Tim Kraft

Tim Kraft



Tim Kraft, who managed the 1976 Iowa Caucus Campaign that played a pivotal role in Jimmy Carter's successful run for the Democratic Party presidential nomination and later served as a top aide to President Carter, passed away January 21, 2024, at the age of 82. Born in Noblesville, Indiana, he graduated from Dartmouth with a B.A. in 1963. While pursuing graduate studies at Georgetown University, he was called to action by President Kennedy's newly formed Peace Corps. After training in Las Cruces, Tim served two years in the Pe-ten of Guatemala. Fluent in Spanish, upon leaving the Peace Corps he traveled through South America with some follow Peace Corps volunteers, a trip made on a shoestring budget in a VW van. Tim returned to the US and found work as a Peace Corps recruiter. He said, "the job didn't pay much but I got to go to college campuses and meet pretty girls." The friendships he made in the Peace Corps lasted 60 years.



Tim got the political bug while working for U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh (D-IN). Following a job in the Office of Foreign Press Services at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, he worked in Washington, D.C. on various political consulting contracts. Tim came to New Mexico in 1970 to ski, hike, and camp, and he fell in love with the state. He talked then N.M. Democratic Party Chair Mike Anaya into hiring him to be Executive Director. With his organizational and fundraising skills, he served in that role from 1970-1974.



In 1975, fellow New Mexican Chris Brown introduced Tim to then Gov. Jimmy Carter, who was running for Presi-dent. Carter hired Tim as his Iowa Caucus campaign manager. Carter came in second to uncommitted, but well ahead of other candidates. The publicity generated by his unexpected strong showing provided an essential burst of momentum to Carter's campaign and put the Iowa caucuses on the political map. Tim went on to serve as National Field Director for the Carter-Mondale campaign.



After winning the 1976 election, President Carter asked Tim to serve as Appointments Secretary to the President. He went on to serve in another White House role: Assistant to the President for Personnel and Political Coordination. In 1979 he left the White House to serve as National Campaign Manager for the Carter-Mondale campaign. He met his wife-to-be, the former Molly Manuppelli, who worked in the White House Office of Personnel, and they married in 1981.



They moved to Albuquerque, where Tim started Avanti Ltd., an international consulting firm focusing on political strategy and management, public affairs, and intergovernmental relations. In the 1980's he consulted on Presidential Campaigns in Panama, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. Tim also enjoyed serving on election observation teams in 7 countries. In New Mexico, Tim was a state and local lobbyist; he also worked on ballot proposition management in several states.



Tim's retirement years were filled with travel, grandkids and keeping in touch with friends all over the country. Anyone who knew Tim knew he was an inveterate collector of all kinds of information. His manila folders were filled with articles he found interesting, ranging from book, art, and movie re-views, to quotations, po-etry, restaurant and travel articles and, yes, college football statistics. He filled journals with an ec-lectic array of interests. When September rolled around, he was a captive of all college football games, and loved discussing odds with friends. He kept in touch with fellow political junkies, Peace Corps volunteers, old high school and college friends, and a core group of Carter's friends made during the Carter administration.



His grandchildren, Beau (6) and Sloane (3) brought him the most joy.



Tim was preceded by his parents, Dr. Haldon and Mary Kraft, as well as a brother, Mike Kraft of Washington, D.C. Tim is survived by his wife, Molly, and son, Colt and daughter-in-law Josie, grandchildren Beau and Sloane of Seattle, Washington. He is also survived by brothers Jake and John Kraft of Tallahassee, Florida, and sister-in-law, Betsy Kraft of Washington, D.C.



The family wishes to thank all the kind messages received from friends. The many stories, anecdotes and remembrances shared before Tim's passing meant the world to both Tim and Molly. Tim was fortunate to hear those sentiments while still with us, and we consider those messages a living tribute to his life. Finally, Tim said his epitaph should be a line from an old Joe Walsh song: "Life's been good to me so far".



Those wishing to make any donations in memory of Tim may do so with Road-runner Food Bank in Albuquerque (www.rrl.org) or the National Parks Conservation Association

(www.npca.org). Please visit our online guestbook for Tom at

www.FrenchFunerals.com