Journalist James Parker Sheffield captured the moment that the 39th president warmly greeted each and every one of his fellow passengers on board the Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Washington DC on June 8.
Jimmy Carter is on my plane to DC from ATL and just shook every hand of every passenger. #swoon#atl#deltapic.twitter.com/y6otolbhPj
— JamesParkerSheffield (@JayShef) June 8, 2017
Based on my inbox, apparently several parts of the globe were also in need of a warm, human moment by an American president. #JimmyCarter
— JamesParkerSheffield (@JayShef) June 12, 2017
“I was definitely shocked,” said Sheffield, as cited by Fox News. “Who expects a president to be on their commercial flight, let alone making an effort to greet every passenger? Everyone seemed genuinely excited and the overall sentiment was that it was really nice to have that kind of moment where party or politics didn’t matter.”
“He didn’t say much, because he was also trying to be mindful of the flight needing to leave, but that smile said everything for him. He was very authentic in his interaction with each individual,” Sheffield added.
If there’s one today has made me certain of, it’s that Americans are really missing warmth and humility in the Oval Office rn. #JimmyCarter
— JamesParkerSheffield (@JayShef) June 11, 2017
Jimmy always shakes all Democratic, Republican & Independent hands. #JimmyCarter is awesome.
— Smart Jimmy Brigade (@peanut_brigade) June 10, 2017
Now *that* is how a President behaves. Gracious, kind, and humble. https://t.co/MftqM8sEwK
— Marie desJardins (@mariedj17) June 11, 2017
Always loved that guy. Met him once at a book signing. Sweet as he could be. #JimmyCarterhttps://t.co/es58E6X4W8
— Kris Haukoos (@KrisHaukoos) June 12, 2017
Thank you, President Carter, for reminding us what a president who exhibits kindness and grace looks like. https://t.co/yUGi2yYa25
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) June 12, 2017
“It was very apparent that he enjoys interacting with people and was authentically happy to greet us,” Sheffield told People magazine. “You never expect to have a president on your commercial flight, so that in and of itself was surprising. For me personally, it meant a lot because I was headed to DC for Trans Lobby Day. To kickoff going to speak to my elected officials with a handshake from President Carter felt extremely patriotic.”
Carter was flying to DC for the funeral for his former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, according to ABC News.
READ MORE: Zbigniew Brzezinski, US Cold War national security advisor, dies at 89
Not everyone appreciated the former president’s gesture, however.
If I shake the hand of every person on my flight, I have an extremely overdeveloped sense of self-importance. #narcissism#JimmyCarter
— Jordan Thomas (@WyoFire) June 12, 2017
Surprised anyone was interested in shaking his hand. #JimmyCarter
— Beeta Benjy (@BeetaBenjy) June 12, 2017
