Rocking the White House
In 1976, Jimmy Carter stood behind the podium at the Democratic National Convention in New York City and put forth a message of hope to a country still reeling from the effects of Watergate, Richard Nixon’s resignation, and the Vietnam War. “I have never had more faith in America than I do today,” he said. “We have an America that, in Bob Dylan’s phrase, is busy being born, not busy dying.”
Politicians don’t typically quote rock stars, but dropping Dylan’s name in front of a nationwide audience was perfectly in line with Carter, who not only admired musicians but also considered (airing in January on CNN and available for streaming now), a touching love letter that explores how musicians played a key role in getting a peanut farmer from South Georgia into the White House, as well as Carter’s belief in the power of music to bring people together and create change.
