I wonder how many hands Jimmy Carter shook over the course of his 100 years. I encountered him twice. The first time was via an interview for Publishers Weekly, where I worked in 2012. It was by phone, so no handshakes could be exchanged. The subject was two religious books he was authoring, one of which was a Bible: NIV, Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter. He told me he drew from his Sunday school lessons to develop the commentary he wrote, and we talked about prayer and faith. The interview is archived behind a paywall, so I’ll cite some of my favorite remarks by Carter. When I asked him if he had a favorite biblical passage or story, he said he liked the Gospel of John because it was emotional. Then he added, “I also like ‘Be ye kind to one another, forgiving one another.’” (Eph. 4:32). He also talked about his difficulties with praying: “It has been hard for me to pray. I prayed more when I was president than any other time. I prayed more the year the hostages were held by Iranians than at any other time. I think that’s the most fervently and frequently that I prayed.” Carter was 87 that year.

In 2015, I had to get up pretty early in the morning to report on a book signing at the Seminary Coop Bookstore in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. The Secret Service expected the press to show up at 7:30 a.m. for a noon signing; they were checking the premises early. The press included three middle schoolers from a program for talented students from families with limited economic means. These kids had done their homework on Carter, and were given the privilege of being first in a very long line when Carter arrived punctually at noon. I ended up not with an interview but a blog post which included a picture of three smart middle schoolers quizzing the former president, who was then 90. I also got a signed copy of A Full Life, a memoir that is one of 32 books he wrote.

Rest in power, Mr. President.