It's a rare occasion when all of America's living presidents get together in the same location for a significant occasion.
But it happened during the last week of April when President Barack Obama and his four living predecessors -- George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter -- gathered in Dallas, Texas to mark the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.
Two days after that event, I found myself in a diner in Plains, Georgia sitting across the table from America's 39th president. The timing was fortuitous. Some friends and I, who've become acquainted with the Carters over the years, had a longstanding date to have dinner together in the president and first lady's hometown. So, naturally, I asked about the ex-presidents club.
I expected Carter to have a hard time coming up with something nice to say about George W. Bush, when Carter was required to say a few words at the dedication of Bush's presidential library. But apparently it wasn't the case. I learned the two men had a more cordial relationship than people might think, based largely on Bush 43's willingness to endorse Carter's approach on several significant African issues.
I also learned that Carter likes and respects George Bush, the father, very much, calling him "my favourite president," in large part because Bush 41 treated Carter with respect after his presidency was over. For example, Bush provided Carter with national security briefings, which ex-presidents are entitled to (Ronald Reagan, apparently, rarely did that for Carter).
Carter and Bush 41 are just six months apart in age, but Carter clearly is in much better shape. It was a frail Bush 41 who attended his son's ceremony, managed to get just a few words of greetings out, then asked "was that okay?" after he was done. It was sweet, but difficult to watch at the same time. Rumours out of Texas suggested Bush 41 nearly died several months ago; his health has been that precarious.
In any event, here are two clips from our dinner with Jimmy Carter. And, yes, you'll have to listen carefully because we weren't the only ones in the diner and there were several conversations going on at the same time.
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