When John Wayne Gacy Met The First Lady

In this striking and unsettling 1978 photo, First Lady Rosalynn Carter is seen shaking hands with John Wayne Gacy, the notorious serial killer who, by that time, had already murdered over 20 young men. Gacy, dressed in a suit with an "S" lapel pin—a symbol of security clearance granted by the Secret Service—appears calm, while Carter offers a polite handshake. The image, which was later inscribed by her with the words "To John Gacy, best wishes, Rosalynn Carter," is haunting not only because of Gacy’s later crimes, but also for the chilling juxtaposition of his dark secrets with the image of a trusted political figure, all captured in a moment of political engagement.

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