Dick Woodworth's lifelong hobby began in 1967 when he was driving from Central New York to Louisiana where he would attend a four-year college. He stopped in Tennessee for gas and wound up buying a "Kennedy for President" poster for $2. "I was shocked it was for sale because Kennedy wasn't popular in the south. I bought the poster to hand in my dorm room."
A few years later he bought a "Kennedy for President" button, a friend gave him a "Barry Goldwater for President" button, and a lifelong hobby had begun. As he continued to collect history, he also taught classes at Onondaga Community College from 1970 to 2003 in both Marketing and State & Local Government.
Earlier this week Woodworth returned to campus along with much of his Presidential memorabilia dating back to the first President, George Washington. His most memorable artifact may be a framed Chicago Daily Tribune newspaper (pictured below) from November 3, 1948 with the bold headline "Dewey Defeats Truman." Editors who put together the early edition of the paper projected New York Governor Tom Dewey had defeated Vice President Harry Truman. "They printed 600, put them on the street, and a few hours later realized Truman may win. They sent their troops out to pull them back, and 200 had sold. Last I had heard there were only about 70 left."
Woodworth is also proud of his lengthy relationship with former President Jimmy Carter and is an original member of his group of supports known as the "Peanut Brigade," so named because Carter was a peanut farmer before winning the White House. Their friendship dates back to 1975 when Woodworth sent Carter a postcard after he announced his candidacy. Woodworth organized Carter's visit to Syracuse which received little attention. "I never thought I would see him again. He was still unknown."
Months later Carter returned to Syracuse as the Democratic nominee and requested Woodworth join him again. "This time there were thousands of people waiting to greet him. People were sick of Watergate and wanted a change."
Following the election and Carter's victory over Gerald Ford, Woodworth received a large packet in the mail. Inside was an invitation to President Carter's Inaugural Ball. "I went, it was wonderful, and to this day I still get a Christmas Card every year from President Carter for being part of his Peanut Brigade."
