Jimmy Carter's State Funeral Service
The United States will honor the life and legacy of its 39th president, James Earl Carter Jr., during an official state funeral service Thursday at Washington National Cathedral.
Carter, the longest-lived U.S. president, died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. His life ended in the same small town where it began: Plains, Georgia.
He returned to his hometown after four turbulent years in the White House and dedicated the rest of his life to public service. He and his wife, Rosalynn, founded the Carter Center, took part in Habitat for Humanity builds, and led efforts to eradicate Guinea Worm Disease. A man of deep religious faith, Carter taught occasional Sunday School classes well into his 90s.
The former president lived in hospice care for 19 months before passing away. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Rosalynn, who died in November 2023 at the age of 96. The Carters were married in 1946 and celebrated their 77th anniversary six months before Rosalynn Carter’s death.
President Joe Biden declared Thursday, Jan. 9, as a National Day of Mourning.
Carter’s casket will be transported from the U.S. Capitol at 9 a.m. to Washington National Cathedral for a state funeral that is expected to begin at 10 a.m.
All living former U.S. presidents are expected to attend, as are a number of national and foreign dignitaries and members of the Carter family. President Joe Biden will deliver the eulogy.
“For one of our nation’s most religious presidents, it’s appropriate to celebrate his life in this cathedral,” Eizenstat said. “His faith brought integrity to the presidency after the Watergate and Vietnam Eras. ‘I’ll never lie to you,’ he promised. It was a vow he kept.”
Carter’s intellect, work discipline, and attention to detail were “crucial to his success at home and abroad,” Eizenstat said. “Much of his agenda passed with bipartisan support — a quaint notion in today’s hyper-polarized politics.”
“He created the Department of Education and dramatically increased funding for low-income schools. And we can thank him for…civil service laws…the creation of FEMA,” Eizenstat said of Carter’s accomplishments. “Jimmy Carter was also the greatest environmental president since Theodore Roosevelt, handing 80 million acres in Alaska to the National Park Service. He inaugurated the era of Clean Energy and (celebrated it) with solar panels he installed on the White House roof.”
He “uniquely combined the soft power of human rights…with hard power. He built Ameriac’s military strength after its post-Watergate decline. He negotiated a major nuclear arms treaty with the Soviets while, at the same time, initiated every single weapons system that came online in the 1980s. He normalized relations with China. Jimmy Carter’s most lasting achievement, and the one I think he was most proud of, was to bring the first peace to the Middle East through the greatest act of personal diplomacy in U.S. history — the Camp David Accords.”
Carter “personally drafted more than 20 peace proposals and shuttled them between the Sadat and Begin delegations. He saved the agreement at the 11th hour by appealing to Begin’s grandchildren.”
Eizenstat noted that the agreement made there between Egypt and Israel has not been violated in the 40 years since.
In closing, he said:
“In the end, Jimmy Carter taught all of us how to live a life filled with faith and service. He said, ‘I have one life to live. I feel like God wants me to do the best I can do to let me live my life so it can be meaningful.’ Mr. President, you more than achieved that goal. He may not be a candidate for Mount Rushmore, but he belongs in the foothills.”
10:47 a.m.Ted Mondale, the son of former Vice President Walter Mondale, spoke next. Mondale was Carter's vice president and died in 2021."My father wrote this in 2015, and he clearly edited it a few times since then, but here we go," Ted Mondale began.Mondale wrote:"President Carter and I became very close friends. We often spent hours together throughout the day. We were working on real problems — not wasting time. The personal relationship we established while in office continued throughout our lives," Ted Mondale said.The former vice president praised Carter for his work on climate change, women's equality, income inequality, and equal housing rights."Some thought he was crazy to fight and pass these laws" about climate change, Walter Mondale wrote. "But he was dead right. And we know that now. He also elevated human rights to the top of his agenda."Mondale and Carter, toward the end of their time in the White House, came up with a phrase to describe their administration: "We told the truth. We obeyed the law. And we kept the peace."In closing, Mondale wrote: "I will always be proud and grateful to have had the chance to work with you toward noble ends. It was, and will always be, the most rewarding experience of my public career."10:30 a.m.Steve Ford, the son of late former President Gerald Ford, is the next to speak. He is delivering remarks written by his father, who died in 2006."Dad asked President Carter if he would do a eulogy at his funeral. He graciously agreed, and then asked if Dad would do a eulogy at President Carter's funeral. Dad was thrilled to agree," Ford says."Dad died in 2006 and President's Carter's eulogy continues to bring comfort, smiles, laughter, joy, pride to our family. And thus, on behalf of my dad, it's an honor to share dad's eulogy to his old friend."The late President Ford wrote:"By fate of a brief season, Jimmy Carter and I were rivals. But for the many wonderful years that followed, friendship bonded us…like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Since Jimmy has a good decade on me, I'm hedging my bets by trusting my remembrances of Jimmy to my son Steve. According to a map, it's a long way between Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Plains, Georgia. But distances have a way of vanishing when measured in values, rather in miles. And it was because of our shared values that Jimmy and I respect4ed each other as adversaries, even before we cherished each other as dear friends.That's not to say Jimmy didn't get under my skin…During out 1976 contest, Jimmy knew my political vulnerabilities and successfully pointed them out. Little did I know that the outcome of that 1976 election would bring about one of my greatest and most enduring friendships."In closing, Steve Ford told Carter that he is looking forward to their reunion — they have much to catch up on.
10:23 a.m.Carter’s grandson, Jason Carter, spoke about his grandfather, discussing him as Sunday School teacher. He said his grandfather opened each class by talking about his week. "When my grandfather won the Nobel Peace Prize, my Sunday School class learned first," Carter said. He added, "He built houses for people who needed homes. He eliminated diseases in forgotten places. He waged peace anywhere in the world, wherever he saw a chance. He loved people."The casket carrying former President Carter's remains was put in place.The doors between the Narthex and the cathedral opened, and the procession moved into the cathedral. The order of march included cross and torches; Verger; Special Honor Guard; Verger; Cathedral Canons; representatives of various faith traditions; family and military clergy and Bishop; national colors; body bearer team with casket; presidential colors; honorary pallbearers.The casket and body bearers entered the cathedral, moving toward the catafalque. Former President Carter's casket paused at the top of the landing and prayers were delivered. The pallbearers carried the casket inside the cathedral, where it would be placed on the catafalque.Ceremonial troops presented arms and rendered honors (Four Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail to the Chief).The casket was carried up the steps of the Cathedral. Order of march: Special Honor Guard; national colors; military clergy; pallbearers; presidential colors.The door of the hearse opened, and the pallbearers arrived to remove the casket.President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden arrived and were seated next to the vice president and second gentleman.Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff arrived and were seated in front of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Laura Bush.Former President Barack Obama arrived, greeting former Vice President Al Gore before taking his seat next to President-Elect Donald Trump. Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush arrived, greeted several officials, and took their seats next to Obama. Former President Bill Clinton and former First Lady Hillary Clinton arrived and were seated next to the Bushes.President-elect Donald Trump and future First Lady Melania Trump were seated inside Washington National Cathedral. Trump shook hands with his former vice president, Mike Pence, before taking a seat. The row of former presidents and first ladies was behind only the row reserved for President Joe Biden and family.
Tributes during the state funeral service include remarks from Steve Ford (written by former President Gerald Ford), Ted Mondale (written by former Vice President Walter Mondale), Stu Eizenstat, Jason Carter, and President Joe Biden.Musical selections and performances include: "The Road Home" by the Cathedral Choir; "Amazing Grace" by Phyllis Adams and Lelia Bolden of Song Rise to Thee; "Imagine" by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood; "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" sung by the U.S. Marine Orchestra and Armed Forces Chorus; and "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." by unknown.The service also includes readings from Joshua and Jason Carter and a homily from The Honorable Andrew Young, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.Pallbearers deliver the casket of former President Jimmy Carter to the hearse. The casket is delivered to the hearse and the military pallbearers, in dress uniforms, salute.As the procession stops at the top of the landing, ceremonial troops present arms and render honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes, Hail to the Chief, and a 21-gun salute). Immediately following honors, the U.S. Navy band played "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" and "My Faith Looks up to Thee."
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