Ambassador Andrew Young reflects on his friendship with former President Jimmy Carter

ATLANTA — One person who has grown very close to former President Jimmy Carter over the years was appointed by him to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young.

Channel 2′s Karyn Greer had a chance to sit down with Ambassador Young to talk about his friendship with Carter and what he means to the country.

“The first thing when he stood up to give his inaugural address was... racial segregation is dead,” Young said.

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Former Atlanta mayor and U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young has been in close contact with his friend, former President Jimmy Carter.

He visited him just two weeks ago.

“We didn’t talk about anything but friends and family and he was just bubbly like he usually is,” Young said.

Young remembers when Carter appointed him as U.N. Ambassador and what Carter told him he wanted his role to be.

“When I was sworn in he gave me a handwritten note. ‘I want you to go to Africa immediately and ask as many African leaders as possible... what they expect of this administration,’” Young remembered.

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Young said Carter’s work after his presidency is perhaps what the younger generation knows most about him.

He is just honored to call him a friend.

“He could trust me and I knew I could trust him,” Young said.

President Carter awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ambassador Young in 1981, saying he helped to restore trust in the United States among third-world nations, especially Africa.

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