Louise Shaffer

Roger and I met First Lady Rosalynn Carter at a crossroads in West Virginia. Our shiny new stretch limo – it was slightly smaller than the Queen Mary -- stopped on one side. The not so shiny, and definitely not new, brown car of some brand I don’t remember – I’ve never understood cars – stopped across the way. Roger said we were catty corner from each other. We were in West Virginia for a PR event and Rog, a proud son of the south, had been getting folksier by the minute. But I’m digressing.

I was to be a Grand Marshall of a parade which was taking place in this lovely small town. Mrs. Carter was there to campaign for her husband who was running for a second term. She would be delivering a speech. I’d be hanging around trying to project glamour. We got out of our cars and met in the middle of the two roads.

“Louise, Roger, good morning,” she said. The smile was so real, the eyes were so warm; the soft, but somehow strong, voice was so familiar. And for some reason I remember how straight and tall she stood. She had to be exhausted; she was flying around the country to events like this, but that spine was made of steel. She shook our hands. It was surreal.

I started babbling about how much I loved her husband and how much I wanted him to have four more years. At my side, Roger stood star struck and frozen. Mrs. Carter turned the smile on him and defrosted him by asking about his two sons. She knew both their names. After a few minutes of chatting about his favorite subject, my totally besotted Roger blurted that we’d love to help the campaign. Mrs. Carter thanked him warmly, but I figured she was just being polite.

Not so. The lady with the spine and the smile – and the incredible charm – remembered. And we found ourselves running around Massachusetts with a sheet of talking points. Later on, when we were in Washington on another ABC event, we were invited to lunch at the White House Mess. And today, in place of pride on my fridge, there is a card wishing Roger and Louise happy holidays. It is signed by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. I still wish with all my heart that he’d won.

Rest in peace Mrs. Carter.