OPINION: The persisting connections in NM made by President Carter

The Albuquerque Journal invited readers to share their personal photos and memories of meeting the 39th president.

We thank readers for their submissions and are sharing some of them with you as we remember the life of President Jimmy Carter and his connection to New Mexicans.

John D. Lopez, currently a resident of Bosque Farms, was invited to a political rally for President Jimmy Carter in 1979 , organized by the former ambassador to Spain, Edward L. Romero. Lopez was then-president of the New Mexico Municipal League . The event took place at a Downtown Albuquerque hotel.

JOHN D. LOPEZ

Bosque Farms

I served as New Mexico secretary of state for three terms, 1987-90, 1999-2002 and 2003-06. This photo was taken in 1988 at The Carter Center during the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta.

President Jimmy Carter and The Carter Center hosted a lovely luncheon for the delegates to the national convention. I was 32 years old when I was elected New Mexico secretary of state and took office in 1987, becoming a New Mexico delegate. President Jimmy Carter was a most gracious gentleman. I admired and followed all his work, especially his international work seeking fair elections around the world.

I also observed the presidential elections in Angola, Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Africa and Nicaragua and the presence of President Carter was evident in the background of all those elections.

REBECCA VIGIL

Albuquerque

Two years after leaving New Mexico to join the Foreign Service, I was at the American embassy in London, when we were told that President Carter was making his first overseas trip to attend the third G7 summit in London in May 1977.

At the time my wife, Melinda, and I were housesitting at the ambassador's residence, Winfield House, the 36-room mansion in Regents Park.

Contrary to expectations, Carter decided he wanted to stay at Winfield House instead of the Claridge's hotel, so Melinda and I acted as resident hosts for the president and a few members of the White House staff. Despite being one of the most junior members of the embassy staff, I ended up introducing German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt to the president at Winfield House. I also introduced British stateswoman Margaret Thatcher, then the leader of the opposition, to the president on the following day.

Carter was a most gracious house guest and kindly stopped to chat with Melinda and hold our 2-year-old daughter, Charlotte, for a photo before leaving for Air Force One.

WILL ITOH

Albuquerque

Rymer Hewitt is an editorial writer for the Albuquerque Journal. Readers may contact him at rhewitt@abqjournal.com or at (505) 823-3851.