Jimmy Carter's 1979 visit to Thornridge was remembered.

On the morning of October 16, 1979, former President Jimmy Carter arrived at Thornridge High School in Dolton via helicopter. It was a turbulent time for Carter's presidency as his approval ratings were low and the country was facing challenges such as rising inflation and a hostage crisis in Iran. Additionally, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy had just announced his plans to challenge Carter for the Democratic nomination.

Carter, who had recently celebrated his 55th birthday on October 1, had passed away on December 29, 2023 at the age of 100. He had been in hospice care since February 2023, following a series of hospital stays. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, had also passed away in November 2023 while in hospice care.

As Carter approached his 100th birthday, those who had attended his visit to Thornridge High School in 1979 remembered the large crowd and warm welcome that greeted the Georgia native. The high school gym was filled with students, teachers, and community members for a Town Hall meeting, with Carter's daily diary indicating that approximately 2,500 people were in attendance.

Bill Bero, who was the editor of the Sun-Journal newspaper at the time, described the scene as "surreal" with an overwhelming crowd packed into the gym. The event was invitation-only, but Thornridge sophomore Richard Lanting was able to shake hands with Carter and newly elected Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne as they arrived at the school.

Lanting, who now lives near Champaign, recalled the experience as "really cool" and was grateful for the opportunity to shake the president's hand. Inflation was at a staggering 14%, and homebuyers were facing high mortgage rates. Carter's approval rating had sunk to 28% that July, according to the Gallup Organization.

Byrne, who had been elected just a few months prior, was not a supporter of Carter and would go on to back Kennedy in the primaries. However, she was present to greet Carter and Byrne along with other local officials such as U.S. Rep. Marty Russo, District 205 Superintendent William Augustus, and Thornridge Principal Salvatore Salato.

During the Town Hall meeting, which was broadcast live on Chicago TV stations, Carter fielded questions about the economy, inflation, and the possibility of implementing wage and price controls. He spoke for over an hour, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to reduce its reliance on overseas oil and instead focus on increasing domestic energy production through the use of solar and synthetic fuels and energy conservation.

Carter also encouraged families to have discussions about how they could decrease their energy use, stating that "the more we save, the better off we all are." He outlined his plans to use coal and solar energy, as well as smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil. He also mentioned the development of an experimental electric vehicle that could travel 100 miles on a single charge.

John Viero, a freshman at the time, was able to attend the Town Hall meeting with his parents, who had tickets through his father's work for Russo's campaign. Viero described the meeting as "very energetic" and noted the genuine enthusiasm for Carter and the event.

Reflecting on the event, Bero remembered Carter as "friendly and warm" and said he "exuded warmth" throughout the meeting. Scott Kuzminski, who was a freshman at Thornridge before transferring to Mount Carmel High School, also attended the meeting and wrote a report for his school newspaper. He described the reception as "extremely warm" and noted that people were "just so happy" that Carter had come to their school.

After the Town Hall meeting, Carter and Byrne were driven to the Harvey Holiday Inn, where they met with Cook County Democratic officials. He then addressed a crowd of about 110 people before returning to Thornridge and departing on Marine One for a flight to O'Hare International Airport.

Viero, who was among the crowd waiting for Carter's return, recalled watching the helicopter take off and described the experience as a "really neat memory." However, despite the warm reception at Thornridge, the general election in 1980 would prove to be a difficult one for Carter. High inflation, gas prices, and a failed rescue attempt of hostages in Iran ultimately led to his defeat to Ronald Reagan.

Looking back on Carter's visit to Thornridge, Lanting believes that the former president "did so much for a lot of people" after leaving the White House, while Kuzminski considers him to be "very good" as a president and appreciated his work with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Viero also noted that Carter may not have been dealt the best hand during his presidency, but he still sees him as a genuinely good person.

In the end, despite the challenges faced during his presidency, Carter's visit to Thornridge High School remains a fond memory for those who were in attendance. As the years go by, the event may look different from the large rallies seen today, but for those who were there, the warmth and energy of that day in 1979 will always be remembered.

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