Every day is opening night.

LOOK TO THE RAINBOW

Ladies and gents,

This week, we tip our hats and bow our heads in remembrance of President Jimmy Carter, a man whose quiet integrity and humble leadership seem more necessary now than ever. In an era when shouting matches masquerade as policy and self-interest often trumps service, Carter remains the 24k gold standard of kindness, decency, and that rarest of political commodities: a clear moral compass.

Perhaps no contemporary writer understood Carter’s spirit better than Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright, who documented the negotiations that led to the transformative Camp David Accords, first on the stage with his play, Camp David, and then on the page with his nonfiction best-seller, Thirteen Days in September.

Beyond capturing the tense behind-the-scenes dealmaking that Carter brokered, Wright also manages to capture something elemental about Carter’s personality that made him such a unique figure in the world of national politics. Describing his first meeting with the Carters at their home in Plains, Georgia, Wright said, “You [had] to brace yourself for just how modest his circumstances [were] in Plains,” later calling the former president, “immodestly modest.”

I attended the opening night of Camp David at DC’s Arena Stage. Also in attendance: none other than Mr. and Mrs. Carter themselves. The former President and First Lady joined Wright and the cast, including Richard Thomas as President Carter and Hallie Foote as Rosalynn, on stage. President Carter addressed the audience, and called the play, “amazingly good. I couldn’t believe how good it was. The audience just was enraptured.”

Wright, who once said of Carter, “The phrase ‘doesn’t suffer fools’ must have invented for him,” was certainly deemed no fool by the former President.

About his famously short time in office, Wright stated bluntly, “He had terrible luck.” But his more remarkable tenure was his lengthy post-Presidency, as he quietly devoted himself to the work that defined him: building homes for the homeless, eradicating disease, and advocating for human rights across the globe. Through the Carter Center, he touched countless lives, proving that service to others is a lifelong endeavor.

In a world often hungry for decency, Jimmy Carter stood as a beacon of humility and hope. He reminded us that greatness isn’t measured by power but by purpose, not by wealth but by the willingness to lift others. His passing leaves a void, but his legacy shines on—a beacon to guide us through even the stormiest skies.

Instead of Tidbits, this week, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the ongoing devastation taking place in my hometown of Los Angeles. My heavy heart is with all my fellow Angelenos. Please consider making as contribution to the American Red Cross, the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and of the many wonderful animal shelters in the Greater Los Angeles area taking in displaced pets. Every little bit helps to rebuild what’s been lost.

As always, a toast of something sparkling to you and yours!

Kisses,