Flags at the US Embassy in Ottawa fly at half-mast following the death of Jimmy Carter. His experience helping Canada avert a nuclear disaster in Chalk River is being recalled in eastern Ontario.
Flags are flying at half-mast outside of the United States Embassy in downtown Ottawa following the death of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. Many in eastern Ontario are remembering the time he spent in the region to help Canada avert a nuclear disaster and the 'profound' impact it had on him in his political career. Milnes, who became friends with the former president later in his life, he says.
Before going into politics, a young Jimmy Carter was a nuclear reactor officer on the USS Swordfish, which brought him to Chalk River, a town roughly 180 kilometres northwest of Ottawa. The nuclear reactor in the town suffered a serious accident and a partial meltdown in 1952. 'It was his first time that he worked with Canadians,' said Milnes. 'And it was a pretty important moment for both countries.' Known as Lt. James Earl Carter Jr. at the time, the 28-year-old led a team alongside Canadians to dismantle parts of the reactor. Milnes says the team practiced for weeks in a replica reactor and had just 90 seconds to unscrew a bolt because of the radiation. Carter recounted the experience in his 1975 autobiography. Milnes says it also gave the former president a certain respect for the dangers and the positives of nuclear power that he carried with him the rest of his career. Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter receiving honorary degrees from Queen's University in 2012. (Queen's University/supplied)Despite its impact, Carter was one of only two U.S. presidents since Franklin D. Roosevelt to never visit Canada while in office. U.S. ambassador to Canada David Cohen expressed his condolences to Carter's family in a statement, remarking on his contributions to Canada. 'Most notably, he publicly recognized Ambassador Ken Taylor, Canada’s former envoy to Iran, for the pivotal and heroic role he played in saving the lives of six Americans during the Iran hostage crisis'
JIMMY CARTER NUCLEAR DISASTER CANADA CHALK RIVER US EMBASSY
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