President Joe Biden said former President Jimmy Carter asked him to deliver his eulogy. Carter died on Sunday while under hospice care at his home in South Georgia.
In March 2023, Biden told donors at a California fundraiser that the 39th president asked him to deliver his eulogy during a visit to Carter’s home in Plains, Ga.
“He asked me to do his eulogy,” Biden said, before adding, “Excuse me, I shouldn’t say that.”
Carter was the longest-living U.S. president before he died from natural causes on December 29. His wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, died in November 2023 at age 96.
Joe Biden was one of first national leaders to endorse the little-known Jimmy Carter for President in 1976, which started a long friendship: pic.twitter.com/7fzDv8p40G
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) November 19, 2023
Biden, 82, ordered a State Funeral to honor Carter’s legacy in Washington, D.C. The Carter family confirmed a state funeral will be held in D.C. on Jan. 9, 2025 with a smaller, private funeral and burial to follow in Plains, Ga.
“To honor a great American, I will be ordering an official state funeral to be held in Washington D.C. for James Earl Carter, Jr., 39th President of the United States, 76th Governor of Georgia, Lieutenant of the United States Navy, graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and favorite son of Plains, Georgia, who gave his full life in service to God and country,” Biden said in a statement on Sunday.
“Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian. Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well.”
Biden continued: “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.”
“He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism.
“We will miss them both dearly, but take solace knowing they are reunited once again and will remain forever in our hearts.”
Carter, a Democrat, served just one term in office before losing in a landslide to Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. Though Carter and Biden remained friends for decades, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and other Democrat lawmakers, kept their distance from Carter.
When Carter entered hospice care in 2023, Obama and Clinton both traveled to Plains to pay their respects, but they did so privately.
Michelle Obama, Melania Trump and the Clintons attended a tribute service for Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta on Nov. 28, 2023. It isn’t clear if Obama will speak at President Carter’s funeral.
Bill Clinton, 78, was recently discharged from a Washington, D.C. hospital after being treated for the flu.
While the world mourns President Carter, Black southerners are divided over Carter’s legacy.
While he was in office, Carter never reined in his redneck brother “Billy Beer” Carter, who died in 1988 from pancreatic cancer at age 51.
Carter, who pronounced his first name “Jim-muh”, adored his younger brother, and made public appearances with him as president. Carter also campaigned for Billy during his brother’s failed run for mayor.
Billy promoted his good ol’ boy network on television shows and talk shows. His glorification of the redneck lifestyle rubbed Black people the wrong way.
It was difficult to believe that 2 brothers grew up in the same household, but only one turned out to be an unrepentant redneck.
