President Jimmy, A True River Hero
Reflecting on the former President’s river legacy, on his passing at age 100
Jimmy Carter loved rivers. He grew up fishing as a child in Georgia, and later in life became an avid paddler. As Governor of Georgia, Carter was instrumental in securing protections for the Chattahoochee River. As President, he played a key role in strengthening the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and securing federal protection for the Chattooga River. Carter also ensured a legacy of healthy, free-flowing rivers by vetoing construction of the harmful Sprewell Bluff Dam on the Flint River in Georgia, and other unnecessary, destructive dams across the country.
In 2018, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and to highlight President Carter’s leadership and connection to the Chattooga, American Rivers produced the film The Wild President with our partners at NRS.
The Wild President
President Jimmy Carter grew up in awe of nature’s wonder. But it wasn’t until he first paddled the Chattooga River that he understood the power and majesty of a wild, free-flowing river.
Below are some quotes from the interview that we did with President Carter for the film, that did not make it into the final production. These words share additional insight on Carter’s connection to rivers and his commitment to their protection:
On his love of fishing:
“I was an avid fisher from my boyhood days…some of the most vivid memories of my childhood is going fishing with my father who was also an excellent fisherman. Back then it was all warm water because we lived in South Georgia. And it wasn’t until I became Governor in the 1970’s that I began to learn about flyfishing on the Chattahoochee River.”
On his values:
“My motivation I think was trying to preserve as much as I could of the beauty of God’s world. Based on my early religious feelings and the heritage that I got from my father and others who would try and do the same thing from a sportsman’s point of view… still, you know, being on a trout stream which is always lovely, the water’s always pure, the environment’s always conducive to preservation or protection, that’s still some of the most awe inspiring experience I’ve ever had.”
On the photo of Bull Sluice Rapid (taken when he was Governor):
“I think people who are explorers and innovators and wildlife experts like Claude Terry [Note: Claude Terry was one of the founders of American Rivers] were a little bit skeptical at first because the Governor actually wanted to ride in the canoe and go down this precipitous falls in the Chattooga River. So, Claude Terry kind of adopted me as one of his students and I learned all I could about handling a canoe and then handling a kayak. And Bull Sluice was a double waterfall, each one was about 5 or 6 feet high, and it precipitated down, and to go down Bull Sluice in an open canoe had never been accomplished. So, Claude and I decided we’d try it. And we actually made it successfully, we only had about 4 inches of freeboard left when we got to the bottom of a thing but that photograph became very famous…since we were the first ones to go down Bull Sluice.”
On vetoing proposals to build harmful dams:
“I vetoed I think 16 different dam projects all over the United States which aroused a great deal of animosity and also condemnation among members of Congress and Chambers of Commerce and so forth. But I tried to maintain as close as I could my commitment that these dams were unnecessary and counterproductive for the future and well- being of American citizens.”
On the power of wild rivers:
“I think that the Chattooga was the first time I ever risked my life, I’d say, in going down a wild river. And I think it gave me an element of both satisfaction and a sense of you might say heroism in confronting the awe- inspiring power of the Chattooga River when I had a major responsibility as a Governor of a state…So I was more deeply immersed in the extreme advantages of wild rivers like the Salmon River which is called the River of No Return as well as those in Alaska and also the Chattooga in Georgia than I ever had before. So, it kind of opened my eyes to a relationship between a human being and a wild river that I had never contemplated before that.”
On his hope for future river protections:
“I think it’s very important for all Americans to take a stand, a positive stand, in protecting wild rivers and scenic areas. I hope that all Americans will join together with me and others who love the outdoors to protect this for our children and our grandchildren.”
