A Presidential Memory

When Jimmy Carter was President he sent his elementary-age daughter, Amy, to public school in downtown Washington D. C. A close friend of mine, Verona Meeder, was Amy’s teacher.

Rosalynn Carter occasionally visited her daughter’s classroom and my friend invited me also to come at that time. Abingdon Press had just published a book of mine, Come Children Praise and Pray. I decided to take a copy along and give it to Amy.

After a delightful morning observing the classroom and chatting with Mrs. Carter I presented my book to Amy.

“Is it a mystery?” Amy asked

“Well no–” I started to explain

Amy took the book, glanced at the cover and with a dismissive motion, tossed the book onto a pile of her things on the floor.

It was a critique of the book I did not share with my editor.