club of Chicago's annual dinner, Jimmy Carter delivered the keynote speech.
Jasculca believes that the legacy of the Carters will live on through their impactful work. He pointed to their efforts in eradicating Guinea worm disease in Africa and promoting peace and democracy worldwide. He admires their commitment and humanity and believes that is what will be celebrated in Atlanta, Washington, and Plains in the coming week. As a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press, Bob Skolnik perfectly summarized it, "It is their commitment and their humanity which I think is the core of what we will be celebrating."
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