Did you know President Jimmy Carter came to Modesto? Here’s what The Bee’s archives reveal
The following is based on recent interviews and coverage of President Jimmy Carter’s visit to Modesto from The Bee’s archives.
On a hot 4th of July weekend in 1980, hundreds of people gathered on the lawn of a suburban home in Modesto to catch a glimpse of President Jimmy Carter.
His visit was absolutely no surprise to anyone that lived near Wycliffe Drive. The United States Secret Service had been combing and prepping the area for weeks — searching homeowners’ garages for anything suspicious.
The “mini-visit” to Modesto was part of Carter’s ultimately unsuccessful reelection campaign against California native and former-Governor Ronald Reagan.
The lawn everyone was standing on in anticipation belonged to homeowner Frank Damrell Jr. — a local lawyer and Democratic party strategist with political connections that went all the way up to the White House. Damrell would later serve as a Bill Clinton-appointed federal judge in California’s Eastern District.
“I was thrilled, I was excited.... I was honored,” said Damrell. “It was a pretty big deal. It was the Fourth of July, President Carter was going to be present, his wife was there, his children were there. It was very very important.”
Asked why his Wycliffe Drive home was selected as the location for the omelet brunch fundraiser, Damrell said the entire Central Valley visit was organized by then U.S. Rep. Tony Coelho. He said the visit to his home was not the first time he’d met Carter — having visited the White House in the past.
Carter had just held a town hall at Merced College before he was helicoptered to Sipherd Elementary School. Carter said as a farmer, “You don’t now how it makes me feel to fly over this beautiful country.” From there he was taken to the Damrell home via motorcade.
Greeting Carter were a number of the area’s dignitaries — Gary Condit, former Governor Pat Brown (father of former Governor Jerry Brown who was also a frequent guest at the Damrell home), Bob Gallo and Marie Gallo. Marie was Damrell Jr.’s sister. Then-Modesto Mayor Peggy Mensinger and several other city, county and Democratic Party officials were also in attendance.
The brunch was prepared by local volunteers, which included the Damrell family — who also personally prepared the home for the president’s arrival. Frank Damrell lll, who was 18-years-old at the time, said it was remarkable experience and that Carter had an unforgettable charm.
Damrell lll said high-school friend Roger Miller was able to meet the president and introduce himself three times — once at Sipherd, another when Carter showed up to the Damrell home and another when he left. On their third meeting, Carter remarked with a chuckle “Roger, for the third time, great to speak with you today.”
“I just thought that was hilarious, Carter meeting with members of [the Gallo Family] and different people of note in our community, but he remembers Roger’s name.... I just thought that was pretty cool.”
Everything at the brunch, which was sold at $500 a plate, had a local touch. The eggs came from Rebecca Farms in Ripon, the fruit was grown locally and pastry desserts came from the kitchen of Modestan Joann Nunes.
Carter’s comments at the brunch were used as an opportunity to speak on immigration — particularly those coming to the Central Valley escaping communism. The Soviet Union’s recent invasion of Afghanistan was making headlines at the time and was an issue that surrounded the election.
“Hundreds of thousands of people are trying to escape communism. Nine hundred thousand people are trying to escape Soviet communism from Afghanistan,” Carter said. “Our country is so attractive to them. It is like the promised land. In our nation, we have people that relate to every other country on earth, not just because they’re interested but because of blood kinship.”
Carter, the longest living former president, whose term was marred by the Iran hostage crisis and rampant inflation but went on to build a humanitarian legacy that was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize, died Sunday. He was 100.
This story was originally published December 31, 2024 at 4:00 PM.
