Biden hails Jimmy Carter’s strength of character in eulogy at state funeral

Jimmy Carter’s six-day farewell to the nation culminated on Thursday morning with a eulogy from president Joe Biden on faith and character as the 39th president received a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral.

During the service, Joe Biden said that he was the first Senator to endorse Carter for president – highlighting how the passed president saw challenges “well into the future” and taught him the power of morality.

“Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me, and through his life, taught me, that strength of character is more than title or the power we hold,” Biden said. “It’s the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, that everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an even shot.”

The procession for America’s longest-lived president was attended by all five living presidents, including President-elect Donald Trump, all sitting in front row pews and conversing with one another as they settled in. Vice-President Kamala Harris and former vice-president Mike Pence were also in attendance.

Carter’s memorial service also drew world leaders including Canada’s outgoing prime minister, Justin Trudeau, UN secretary general, António Guterres, and Britain’s Prince Edward. Gordon Brown, the former British prime minister, also attended.

Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, Mike Johnson, John Thune, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries pay their respects on 7 January 2025. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Following the cathedral service, Carter’s remains make a final journey back to Plains, the small Georgia town where his century-long life began and ended, for a burial beside his wife, Rosalynn. An invitation-only funeral at Maranatha Baptist church, where Carter taught Sunday school well into his 90s, will precede his burial alongside Rosalynn, his wife of 77 years.

During his single term in office, Carter’s established key federal agencies and diplomatic initiatives, including the Camp David accords. In later life, Carter eschewed the traditional elder statesman role in favour of hands-on humanitarian work, including through Habitat for Humanity and his campaign to eradicate guinea worm disease. He authored more than 30 books on politics, faith and poetry, helped to negotiate a nuclear standoff with North Korea in 1994, and was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2002.

Praise for Carter’s character and service came from both sides of the aisle. The House speaker, Mike Johnson, on Wednesday described him as having “modeled the virtues of service and citizenship as well as any other American”.

Carter’s remains will return to Plains, his home town, on Thursday, where former Secret Service agents will serve as pallbearers and the National Park Service plans to ring the old farm bell 39 times in tribute.

The former president died at his home on 29 December, aged 100, having spent his final months in hospice care surrounded by family. His passing came just over a year after that of Rosalynn, who died in November 2023 aged 96.

“I miss him,” Biden said on Thursday. “But I take solace in knowing that he and his beloved Rosalynn are reunited again. And to the entire Carter family, thank you. I mean this sincerely for sharing them both with America and the world.”