Blue Argo, an English professor at Georgia Southwestern State University, told how she had once been offered a position as Rosalynn Carter’s aid after Jimmy Carter won the White House. Argo had worked for the Carter campaign during her college days in Iowa, and was excited to receive the offer. “They offered me a plum position, the position of a lifetime really. They said; ‘we think you’re the perfect person to be Mrs. Carter’s personal aid, and you’ll travel around the world with them,’ and I couldn’t believe it.”

However, the offer came shortly after Argo’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. “She was behaving oddly, in ways that were kind of unlike my mother, and I knew my mother was not likely to go for that for some reason, though she supported President Carter.”

Financial issues were also a factor, with the campaign only able to provide a stipend for its workers. “I had explained to her ahead of time that, you know, the campaign is running on promises and air right now and all they can pay me between now and the election is $200 a month, and my mother said; ‘well, they’re using you if they do that,’ and as a student coming out of graduate school, I had less than $200 in my saving account.”

Argo asked for a fallback position as a speech writer. “Yes, I’m unproven, but I’ve just gotten a degree in creative writing from the University of Iowa which is the most prestigious writing school in the Country. And they said; ‘are you crazy? We’ve just offered you the best job available.’” She gave her response; “mom’s sick and this is crazy.”

Argo told how they were able to offer her an assistant speech writer position. “And I was so excited, I called home to say; ‘look what I’ve been offered,’ and my mother said; ‘no.’ And I said; ‘well, you know, I just need a little financial help to make it to the election, and then the salary will increase to something very nice.’” Argo was able to continue campaigning until Carter was elected, however, her mother was unswerving.

Argo recalled going to the inaugural ball; “danced with Harold Brown, who’s about to be the Defense Secretary.” She asked if there were any positions available in the Defense Department. “He said; ‘yes, come see me.’”

But by then, Argo had found other employment at Middle Georgia College. “Then I got my first teaching job, so I didn’t pursue any of that.”

She mentioned her mother later had a change of heart. “15 years later, my mother said; ‘you know, I may have made a mistake.’” Years later, Argo still remembers the opportunity wistfully. “That really broke my heart.”