In Memoriam: Former President Jimmy Carter

We remember former President Jimmy Carter through a slightly different lens-- through the eyes of a longtime friend and through the portraits of Carter that are housed here at the National Portrait Gallery.

Political aide Jack Watson met Carter 10 years before he became president. He found a farmer in work clothes driving a Chevy and quoting philosophy. Over their long friendship and while serving as chief of staff, Jack came to appreciate Carter as a man who was willing to take "bitter medicine" to do what he felt was right for his country.

Jack describes a huge Polaroid portrait of Carter by the landscape photographer Ansel Adams, and he also explains why a softly lit painting depicting Carter in the Oval Office is not one of his favorites.

See the portraits we discussed:

Jimmy Carter, by Ansel Adams
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, by Ansel Adams
Jimmy Carter, by Robert Templeton

Other portraits in the collection:

Jimmy Carter, by Richard Avedon
Jimmy Carter, by Alan Reingold (Time magazine)
Jimmy Carter, by Andy Warhol