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Jimmy Carter funeral: Biden delivers eulogy
President Joe Biden eulogized former President Jimmy Carter. Biden spoke of being among the first to endorse the former president back in the 1970s.
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden delivered a eulogy for his predecessor Jimmy Carter on Thursday, talking about the importance of "finding the good life."
"Now, how do we find that good life?" Biden said. "What does it look like? What does it take to build character? Do the ends justify the means? Jimmy Carter's friendship taught me, and through his life taught me, the strength of character is more than the title or the power we hold. It's the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect."
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President Joe Biden delivers the eulogy at the state funeral service for former US president Jimmy Carter. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Biden-Carter relationship
Joe Biden was a young senator when Jimmy Carter was elected president, but both were Democrats and observers say they generally had a good relationship through the years.
Biden on Thursday recalled a day in April of 2021 when he and his wife paid a visit to the Carters at their home in Plains, Georgia – "an unassuming red brick ranch home that reflects their modesty more than any trappings of power," Biden noted.
"We walked into the living room where Jimmy greeted us like family," Biden said. "That day, just the four of us sat in the living room and shared memories that spanned almost six decades, a deep friendship that started in 1974. I was a 31-year-old senator, and I was the first senator outside of Georgia – I may be the first senator – to endorse his candidacy for president.
"It was an endorsement based on what I believe is Jimmy Carter's enduring attribute: Character, character, character. Because of that character, I believe, is destiny. Destiny in our lives and quite frankly, destiny in the life of the nation. It's an accumulation of a million things built on character that leads to a good life in a decent country, a life of purpose, a life of meaning."
President Joe Biden makes the sign of the cross as he walks past the casket of former president Jimmy Carter during his funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Gett …
Biden’s eulogy for Carter
President Biden spoke for just over 10 minutes. He highlighted some of Carter’s accomplishments but mostly spoke of the former president’s faith, and the role it played in his life.
"I miss him but I take solace in knowing that he and Rosalynn are reunited again." Biden offered "To the entire Carter family, thank you – and I mean this sincerely – for sharing them both with America and the world. We love you all."
President Joe Biden touches the casket after delivering remarks at the state funeral of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter on January 9, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Haiyun Jiang-Pool/Getty Images)
Biden, 82, will soon become the most recent former president but also the oldest when his term ends later this month. His immediate predecessor and successor, Donald Trump, was also on hand for the funeral, as well as the other two living former presidents.
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The Source: Information for this story came from the funeral service for Jimmy Carter, along with background from the Carter Center.