Contemporary political leaders often bemoan the complicated challenges they face, such as persistent high unemployment, uncertainty in the Middle East, China's increasing power and volatile oil prices.

But former President Jimmy Carter offered some historic perspective Wednesday night in a talk for about 450 Duke Alumni and friends at Atlanta's Carter Center.

Carter took office in 1977 when the country still was reeling from a deep mistrust of public institutions following the Watergate scandal, ongoing fallout from the conflict in Vietnam, the threat of oil boycotts by Middle Eastern states, and, most daunting, the ceaseless threat of nuclear war.

"I never left the fact that in 26 minutes Soviet missiles could reach New York," Carter said. "I was primarily concerned in my administration with maintaining peace."

Carter and his grandson, Jason Carter '97, a lawyer and Georgia state senator, participated in a lively public discussion led by Duke President Richard Brodhead. The event was part of The Duke Idea, a series of conversations Brodhead moderates in cities around the world. Topics often focus on the public good, and guest speakers joining Brodhead have ranged from politicians and professors to physicians, athletes and business leaders.

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