December 31st 2024.
In the days following the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, the community of Glencoe has been reflecting on their personal encounters with the 39th president of the United States. One particular memory that stands out for many is when Carter visited Glencoe back in November of 1978. It was a time of great political excitement, as the midterm elections were just around the corner.
Carter's visit was in support of fellow congressman Abner Mikva, and the main event was a private fundraiser held at the home of Newton Minow, a close friend of Mikva's and former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. The event had been planned weeks in advance, and Minow had even asked his three daughters, who were living in different parts of the country at the time, to come home for the occasion.
One of Minow's daughters, Nell, vividly recalls the chaotic scene leading up to the fundraiser. The Secret Service had set up multiple telephone lines and even brought along a bomb-sniffing dog. They had also given specific instructions that Carter would not be eating, but to have a glass of water available in case he got thirsty. Additionally, there was a strict limit on the number of guests allowed inside the home, which posed a dilemma for Minow's mother, Jo. She was receiving numerous requests from her friends to bring their children along to meet the president.
In a stroke of genius, Jo came up with the idea to have the teenagers who were hired to serve the food also serve as waiters for the event. However, the plan didn't go as smoothly as hoped, as the teenagers ended up making quite a mess and dropping most of the hors d'oeuvres. Nell remembers laughing about it now, but at the time, it was quite a chaotic and comical scene.
The event itself went off without a hitch, with Carter speaking highly of Mikva and later appointing him to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Nell also recalls how gracious and kind Carter was to everyone in attendance. She shares a fond memory of how Carter had his arm around her and her sister Martha while posing for a picture. At one point, the photographer ran out of film and had to reload, causing everyone to maintain their pose for a few moments. Nell remembers Carter joking about the situation and making her feel special by saying, "the White House photographer knows to take his time when I am standing between pretty girls."
The original plan was for Carter to leave the Minow house and wave to the large crowd of people gathered outside. However, to the delight of the onlookers, he decided to shake hands with his admirers instead. Among the group of officers tasked with protecting him was Paul Harlow, a detective in Glencoe's public safety department at the time. He recalls the intense responsibility of ensuring the president's safety as he walked down the line of people, scanning for any potential threats.
Harlow had worked closely with the Secret Service beforehand to plan his position and keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior in the crowd. He reflects on the excitement and nervousness he felt being so close to the president, saying, "it was an interesting evening."
Overall, Carter's visit to Glencoe was a memorable and thrilling experience for everyone involved. It was a time of great political significance, and the community was honored to have the opportunity to interact with the 39th president of the United States.
The passing of former President Jimmy Carter has sparked memories for many Glencoe residents, past and present, as they reflect on their personal encounters with the 39th president of the United States. One such encounter took place in November 1978, when Carter visited Glencoe for a fundraiser in support of then-Congressman Abner Mikva, right before the midterm elections.
The day began with Carter addressing a public rally at Niles East High School in Skokie, which has since closed down. From there, the group made their way to Glencoe, where a private fundraiser was held at the home of Newton Minow, former chairman of the FCC and a close friend of Mikva. This event had been planned weeks in advance and even the Minow daughters were asked to return home from different parts of the country to attend.
Nell Minow, one of Minow's daughters, recalls the chaos leading up to the fundraiser. The Secret Service had set up 17 telephone lines and even brought along a bomb-sniffing dog for security measures. They also instructed the Minow family that the president would not be eating, but to have a glass of water on hand in case he got thirsty. Another strict limitation was placed on the number of guests allowed inside the home, which posed a dilemma for Jo Minow, as she received numerous requests from friends who wanted their children to meet Carter.
In a stroke of genius, Jo came up with the idea to have the teenagers hired as servers instead of the caterers. However, this plan did not go as smoothly as anticipated as the teenagers ended up making a mess and dropping hors d'oeuvres everywhere. Nell fondly recalls the memory with a laugh.
During the fundraiser, Carter stood in a receiving line and spoke highly of Mikva, who would ultimately win the race. He later went on to appoint Mikva to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Nell also remembers Carter's graciousness towards everyone and shares an anecdote that may be viewed differently in today's society.
As the fundraiser came to an end, the Minow family joined Carter, Mikva, and U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson for a photo in the living room. With Carter standing between Nell and her sister Martha, he put his arms around both of them. Nell recalls feeling amazed that the president of the United States had his arm around her. As they were taking the pictures, the photographer ran out of film and had to reload, causing everyone to hold their pose for a few moments. Nell remembers telling the photographer to take his time, to which Carter responded with a laugh, saying "the White House photographer knows to take his time when I am standing between pretty girls."
The original plan was for Carter to leave the Minow house and wave to the large group of people waiting on the Glencoe street. However, Carter decided to take a different route and personally shake hands with his admirers, flanked by his security team. Among this team was Paul Harlow, a detective in Glencoe's public safety department at the time.
Harlow's responsibility was to ensure the safety of the president by looking out for any potential threats in the crowd. He recalls working closely with the Secret Service beforehand to plan his position and keep a watchful eye. Despite the excitement of the evening, Harlow admits to feeling a sense of nervousness due to the level of exposure. He reflects on the experience as being both interesting and nerve-wracking.
President Carter's visit to Glencoe that day was met with great enthusiasm, with throngs of young people turning out to wave and catch a glimpse of him and Congressman Mikva. It was an event that left a lasting impression on both the residents of Glencoe and those who had the privilege of meeting the former president.
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