Judge Bieda remembers President Jimmy Carter

WARREN — In the mid-1980s, when former U.S. President Jimmy Carter came to Warren to discuss his book “The Blood of Abraham,” Steve Bieda attended the event at the now closed Warren Chateau Hall, located on 10 Mile Road near Mound Road.

“He gave a great account of the Middle East and the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. It was an interesting discussion,” said Bieda, who sat at a table about 30 feet away from where Carter spoke. “He approached the subject with an analytical and historic sense that tied all three religions together. I was fascinated.”

Bieda noticed something else about the Georgia native, who had “really minimal” Secret Service protection during his visit.

“He was just a very gracious person. It was an honor to meet him. He greeted everyone,” said Bieda, a judge in Warren’s 37th District Court. “He was very gracious with the waitstaff. He treated everyone as an equal. I appreciate small things like that. I was kind of impressed to see that with a former president.”

Bieda is among those remembering the 39th president. According to the Carter Center website, cartercenter.org, Carter died Dec. 29 at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. He was 100 years old. The Carter Family released a statement at cartercenter.org on the former president’s legacy.

“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” Carter’s son Chip Carter said in a prepared statement. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”

As president, the Democrat served one term from 1977-81. He was elected commander-in-chief at a time in which the country faced high inflation, an energy shortage and the Iran Hostage Crisis. Carter ran for a second term, but was defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980, with 49 electoral votes to Reagan’s 489 electoral votes.

“He had quite a huge rise and an equally huge fall,” Bieda said.

But Carter recovered, and Bieda believes he will be best remembered for his post presidency accomplishments. In 1982, Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter opened the Carter Center, a nonprofit organization that focused on human rights, peace and health for citizens around the world. The former first lady died in 2023. Carter — who won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize — also spent much of his time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.

“He’s the greatest former president. I think a lot of people will always picture him with a hammer working on a house,” Bieda said. “I think he’ll be defined by his dedication to human rights as well as his public service. I found him to be an honest person. I was always impressed by the man who kind of lived his faith.”

Bieda, a Warren Democrat who held seats in both the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, crossed paths with Carter on two other occasions. He met him, Rosalynn Carter and former President Bill Clinton and former First Lady Hillary Clinton at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

“At the convention, we shook hands and said ‘hello.’ It was interesting to see him close up. I had a little bit of time to talk to him. I told him I was inspired to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity because of his example. He was pleased with that,” Bieda said. “He smiled, and he looked pretty healthy and pretty robust. He was just a really nice man, very down-to-earth. He made you really comfortable talking with him.”

Bieda saw Carter again when the former president, just before his 90th birthday, spoke in September 2014 at Grand Rapids Community College as part of the school’s Diversity Lecture Series. That year, Carter released his book, “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power,” which he autographed for Bieda.

“He struck me as a very strong person for his age. I was just impressed the last time I saw him with the rigorous schedule he was keeping,” Bieda said. “It’s just remarkable he lived to be 100. What a blessing that is and how rare that is. I always liked him. It’s sad to see someone like that go.”