President Carter received ‘warm welcome’ in metro-east day before election defeat
Former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at age 100, visited the metro-east on Nov. 3, 1980, making it one of his last campaign stops before the election that ended his presidency.
The BND reported that Carter received a “warm welcome” from a crowd at Granite City South High School. He then traveled by motorcade to downtown East St. Louis for a second rally.
“President Jimmy Carter, campaigning in Granite City to win crucial Illinois votes, bathed himself in an overflow of enthusiasm from metro-east Democrats Monday, preaching the doctrine of past Democratic presidents,” BND reporters Stephen Pounds and Barbara Hipsman wrote.
“I’d like to remind you how the working families will feel if Wednesday we wake and find a Republican in the White House,” Carter told supporters. “Let’s not let that happen.”
But it did happen.
Former California Gov. Ronald Reagan defeated Carter on Nov. 4, 1980, in what was widely characterized as a “landslide.”
Carter’s campaign had struggled to overcome reports of rising unemployment, double-digit inflation, an energy “crisis” and a failed U.S. military attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran.
The campaign’s main focus on the Monday before Tuesday’s election was getting out the Black and blue-collar vote.
“There’s not enough (Republicans) to win,” Carter said in Granite City. “But there is a way the Democrats could lose — by not going out — to make sure we have a victory.”
Carter told the crowd that his administration’s efforts to revitalize the steel industry had led to an Environment Protection Agency agreement with Granite City Steel that would allow expansion.
While Carter campaigned in southern Illinois, Vice President Walter Mondale spoke at a rally in Springfield. He expressed appreciation for the support of U.S. Sen. Alan Dixon (D-Illinois), who introduced him.
“A Carter-Mondale aide, however, said Dixon’s involvement in the general election push had been a sore spot since the Belleville Democrat didn’t want to become involved in the Carter-Mondale campaign against Ted Kennedy in the primary,” the BND reported.
Carter served as the country’s 39th president, from 1977 to 1981, and later worked on many diplomatic and humanitarian projects.
In February 2023, Carter’s family announced that he had decided to forgo additional medical treatment and spend the rest of his time at home under hospice care. His wife, Rosalynn, died Nov. 19, 2023, at age 96 after being diagnosed with dementia and going into hospice.
On Nov. 3, 1980, Carter was awakened at 5 a.m. by the White House switchboard operator, according to his official “daily diary.” He started his workday making phone calls and meeting with officials.
Here’s the rest of the president’s schedule that day:
- 9:27 a.m. — Carter left from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and flew on Air Force One to an airport in Akron, Ohio.
- 10:32 a.m. — A rally commenced with Mondale introducing the president.
- 11:12 a.m. — Carter flew to St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
- 11:53 a.m. (Central Standard Time) — He was greeted by U.S. Rep. Melvin Price (D-Illinois); David Robinson, Democratic Congressional candidate for the 20th district; Christ Costoff, chairman of the Madison County Democratic Party; Bruce Cook, Illinois State Democratic Central Committeeman and Belleville attorney; and members of the press.
- 12:03 p.m. — Carter traveled by motorcade to Granite City South High School.
- 12:36 p.m. — He began his speech, which lasted about 20 minutes.
- 1:05 p.m. — The motorcade headed to downtown East St. Louis for a second rally; Carter was accompanied by Mayor Carl Officer.
- 2 p.m. — The president boarded Air Force One and flew to Springfield, Missouri, where he was introduced at a third rally by U.S. Sen. Tom Eagleton.
Carter later made stops in Detroit and Portland, Oregon, before ending his campaign in Seattle.
The next day, Americans elected Reagan president with a vote of 43,642,639 to 35,480,948. Carter won six states and the District of Columbia and only 49 of 538 Electoral College votes.
“I promised you four years ago that I would never lie to you, so I can’t stand here and say it doesn’t hurt,” he said in his concession speech.
This story was originally published December 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
