Jimmy Carter honored in state at Capitol as nation pays tribute to 39th president
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, returned to Washington, D.C., for a poignant farewell nearly 44 years after his presidential defeat.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, returned to Washington, D.C., for a poignant farewell nearly 44 years after his presidential defeat.
Following a period of repose at the Carter Presidential Center in Georgia, Carter’s remains were flown to Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday morning, accompanied by his family. A motorcade brought the casket into Washington for a ceremonial procession to the Capitol Rotunda, where members of Congress and dignitaries gathered to pay their respects.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, entered the Capitol to honor the late president. Vice President Kamala Harris, members of President Joe Biden’s cabinet, and three U.S. Supreme Court justices were also present for the solemn occasion. The U.S. Army Band Brass Quintet played as silence filled the room. The casket was placed on the Lincoln catafalque, the same platform used to hold President Abraham Lincoln’s casket.
In their eulogies, leaders celebrated Carter’s remarkable life. “Today, we gather to begin a final farewell to Jimmy Carter. Navy veteran, peanut farmer, governor of Georgia, and president of the United States. Sunday school teacher. Nobel Prize winner. Advocate for peace and human rights,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted Carter’s groundbreaking work in energy policy and environmental protection. “He also passed over a dozen major pieces of legislation regarding environmental protection. And more than doubled the size of America’s national parks,” she noted.
House Speaker Mike Johnson reflected on Carter’s humanity, emphasizing that Carter’s work in global peace, health, and equality stemmed from his unwavering faith. “We all know that his care for humanity didn’t stop at building homes. In the face of illness, President Jimmy Carter brought lifesaving medicine. In the face of conflict, he brokered peace. If you were to ask him why he did it all, he would likely point to his faith,” Johnson remarked.
Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, will lie in state for two nights before a state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday. President Biden will deliver the eulogy at the funeral.