In a rare moment of unity in Washington, five US presidents gathered on Thursday at the National Cathedral to honor the life and legacy of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States.
The solemn state funeral marked the end of an era, as Carter passed away on December 29 at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia.
In attendance were current President Joe Biden, incoming President Donald Trump, and former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. The historic event occurred just days before Trump’s anticipated turbulent second term, with Biden and Trump setting aside their political rivalry to mourn Carter.
Carter’s flag-draped coffin was carried by an honor guard into the neo-Gothic cathedral, where his grandson, Joshua Carter, delivered the first homily. President Joe Biden, fulfilling a request Carter made years ago, delivered the eulogy, calling Carter “a decent man” who lived with compassion and a vision for justice.
“Carter looked at the world not from here,” Biden said, gesturing above his head, “but from here, where everybody else lives,” pointing to his heart.
The ceremony, attended by 3,000 mourners, reflected on Carter’s legacy, which has undergone a profound reassessment over the years. Although his presidency from 1977 to 1981 was marked by challenges like the Iran hostage crisis, his achievements in foreign policy, particularly the Camp David Accords, and his post-presidential humanitarian efforts earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
The funeral also witnessed a rare public interaction between Donald Trump and his former vice president, Mike Pence, who shook hands for the first time since the fallout over the 2021 Capitol riots. Obama and Trump briefly chatted, further symbolizing a temporary truce amidst deeply divided political lines.
Carter, remembered as the first US president to reach 100 years, will be laid to rest in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, beside his wife, Rosalynn Carter, who passed away earlier in 2023.
Mourners began paying their respects over a six-day farewell that included stops at Carter’s boyhood peanut farm and the US Capitol, where his casket lay in state. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described Carter as “a living embodiment of leadership through service, compassion, and a thirst for justice.”
Carter’s funeral marks the first presidential state funeral since George H.W. Bush’s in 2018, bringing together Americans to reflect on the enduring values of humility, peace, and service that defined his life and career.
