WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 was celebrated Thursday for his personal humility and public service before, during and after his presidency during featuring the kind of pageantry the typically eschewed.
What to know:
1. Schedule: Carter鈥檚 casket headed back to Georgia via Air Force One after the state service. The former president will be buried in , following a private funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church, where Carter . See
2. Washington funeral guests and speakers: were in attendance, with , the first sitting senator to endorse his 1976 run for the White House, delivering a eulogy.
3. When did Carter die? The former president at the age of 100, living so long that two of his eulogies were written by people who died before him 鈥 his vice president Walter Mondale and his Republican White House predecessor Gerald Ford.
Here鈥檚 the latest:
Carter鈥檚 hometown funeral ends with his favorite hymns
Carter鈥檚 hometown funeral has ended at Maranatha Baptist Church, with the family preparing to accompany their patriarch to his burial place beside his late wife Rosalynn Carter with darkness descending on Plains.
The small church offered a stark contrast to the pageantry and grandeur of the national funeral earlier Thursday at Washington National Cathedral. Carter鈥檚 personal pastor, the Rev. Tony Lowden, emphasized Carter鈥檚 deep Christian faith, repeatedly noting his devotion to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Lowden called them both 鈥淛.C.鈥
Lowden urged congregants to ask themselves and others the questions he said Carter always asked him: 鈥淲here have you been? What have you done? Who have you helped? And how can I help you?鈥
The pastor recognized Carter鈥檚 caregivers and hospice nurses, along with Mary Prince, who served as Amy Carter鈥檚 nanny at the White House. 鈥淢s. Mary鈥 walked to the front pew and embraced Amy as they stood beside Carter鈥檚 flag-draped casket. Above them, on the wall, was a wooden cross that Jimmy Carter fashioned in his woodshop.
Carter鈥檚 casket left the sanctuary to 鈥淚t is Well With My Soul鈥 and 鈥淥ld Rugged Cross.鈥
Carter鈥檚 personal pastor urged people to take Carter as an example to live a Biblical life of service
Tony Lowden, Carter鈥檚 personal pastor, urged people to take Carter as an example to live a Biblical life of service, saying 鈥渓ast Sunday, our God called the Sunday school teacher home.鈥
鈥淧resident Carter is still giving us a lesson today on faith and hope to be the guardrails of our democracy, to be the guardrails of everything that we do,鈥 he said.
Calling out individual members of the Carter family and other guests, Lowden urged people to judge Carter not only by his accomplishments but by his relationships with people, particularly his relationships with Black people. 鈥淛immy Carter wanted to make sure that his pastor knew they made a difference in his life and it took them all the way to the White House.鈥
鈥淚 often wonder what the world will be like after all this celebration is over. Will we pick up the baton?鈥 Lowden said, urging people to live their life by the Bible. 鈥淥r will we just clap our hands and say we were there, instead of moving it forward, picking up the fruits of the spirit from the book.鈥
Maranatha pastor salutes Carter
Maranatha Baptist Church鈥檚 pastor, Ashley Guthas, saluted the simple surroundings including the church鈥檚 鈥渞ed velvety pews鈥 and 鈥済reen carpet鈥 while acknowledging the marathon of events that Carter family members have been running, saying 鈥渆xhaustion has been an unwelcome companion for days. Our eyesight is blurry, our emotions frail and our steps feel unsteady.鈥
She saluted the legacy of 鈥淢r. Jimmy,鈥 saying the 鈥渟eeds of equality, justice, humility and freedom were planted by President Carter and Rosalynn and they are now ours to tend here in Plains, in the United States and in the world.鈥
Guthas stands out as a woman leading a Baptist church in the South. Maranatha is not a Southern Baptist Convention congregation. In his 70s, Carter disassociated from the Southern Baptists saying it subjugated women in the church, home and society. He expressed pride that Maranatha had women as deacons鈥攁nd, now, a woman as pastor.
Onlookers pay respects to Carter鈥檚 casket
The crowd lining the highway by Main Street in Plains was mostly quiet as they waited for the motorcade.
When the hearse carrying Carter鈥檚 casket and the rest of the motorcade passed by, some people shouted 鈥淭hank you!鈥 Others waved American flags.
Funeral service begins at Maranatha
President Carter鈥檚 body has arrived for a second, more intimate service at Maranatha Baptist Church, the small congregation on the outskirts of Plains, Georgia, where he long taught Sunday school.
Unlike Thursday morning鈥檚 service packed with presidents and other dignitaries at Washington National Cathedral, this simpler service will mostly be highlighted by remarks from Tony Lowden, Carter鈥檚 personal pastor. Other guests besides the Carter family have been waiting at the church, even as Carter鈥檚 procession runs more than an hour behind schedule.
When Carter is interred at his longtime home after the Maranatha service, that may mean he will be buried in darkness after the sun sets on a short January day in southwest Georgia.
Plains, Georgia welcomes Carter home
People are waiting for the motorcade carrying Carter鈥檚 casket to arrive in his hometown so they can pay their respects.
Louise Hurless, 65, said Plains felt 鈥渆erily quiet鈥 and 鈥減eaceful鈥 as she waited. While people lined Main Street exchanging memories about Carter, she sensed a shift from the usual bustle of the town during other celebrations and festivals.
Now a resident of Columbus, Hurless met Carter countless times when she lived in Plains and worked for Habitat for Humanity. When Carter built homes, Hurless said he set aside time to talk to people then kept quietly to himself so he could build.
Hurless fondly remembers trying to sing Christmas carols to people at a nursing home with a small group from Maranatha Baptist Church, including Carter.
鈥淲e laughed and laughed, we couldn鈥檛 even sing,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e spent Christmas with the Carters.鈥
Simone Bradley signed her 16-year-old son out of school to celebrate Carter鈥檚 life in Plains, wanting him to 鈥渨itness history.鈥
Carter 鈥渃ould have gone anywhere鈥 after his presidency, said Bradley. She appreciates that the humble peanut farmer decided to come back to Plains and give back and called him 鈥渁n advocate for people of all backgrounds.鈥
Carter arrives back in Georgia
The Carter family and former President Jimmy Carter鈥檚 casket are on the road home to Plains after touching down at Lawson Army Airfield in Georgia. Another military guard, band and 21-gun salute greeted the plane on a cold, sunny afternoon at the Fort Moore infantry base near Columbus, southwest of Atlanta. The Carter family stood on the tarmac as the casket was loaded into a presidential hearse. Former members of Carter鈥檚 Secret Service detail and their families also watched.
The motorcade is crossing the peanut fields and pecan groves of a state Senate district Carter represented when he first was elected to office in 1962 during the 60-mile (95-kilometer) trip to Maranatha Baptist Church. There, a second, private funeral will precede Carter鈥檚 burial.
Carter鈥檚 casket makes its final departure from Washington
Carter鈥檚 casket is headed back to Georgia. The former president鈥檚 remains were loaded onto a plane that usually serves as Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after a brief ceremony that included an artillery salute and the U.S. Air Force Band playing the hymn 鈥淥 Master, Let Me Walk with Thee.鈥
A knot of 11 military officers gave a crisp final salute as the plane taxied away. The aircraft, carrying the casket, the Carter family and their guests, lifted off for Fort Moore in Georgia, where another motorcade will return Carter鈥檚 body to Plains for a second funeral service and burial Thursday evening.
Martin Luther King III attended Carter鈥檚 service
As people filtered out of the Cathedral several notables to the Carter era and Georgia could be seen waiting to board buses for invitees including Martin Luther King III, whose father was slain civil rights leader and fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King Jr.
Carter heads back to Georgia
Carter鈥檚 casket has been placed in the hearse and is departing the cathedral.
The casket, along with Carter鈥檚 family and guests, are traveling to Joint Base Andrews and will head next to Georgia.
Biden greets Trudeau, Prince Edward
There were a few more handshakes after the service. Dignitaries have filed out of Washington National Cathedral, with a few more interactions.
Biden walked over and shook the hands of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prince Edward, who had been seated together.
Harris, who entered the cathedral swiftly ahead of the service, stopped to speak to Obama. As he left, Bush leaned over and briefly interacted with Trump, shaking hands.
Ahead of the service, many of the former presidents and other officials greeted Biden privately as they all arrived at the cathedral.
Chief Justice John Roberts also spoke to a number of senators as he walked out, including Sen Raphael Warnock
Carter鈥檚 service concludes
Carter鈥檚 service has concluded.
Following prayers and benediction from the assembled clergy, Carter鈥檚 services at Washington National Cathedral have come to a close. Once the procession reaches the cathedral鈥檚 outside steps, 鈥淗ail to the Chief鈥 sounds again, following 鈥淔aith of our Fathers鈥 from the U.S. Coast Guard Band.
Carter鈥檚 casket is then placed in the hearse, and it, along with Carter鈥檚 relatives and guests head in a motorcade to Joint Base Andrews.
At that point, Carter鈥檚 final journey home to Georgia begins. At the air base, there will be more music and another 21-gun salute before the casket is loaded onto the plane, and Carter鈥檚 family boards.
Once it lands in Georgia, there is another ceremony, then the journey to Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, for a private funeral service.
Carter鈥檚 personal pastor takes cathedral pulpit
The Rev. Tony Lowden, Carter鈥檚 longtime personal pastor, spoke briefly and asked God to grant the former president 鈥渆ternal rest.鈥
Lowden is among many Black pastors Carter has been close to in his life, including Young, whom he met in politics. Carter once wrote of how much he was impacted by sometimes attending services as a child at the Black Methodist Episcopal church attended by the sharecropping families who worked for his father.
In recent years, the homebound Carter also liked to watch Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock鈥檚 Sunday services at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Biden sings along to 鈥業magine鈥
As Brooks and Yearwood perform, Biden was among those in the audience observed who appeared to quietly sing along to 鈥淚magine.鈥
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood sing John Lennon鈥檚 鈥業magine鈥
Country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are singing their arrangement of John Lennon鈥檚 鈥淚magine,鈥 which they also sang at Rosalynn Carter鈥檚 Atlanta funeral in 2023.The lyrics are remarkable for a former first couple of the United States, the world鈥檚 preeminent military and economic superpower.鈥淚magine there鈥檚 no countries
It isn鈥檛 hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Livin鈥 life in peace.鈥
Young 鈥渋nspired鈥 by Carter鈥檚 former actions
Speaking without a prepared speech in front of him, Young said he knew Carter 鈥渇or more than half of my life,鈥 yet 鈥渘ever ceased to be surprised鈥 or 鈥渋nspired鈥 by the former president鈥檚 actions.
鈥淛immy Carter was a blessing that helped to create a great United States of America. And for all of us, and many who are not able to be here, I want to say, 鈥楾hank you. You have been a blessing from God, and your spirit will remain with us,鈥欌 Young said.
Young calls Carter 鈥榮omething of a miracle鈥
Seated at a microphone, Young drew laughs from the crowd when he said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 still hard for me to understand how you could get to be president from Plains, Georgia.鈥
Young, who is Black and was a pastor nearby, said he was 鈥渘ervous鈥 sometimes driving through the small town.
Andrew Young reflects on his and Carter鈥檚 intersections with U.S history, race and politics.
Carter鈥檚 longtime friend and fellow Georgian, former Amb. , is recalling the unlikely intersection between him, a Black man, and Carter, a white man, who both grew up amid Jim Crow segregation.
He recalls Carter telling him upon their meeting that the future president was friends with Sumter County鈥檚 racist sheriff.鈥
But time and again I saw in him the ability to achieve diversity by the personality and upbringing,鈥 Young said. 鈥淗e went out of his way to embrace those of us who grew up in all kinds of conflict.鈥
Young, an ordained minister and onetime aide to Martin Luther King Jr., said Carter 鈥済rew up in the tremendous diversity of the South, and he embraced both sides.鈥淣ow 92, Young became a Georgia congressman, Atlanta mayor and Carter鈥檚 U.N. ambassador.
Biden's remarks end
Biden ended his remarks saying 鈥淕od bless you, Jimmy Carter.鈥淗e grazed his left hand along Carter鈥檚 flag-draped casket as he passed by it in a return to his seat in the front row.
Biden expounds on Carter鈥檚 faith
Biden is using his remarks to intertwine what he sees as the importance of Carter鈥檚 own faith in God, and an enduring faith in America itself.
鈥淭he very journey of our nation is a walk of sheer faith, to do the work, to be the country we say we are, to be the country we say we want to be,鈥 Biden said. 鈥淭oday many think he was from a bygone era, but in reality he saw well into the future.鈥
Biden also recalled Carter as a 鈥淪outhern Baptist who led on civil rights,鈥 鈥渂rokered peace鈥 and, along with Mondale, formed a 鈥渕odel partnership鈥 of what it means to serve in the White House.
鈥淚 miss him but I take solace in knowing that he and his beloved Rosalynn are reunited again,鈥 Biden said.
Biden applaud鈥檚 Carter鈥檚 character
Biden began his remarks by recalling how his relationship with Carter began, by endorsing the Georgian ahead of the 1976 presidential campaign.
Repeating 鈥渃haracter鈥 several times as Carter鈥檚 chief attribute, Biden said the former president taught him the imperative that 鈥渆veryone should be treated with dignity and respect.鈥
鈥淲e have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor,鈥 Biden said, also noting the importance of standing up to 鈥渁buse in power.鈥
Biden takes the lectern
Biden is taking the lectern to deliver his remarks in remembrance of Carter.
With decades of experience in a variety of political positions, Biden has to delivery eulogies for a number of allies - including Democratic Sens. Fitz Hollings and Ted Kennedy - and even foes.
In 2003, Biden spoke at the funeral of Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, a Democrat-turned-Republican who once ran for president as a Dixiecrat opposed to civil rights for African-Americans, Biden praised the senator as someone who stood by him during the confirmation battle of doomed Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork.
Carter鈥檚 grandson describes the family house
Carter describing his grandparents and their house: 鈥淲alls papered with pictures of children and great-grandchildren.鈥
鈥淭hey had a little rack next to the sink where they鈥檇 hang Ziploc bags to dry.鈥淐arter, he said, 鈥淓ventually did get a cell phone.鈥
鈥淭hey were small-town people who never forgot who they were and where they were from no matter what happened in their lives. ... But I realize we are not here because he was just a regular guy.鈥
鈥淎s governor of Georgia a half-century ago, he preached an end to racial discrimination and mass incarceration,鈥 he said.
Former Carter aide recalls 鈥榮teel determination鈥
Stu Eizenstat, who served Carter as a domestic policy aide and has written a book on his administration, says he thought his boss鈥檚 longshot presidential bid could, at best, end with a vice presidential nomination 鈥渇or regional balance.鈥
He said Carter told him flatly that he would win the Democratic nomination. Carter did, and Eizenstat noted that Carter was the only Democrat elected president between 1968 and 1992.
Eizenstat also said Carter brought 鈥渋ntegrity鈥 back to the office following Watergate and his help in establishing the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which Eizenstat chairs.
Eizenstat also said Carter 鈥渓aid the building blocks for a better world鈥 in terms of the U.S.鈥 relationships abroad, saying he operationalized the 鈥渟oft power鈥 of human rights with the 鈥渉ard power鈥 of military strength.
While so many Carter tributes focused on his humanitarian work, public service and personal decency, Eizenstat made a head-on effort to frame the Carter presidency as more successful than voters appreciated at the time.
Eizenstat ticked through legislative achievements -- and their bipartisan support, noting that Carter deregulated U.S. transportation industries, streamlined energy research, created FEMA, and notched the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. He emphasized that Carter鈥檚 administration secured the release of the American hostages in Iran, though it did not happen until after his 1980 defeat.
鈥淗e may not be a candidate for Mount Rushmore, but he belongs in the foothills,鈥 Eizenstat said.
Former White House aide defends Carter鈥檚 political record
While so many Carter tributes focused on his humanitarian work, public service and personal decency, former White House aide Stu Eizenstat made a head-on effort to frame the Carter presidency as more successful than voters appreciated at the time. Eizenstat ticked through legislative achievements鈥 and their bipartisan support.
He noted Carter deregulated U.S. transportation industries, streamlined energy research, created FEMA, and notched the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. He emphasized that Carter鈥檚 administration secured the release of the American hostages in Iran, though it did not happen until after his 1980 defeat.
鈥淗e may not be a candidate for Mount Rushmore, but he belongs in the foothills,鈥 Eizenstat said.
George W. Bush now the only former president with military experience
Presidential funerals are often filled with military presence given to the president鈥檚 stature as commander-in-chief. Carter鈥檚 had an added poignancy because he was the last of the Greatest Generation to have sat in the Oval Office and his death leaves only George W. Bush as a president who has worn a military uniform. It is a change from an era when veteran status was as ubiquitous as the Presidential Seal.
Mondale lauds Carter鈥檚 fight for women鈥檚 equality
In his remarks, Mondale spoke at length about Carter鈥檚 efforts toward equality for women, noting that Carter had appointed 鈥渇ive times as many women to the federal bench鈥 as any of those who preceded him as president, combined.
Foreign dignitaries attend Carter鈥檚 funeral
In addition to U.S. political leaders, there are also a number of foreign dignitaries in attendance, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - who recently announced his resignation - Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Seated together, Prince Edward and Trudeau were seen speaking at length as they awaited the start of the service.
Son of Carter鈥檚 old running mate honors the late ex president
Ted Mondale, son of the late Vice President Walter Mondale, rose to read a letter from his father in honor of his former running mate.
Walter Mondale wrote that he was 鈥渟urprised鈥 that Carter asked him to be his running mate for the 1976 campaign, saying that his only requests were that he make a real contribution to the team, and not be 鈥渆mbarrassed, as many of my predecessors had.鈥
Mondale wrote that Carter 鈥減rotected鈥 him from 鈥渉umiliation鈥 faced by other vice presidents.
Top Biden officials attend the service
Among Biden White House officials attending Carter鈥檚 funeral are chief of staff Jeff Zients, climate adviser John Podesta and Tom Perez, director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Posthumous Ford eulogy notes Palestine and 鈥渞uffled feathers鈥 in Washington
Steven Ford, son of Gerald Ford, noted Carter and his 1976 rival aligned in pushing the U.S. foreign policy establishment to take action on Israel and Palestine鈥攁 reference to the longtime U.S. policy advocating a 鈥渢wo-state solution鈥 in the region.
Carter sometimes rankled his successors and the U.S. foreign policy establishment with his emphasis on the rights of Palestinians.
Nearly a half-century later, Israel remains at war with Hamas in Gaza.
Those close to Carter have said that the president, in his final months, was often agitated and bothered watching news coverage of the conflict in the region where he had brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.
Ford鈥檚 letter also mentioned Rosalynn, whom he referenced as a 鈥渢rue citizen of the world鈥 who was a friend to his wife, Betty, and entire family.
Club of former presidents is evident at the service
It鈥檚 often referenced as an exclusive organization wherein only the members understand the stakes, but the club of former presidents is evident in some of the reactions coming from the front few rows at Carter鈥檚 funeral.
As Ford鈥檚 son read his father鈥檚 remarks about how he and Carter had joked about the expense of presidential libraries, Clinton and Bush were among those laughing, since - as former presidents - it鈥檚 a cost and process they both well know.
Gerald Ford鈥檚 son eulogizes Carter
In the remarks read by his son, Gerald Ford wrote that the 1976 election brought about 鈥渙ne of my deepest and most enduring friendships,鈥 in his bond with Carter.
Steven Ford also joked that his father and Carter had bemused themselves about which of them would die first, in agreeing to eulogize each other.
Steven Ford noted that Carter 鈥渟upported my mom and gave her hope that week鈥 when Ford died.
Carter children sit in the front pew
The Carter children are seated in order of age on the front left pew, starting from the aisle: Jack, Chip (James Earl III), Jeff and Amy.
They are across the aisle from the other presidents and first ladies.
The brothers were young adults who worked as key campaign aides and volunteers in 1976. Amy Carter was in elementary school. Photographers captured her when she was with her parents on the trail. But she spent most of the campaign in Plains, being cared for by her grandmothers.
Carter鈥檚 grandson spoke of the late president鈥檚 devotion to God
Joshua Carter talked about the legendary Sunday school class his grandfather led for decades at Maranatha Baptist Church, also noting that Jimmy Carter spent his 鈥渆ntire life helping those in need.鈥
He said his grandfather 鈥渆liminated diseases in forgotten places鈥 and 鈥渨aged peace鈥 around the world.
During Sunday School lessons, Carter said he did it because 鈥渉e worshipped the Prince of Peace, and He commanded it.鈥
He noted Carter鈥檚 Sunday School students were the first to learn he鈥檇 won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Carter funeral also a reunion
Carter outlived many of his Cabinet members, campaign advisers and inner circle. Not all that remain were included in the limited tickets for his state funeral at National Cathedral.
But many of those are gathering in Washington for a reception and reunion to watch the funeral. Several Carter administration figures who are inside the cathedral will join their former colleagues after the service as Carter and his family return to Georgia for his hometown funeral and burial.
Dean of cathedral uses Carter鈥檚 given name
The Very Reverend Randloph Marshall Hollerith, dean of the cathedral, opens by recognizing Carter as 鈥測our servant James.鈥
Carter rarely used his given name. He took the oath of office as 鈥淛immy Carter,鈥 and he signed official documents that way.
Carter鈥檚 casket carried in silence to the front of the cathedral
Carter鈥檚 casket has taken its place at the front of Washington National Cathedral. As it passed, a number of dignitaries on the front row, including Biden and Clinton, placed their hands over their hearts. Rather than music for a processional, Carter鈥檚 casket is being carried up the center aisle in silence, broken only by a reading that includes passages from the New Testament gospel of John and book of Romans.
The footsteps from the military pallbearers can be heard as they pivot to place Carter鈥檚 casket for the service.
Carter鈥檚 funeral procession begins
The funeral procession of Carter has begun, with a crucifer, torch bearers - typical of an Episcopal church procession - as well as representatives of all branches of the U.S. military.
Michelle Obama is not at the service
One of the dignitaries missing from the former president lineup is Michelle Obama.
Ahead of the funeral, CNN reported that the former first lady had a scheduling conflict and remained in Hawaii, where she had been on an 鈥渆xtended vacation.鈥 Asked why she was absent from Carter鈥檚 funeral, Michelle Obama鈥檚 office issued a statement saying that her thoughts and prayers are with the late former president鈥檚 family but otherwise did not say where she was or explain her absence.
Carter鈥檚 casket removed from hearse
Carter鈥檚 casket is being removed from the hearse and being positioned for delivery into Washington National Cathedral.
Biden and the first lady sit next to Harris and the second gentleman
Biden and his wife Jill are taking their seats next to Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff. There were no visible greetings, but the former presidents were all just together in a private room ahead of their entrances into Washington National Cathedral.
Chorus sings as Carter鈥檚 casket readies entrance into the Cathedral
The Armed Forces Chorus is singing the hymn, 鈥淏e Still My Soul,鈥 ahead of Carter鈥檚 casket entering the Cathedral. Carter, as most presidents do, of his state funeral years ahead of his death, including most musical selections.
Former presidents and spouses sit near each other
Other former presidents and their wives are being seated just down the row from Trump, including George W. Bush and his wife, former first lady Laura Bush.
As she and her husband entered, former first lady Hillary Clinton walked around the end of the row on which Trump was sitting, going first to greet Bush and others.
Obama and Trump sit together
Obama has taken his seat next to Trump, chatting with his successor in office, who did not stand to greet him but shook hands. They were engaged in conversation as Harris entered the cathedral.
Trump and Pence shake hands
Trump and Pence have shaken hands as the former president takes his seat, just in front of his former vice president.
Trump and Melania enter the cathedral
Trump and his wife, Melania, are entering Washington National Cathedral and being ushered to their seats.
Congressional leaders attend Carter鈥檚 funeral
Congressional leaders are also in attendance as they await the start of Carter鈥檚 funeral.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is seated next to House Speaker Mike Johnson, both Republicans. Democratic leaders are also in Washington National Cathedral, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
Carter and Andrew Young had a long, notable friendship of Southern politicians
Andrew Young, the 92-year-old former U.N. Ambassador for Jimmy Carter, will speak about his longtime friend Thursday.
But Young was skeptical of Jimmy Carter in 1970. The former aide to Martin Luther King Jr. knew that the young state senator had never met King and was a calculated moderate during the Civil Rights Movement. Then Young watched Carter run for Georgia governor a second time and campaign at an Atlanta restaurant famous in the Civil Rights Movement. Carter, Young said, insisted on shaking every hand -- including in the kitchen, where Young said no politicians -- Black or white -- typically went.
Speaking to The Associated Press, Young noted how Carter, as governor and president, elevated more Black appointees, including judges, than his predecessors had combined. And he said Carter was the first U.S. president to pay attention to Africa.
鈥淲e still haven鈥檛 caught up with him,鈥 Young said. 鈥淗e was ahead of his time.鈥
Carter鈥檚 casket arrives
Carter鈥檚 casket has arrived at the Washington National Cathedral, met by an honor guard hoisting flags rippling in the cold wind. Snow from a recent winter storm that gripped the nation鈥檚 capital is still visible on rooftops and grounds, sparkling in the sunlight.
Which presidents will attend Carter鈥檚 funeral?
Expected at Carter鈥檚 funeral are the five living men who have also served as president: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
There are also incoming, current and former vice presidents, including JD Vance, Kamala Harris, Al Gore, Mike Pence 鈥攁nd of course Biden, who served alongside Obama.
Bipartisanship on display in the Washington National Cathedral
Bipartisanship is on display in the Washington National Cathedral, with former Vice President Al Gore, a Democrat, seated next to former Vice President Mike Pence, a Republican.
As often is the case with the funerals of former politicians, the reverence and respect on display thus far among attendees at Carter鈥檚 upcoming funeral supersedes their partisan differences.
Another point of note is that Carter鈥檚 funeral appears to be the first time that Pence and his former running mate, Trump, will be in the same space as Pence since their term together and fractured relationship following the Jan. 6 violence at the U.S. Capitol.
The two spoke at a in Iowa during the 2024 GOP presidential primary but were on stage at different times.
Carter鈥檚 procession passes White House
Carter鈥檚 funeral procession has just passed by the White House, which he once called home during his term as president.
Brett Kavanaugh greets Vance ahead of the service
Justice Brett Kavanaugh shook hands with Vice President-elect JD Vance and hugged his wife, Usha Vance, who sat in the third row.
Associated Press, The Associated Press
