Leatrice Russ-Glenns: Voting for Jimmy Carter, Arkansas

Between December 2019 and January 2020 (just weeks before the pandemic), Smithsonian staff and their storytelling partners at the Peale, Baltimore, traveled to multiple states in the U.S. to ask residents of those states about voting experiences, the current state of American democracy, what issues brought them to the polls, how they made a difference in their communities, and what Americans' civic responsibilities were, among other complex questions.

Leatrice Russ-Glenns (00:04): I am so intrigued as I look back at my voting history. I remember the first actually election that I voted in was in 1976 when Jimmy Carter was campaigning. I remember thinking I really, really, really believed in his platform. So I remember I wasn't active necessarily in the election process or campaign, but his values to bring people together just kind of connected with my values as a citizen of this country, this nation, and to have experienced actually some of the things that he was really, really strongly committed to.

(01:07): So I remember, I said, "Well, I'm going to vote." Actually, that was my first time voting because I was now an adult, a real adult then. So I remembered that was really a memorable experience for me. Then of course I had another memorable experience. I was PTA president at Chelsea Clinton's school. So as a result, I knew Chelsea and I had a firsthand up close and personal opportunity to speak with now former president Bill Clinton. My biggest campaign was to get my son to the inauguration.

(01:54): So my son was able to attend the inauguration, and of course as a student, they did some very, very interesting projects for the campaign of President Bill Clinton. So I really, really, really think those are the two most memorable experiences I've had. I've matured a lot along the way and I've realized that my input, my participation in helping people understand what the importance of voting and of getting out there, that one vote, my one vote does count.

Asset ID: 2023.02.10.a-b
Themes: 1976, Jimmy Carter, Elections, First-time Voting, Platforms, Values, Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Inaugurations, PTA
Date recorded: December 4, 2019
Length of recording: 0:02:31
Related traveling exhibition: Voices and Votes: Democracy in America
Sponsor or affiliated organization: Arkansas Humanities Council, Little Rock
More information or related assets: https://arkansashumanitiescouncil.org/voices-votes-democracy-in-america/