Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
I’m grateful we live in a country where a peanut farmer can be elected president and a fellow from Georgia can come to Omaha and be received so warmly on a beautiful autumn morning.
By Micah Mertes
On Sept. 22, 1987, Jimmy Carter came to Creighton University.
The 39th President was in town for a few events — one a Creighton-sponsored lecture at the Omaha Civic Auditorium, the other a Q&A “Conversation with Jimmy Carter” in the Kiewit Fitness Center. Thousands of Creighton students, faculty and staff attended one or both events.
Rosemary Villanueva-Delaney, BA’89, was the Creightonian photographer tasked with getting pictures of Carter’s visit, and she knew it was an assignment she’d never forget. But just in case, she kept the print of her favorite picture of Carter, along with all the photo negatives of the shots she took that day.
In light of Carter’s declining health, Villanueva-Delaney recently got her old photos out and reflected on her memories of the former President’s visit.
“I remember being so impressed with him as a person,” she says. “He just seemed like such a regular, genuine kind of guy. Regardless of what side of the political fence you might be on, you can see that he is a man who wants to be the best he can be and wants everyone else to be their best, too.
“And when you look at his history of humanitarian work and his dedication to community service, you see why he was such a good person to bring to the University. He’s truly lived a life of service.”
At the Kiewit Fitness Center event, Carter answered student questions on a wide range of topics: financial aid, the trade deficit, his anti-Teflon presidency (“I was a Velcro president).
He told students he was satisfied by everything he had achieved or attempted to achieve during his term. Post-presidency, he continued to ask two questions of himself every day:
“What can I do to enhance my greatness as a human being, as measured by God? How can I make my country great?”
Earlier that morning, Carter had spoken at the Omaha Civic Auditorium for the John P. Begley breakfast lecture sponsored by Creighton’s College of Business Administration (as it was then called). An estimated 1,700 people were at the breakfast.
(An amusing aside: Leading up to his lecture, Carter spent the night in the Creighton law school apartments. When Carter’s staff told Brother Frank T. Jelinek, SJ, superintendent of buildings and grounds, that Carter’s apartment was too cold, the lovably gruff Jesuit said, “Tell him to put on a blanket.”)
In his coverage of the Carter visit, Lincoln Journal Star political reporter Don Walton wrote that the former President seemed content, happy.
“I enjoyed the challenges of the presidency,” Carter said. “But our life is much more relaxed now.”
Carter received standing ovations before and after the Begley lecture event, during which Creighton President the Rev. Michael Morrison, SJ, presented Carter with an honorary doctor of laws degree for his work in promoting human rights and international peace.
(Carter wasn’t the only former President to receive an honorary degree from Creighton.)
Upon receiving the honor, Carter said:
“I’m grateful we live in a country where a peanut farmer can be elected president and a fellow from Georgia can come to Omaha and be received so warmly on a beautiful autumn morning.”
