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As thousands gathered to honor Former President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral, the Rev. Robert Maddox and his spouse Linda were among them. Maddox, a retired pastor in the United Church of Christ (UCC), served as Carter’s speechwriter and special assistant for religious outreach during his presidency.
Maddox became UCC clergy while on staff at Westmoreland Congregational UCC in Bethesda, Maryland, but his connection with Carter began earlier when he was a Baptist pastor near Plains, Georgia. His entry into the Carter Administration occurred after he proposed a speech idea for the signing ceremony of the Middle East Treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1978. He had heard the phrase “Peace, like war, is waged” from a friend and crafted a speech around it.
“Lo and behold, three hours before the big ceremony, I got a phone call to get to a TV because the president was using my speech,” Maddox recalled. This event led him to join the White House as a speechwriter before transitioning into a role as religious liaison.
In addition to his work with Carter, Maddox has been involved in various roles such as executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and founder of the Briggs Center for Faith and Action. The Rev. Michael Neuroth described him as “a true example of a pastor and theologian who embodies the call to love our neighbor.”
Carter's legacy includes his deep religious faith and commitment to separating church from state during his presidency, along with extensive humanitarian efforts post-presidency. The phrase “waging peace” continues to be associated with The Carter Center’s initiatives.
Reflecting on Carter's influence, Maddox stated: “Jimmy Carter...‘gets Jesus.’ He and Rosalynn got Jesus’ memo about compassion, justice, and unbrokered inclusion.” After leaving office, Maddox occasionally attended Bible studies taught by Carter in Georgia.
During Carter’s funeral service at the National Cathedral, Maddox considered how each attendee carried personal stories about Carter. He expressed gratitude for having known both Jimmy and Rosalynn: “He fundamentally shaped my life...I count as joy every remembrance of Jimmy Carter.”
