Letters to the Editor - 1/2/25

Jimmy Carter — the best president in my lifetime

I get mad when people say, ‘oh Jimmy Carter, a terrible president but a commendable post-president.’ Carter was the most underrated president in my 70-year lifetime. His image was irreparably damaged by the failed attempt of the U.S. military to rescue American hostages held by the Iranian government, bad luck that was not his fault.

President Carter’ presidency deserves high marks because of numerous accomplishments during his single term. Through sheer perseverance against poor odds, he single-handedly used moral suasion, unrelenting persistence, and the position of the presidency to coerce Egypt and Israel to make peace in what are known as the Camp David Accords. He signed the Panama Canal Treaty, which was unpopular with the American people, but rather necessary to prevent continued conflict with Panama, which could have disrupted this vital shipping channel. A lot of people don’t know that it was President Carter who established full diplomatic relations with China. And when Middle Eastern countries increased the price of oil fourteen-fold, leading to rampant inflation, he appointed Paul Volker as Fed chairman, who made the necessary and unpopular decision to increase interest rates to the upper teens to cool down the economy, and ultimately inflation. However, President Reagan, who succeeded Carter, wrongly got the credit for that.

The Inaugural ParadeCourtesy The Jimmy Carter Library

I got to know President Carter about 20 years ago when I helped The Carter Center on one of the President’s health initiatives to eradicate various diseases in Africa. I have a health care background. At that time, he told me to call him Jimmy, which I never did out of respect. I remember sitting with him in his private office in Atlanta, and I was gobsmacked that he knew so much about me, some things that few people other than my family knew. A couple of years later, I had a private dinner with him during which I asked him if he had any regrets about his decisions that led to his defeat by Reagan, preventing him from having a second term. The subject immediately turned to the American hostages held by Iran. He said he could have bombed Tehran and received the strong backing of the American people and Congress for taking such a muscular effort, however he believed that it likely would have led to the loss of the American embassy hostages as well as perhaps ten thousand Iranian civilian lives. He said this was not something he could have done in good faith, even if it meant assuring his reelection.

This decision exemplified the core of who President Carter was. He was inherently a good, decent, and compassionate human being whose strong character, morality, and humility are the anthesis of the vast majority of Washington politicians today. He was willing to make difficult decisions and do the right thing at personal political sacrifice. He was also one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. I could talk to him about anything over the years, and I always felt smarter and more informed afterwards.

It is with great sadness that the passing of President Carter has inevitably arrived. He was a great American patriot in every sense. Good-bye, Jimmy. I will miss you.

Lloyd Baroody

Lakeville


Thanking Salisbury P&Z

I am Kitty Kiefer, a Selectman in Salisbury. I want to publicly, even regionally thank our Planning and Zoning Commission, and Land Use Office in Salisbury for fair, open, honest work—and hours and hours of open meetings over the proposed changes to a property currently for listed sale in town. The town’s website has all documents and recordings of these meetings. I encourage all interested individuals to go to the website for all the information contained therein.

And, may your holidays be filled with civil discourse, joy and good health.

Kitty Kiefer

Salisbury

Selectman

Latest News

Donald Francis ‘Frank’ McNally

MILLERTON — Donald Francis “Frank” McNally Jr., passed away peacefully at Vassar Brothers Medical Center on Wednesday Jan. 8, 2025, after a short illness. Frank was a resident of Millerton since 1996. He was born on Jan. 27, 1955, in Cold Spring, New York, at Butterfield Hospital and was raised in Garrison, New York, where he enjoyed exploring and camping in the wilderness of the Hudson Valley, participating in the Boy Scouts as a bugler, and competing as captain of his high school wrestling team.

He was a graduate of James I. O’Neill High School in Highland Falls class of ‘74 and SUNY Cobleskill class of ‘76 where he majored in animal husbandry, specializing in equine science. He then proudly volunteered for the United States Peace Corps where he accepted an assignment to his host country of the Philippines, where he met his wife. Frank would then pursue his lifelong passion for horses and horseback riding on several horse farms in Dutchess County. Later he would work for New York state where he would then retire, spending his time caring for animals, reading, fishing and taking photographs. Frank enjoyed a good laugh with family and friends, while also occasionally winning a game of RISK. Frank was an avid reader, often reading several books a week while in the constant company of his cat.

Keep ReadingShow less
Florence Eugenia Cooper

NORFOLK — Florence Eugenia Cooper died on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, at the age of 92 at Geer Lodge in Canaan, Connecticut where she had been a resident for 2 ½ years. She also spent a couple of days a week at the home of her daughter, the artist Hilary Cooper and her husband Chris Crowley, in Lakeville.

Florence (neé Muhas) was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Greek immigrants. She went to local public schools and then to college at Barnard where she was mentored by Professor of Religion Ursula Niebuhr, wife of the philosopher Reinhold Niebuhr, who urged her to go to her alma mater St Hugh’s College, Oxford University where she earned a D. Phil degree. Later, she received an M.A. in foreign policy with a specialty in China, at the London School of Economics.

Keep ReadingShow less
Frederick Ralph Scoville II

WEST CORNWALL — Frederick Ralph Scoville II, 72, of 243 Town St., died Jan. 7, 2025, at the Waterbury Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Fred was the husband of 45 years to Lynn (Pollard) Scoville. Fred was born in Torrington, son of the late Ralph and Thalia (Hicock) Scoville.

Fred spent his whole life in West Cornwall. He attended Cornwall Consolidated and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. The only time he left was to attend the University of Connecticut for animal science. After school he came home to work with his father on the family farm taking over full-time in 1996 milking dairy cattle and selling hay. His life passion was the farm. He could always be found tinkering on equipment or surveying the neighborhood on his golf cart. The only thing that rivaled the farm was his love of his family. His wife, sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren meant the world to Fred.

Keep ReadingShow less
Violet Leila Woods

MILLERTON — Violet Leila Woods, 95, passed away peacefully on Jan. 1, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona. She was born on Jan. 23, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York. Following birth, Violet resided in Millerton, New York, where she lived until moving to Jacksonville, Florida following her retirement. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Woods; her parents, Henry George Rice and Eurie Marion Rice; her ten siblings; Audrey, Glendon, Joseph, George, Robert, Gordon, Beulah, Marion, Edith, and Betty. Violet, more commonly known as “Vi” lived a long, fulfilling, and wonderful life spent with family and friends.

Day to day, Violet spent time playing sudoku puzzles and was an avid reader, finding joy in exchanging books with friends. She also found great joy playing bingo, pinnacle, poker, and had a lifelong passion for knitting and crocheting, which she learned from her mother. Many friends or relatives have received sweaters, blankets, and afghans hand-made by Vi. Her handmade gifts truly touched the lives of many.

Keep ReadingShow less