Former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter were recently in Chattanooga and guest at the Kefauver Dinner sponsored by the Hamilton County Democratic Party. During his visit I had a brief moment to speak with President Carter and to thank him for his role in negotiations during the Haiti crisis in 1994. My son, Todd, was serving in the U.S. Army, 82th Airborne at that time.
In 1994, President Clinton asked former President Carter, along with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Colin Powell and Senator Sam Nunn, to try to mediate the government crisis and avoid a U.S. military invasion of Haiti.
As I began my story, President Carter immediately picked it up and stated that 61 planes were on their way from the U.S. to invade Haiti but after successful negotiations, Vice President Al Gore sent word to turn those planes around. After all those years former President Carter had instant recall of the Haiti crisis.
I am so thankful that I had a moment to personally thank President Carter for his role in the Haiti negotiations. I am also thankful that my son proudly served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne of the U.S. Army and was willing to fight for his country.
Brenda Freeman Short, J.D.