An Ohio Memory: Town Hall Meeting with the 39th President of the United States

Winning a lottery is an exciting event, especially if it is
a lottery to see and hear the President of the United States

In the fall of 1980, I was among the lucky winners
selected in a lottery to attend President Carter's Town Hall Meeting
on Thursday, October 2, 1980 at the Dayton Convention Center.

The night before the meeting, I was filled with a sense of
anticipation. So much so, I dreamed I missed seeing the
President altogether.

In preparation for this, perhaps once in a life time
experience, my husband graciously recommended that I carry a
small handbag to hasten the inspection that would be required to
enter the Convention Center. This advice would indeed prove
helpful.

So with ticket in hand, I went to see the 39th
President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, former Georgia
Governor and naval officer, and peanut farmer.

All ticket holders were expected to be seated between 10:00
and 11:00 A.M. as the President was expected to arrive between
11:30 and noon. Re-entry would not be permitted, for security
purposes, for anyone who left the assembly room.

Once inside and seated, the mood of the audience was also
one of excitement and high anticipation. We had come to see our
President as Americans.

The President's Advance People were busily passing out
cards for questions to be asked by the audience, and taking care
of other duties.

The Presidential Seal majestically adorned the dais, flanked
by Secret Service Agents. Eventually the time came for the
President's appearance, accompanied by "Hail to the Chief."

It is a day I shall long remember. I felt a sense of awe
and pride to be an American as I reflected on the Office of the
Presidency being the most important in the free world.

The Town Hall Meeting had symbolized the best of the
American tradition, an opportunity to see and hear the
President.

Postscript:
Jimmy Carter served as President from 1977 to 1981. This was his
first visit to the Gem City as president. It was a re-election campaign
stop. Dayton Mayor James H. McGee greeted the president at
Wright-Patterson AFB. President Carter lost the presidential election
to Ronald Reagan.