President Carter revisits 1976 campaign for Presidents Day in Plains

PLAINS — A three-day Presidents Day event at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains will culminate Monday with the former president and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter recalling the 1976 presidential campaign, followed by the Carters signing copies of their books.

Carter Site Superintendent Barbara Judy said three days of lectures and book signings, which start Saturday, is the kickoff of the site’s 2016 celebration of the National Park Service’s centennial.

“What an amazing time in history for the general public to experience some rare and deeply rich moments about the 39th president of the United States and his 1976 presidential campaign,” Judy said.

The weekend will start Saturday with historian Dr. Laurence L. Cook, a life-long collector of historic presidential memorabilia who specializes in lesser known facts and personal sides of the presidency. Cook will lecture on “Presidents that have close ties to New York State, Pennsylvania and Georgia” at 11 a.m. in the auditorium of Plains High School Museum and Visitor Center, 300 N. Bond St., Plains.

Cook will answer questions and autograph his book “Presidential Coincidences, Amazing Facts and Collectibles,” which will be available for purchase in the Eastern National bookstore at the Plains center.

Cook will conduct a second book-signing from 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. at the Carter Boyhood Farm in front of the commissary. The farm home is located west of Plains at 402 Old Plains Highway.

On Sunday, Robert Buccellatto, a Floridian author and historian, will conduct a lecture and book signing on his recent works titled “Jimmy Carter in Plains the Presidential Hometown.” Buccellato, a graduate of Florida State University and historian for the Clerk of Courts for Leon County, Fla., will be sharing his inspirational story of how one man and his community influenced an historic election 40 years ago.

Buccellatto’s lecture will be at 2 p.m., also at the Plains High School auditorium. It will be followed by the book-signing.

At 11 a.m. Monday, the National Park Service will observe Presidents Day by having the Carters as its guests. That event also will be at the auditorium of Plains High. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations) and starts at 10 a.m.

Once the center’s auditorium is full, any overflow crowd will be directed to nearby Maranatha Baptist Church, where Carter teaches Sunday school many Sundays, where the event can be seen on livestream video.

The Carters will share with their experiences with the 1976 presidential campaign. It will be followed with a question-and-answer video distance learning session and book signings by the Carters. Each visitor will be able to have up to three books signed, but all books must be authored by Carter or his wife.

The Eastern National Bookstore will have a wide selection of their books available for purchase.

To learn about upcoming events, visit www.nps.gov/jica.

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