The Civil War Is Over: Reflections on a Promise, a Presidency, and a Piece of History
Senator Orrin G. Hatch and Dr. Howard Haller
In the months that followed President Carter’s signature, the sense of closure deepened.
On November 7, 1978, Senator James Eastland mailed me a clipping from The Washington Post, headlined:
“Carter: The Civil War is Over.”
Those five words captured something bigger than just a bill—they marked the end of an era and the healing of a national wound.
And then, on February 16, 1979, the White House sent me what would become one of my most cherished possessions: a red line copy of the signed Joint Resolution and an official letter from the President’s Office.
“With every good wish,”
—Frank Moore, Assistant to the President for Congressional Liaison
That moment felt like the final punctuation mark at the end of a very long, very personal sentence. I had kept my word. And our family history, our country’s history, had been made whole in a way I never imagined possible.
An Elevator Ride I’ll Never Forget
Years later, in 2005, I found myself once again walking the halls of the U.S. Senate. This time, I was there as a doctoral researcher, interviewing Senator Orrin Hatch for my dissertation. As we neared the elevator reserved for senators only, he looked at me and said simply, “He’s with me.”
I stepped inside.
And standing there was Senator Trent Lott.
He looked up, eyes narrowing in recognition. Then came a flash of surprise—and a smile.
“Woah! You’re the guy. You’re the one that helped with the bill for President Jefferson Davis.”
Senator Hatch nodded with a proud grin. “Yes, he is.”
Trent Lott moved as if to give me a congratulatory bear hug—but the elevator doors opened. Instead, he reached out his hand for a firm handshake. In that brief moment, in that small metal box, I felt the full weight of everything we’d accomplished.
It wasn’t about politics. It wasn’t about the past.
It was about people.
About promises.
About doing the hard work that matters.
The Journey: From Promise to Public Law
This blog series has taken you step-by-step through the winding path that led to the passage of Public Law 95-466, restoring the citizenship of Jefferson Davis. It’s a journey that began with a dying grandmother’s pinky promise and culminated in the Oval Office—signed by the President of the United States. You're reading Part 10 now – The Final Reflections
If you missed any part of the journey, you can read each chapter starting with
Part 1: The Legacy I Was Born to Honor
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Thank You for Walking This Road With Me
As I close this chapter, I want to thank you—from the bottom of my heart—for being a part of this story.
What began as a personal mission to honor my great-great-grandfather turned into something much greater. It became a national story. A family story. A human story.
We don't always get to choose the history we inherit…
But we can choose how we respond to it.
Let this be a reminder:
You can make a difference.
You can correct the record.
You can change history—one truth at a time.
—Dr. Howard Edward Haller