Carter state funeral: Biden delivers eulogy at Washington National Cathedral

President Joe Biden delivered the eulogy for the late-President Jimmy Carter on Thursday at Carter's state funeral hosted by the Washington National Cathedral. 

Carter, who was born in Plains, Georgia, died last week at the age of 100 years. 

Biden said that it was his decades-long friendship with the late president that taught him that a strength of character is more important than titles and power.

"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, life of meaning," the president said. "Now, how do we find that life? What does it look like? What does it take to build character where the end justify the means. Jimmy Carter's friendship taught me, and through his life, taught me, strength of character is more than title or the power we hold. 

"It's the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, that everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an even shot," he continued. "We have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor ... That's not about being perfect, because none of us are perfect. We're all fallible. It's about asking ourselves, are we striving to do the right things? What are the values that animate our spirit? Do we operate from fear or hope, ego or generosity? Do we show grace? Do we keep the faith when it's most tested for keeping the faith? The best of humankind and the best of America is a story, in my view, from my perspective, of Jimmy Carter's life."

Carter's family members also delivered readings and testimonies at the former president's state funeral on Thursday, and  Rev. Andrew Young, who served as Carter's ambassador to the United Nations, gave the homily. 

Carter's grandson Joshua Carter gave the first reading, where he reflected on memories of his grandparents, and read from the book of Romans. 

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death," Joshua Carter read from the Bible. "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering."

Steven Ford, the son of the late former President Gerald Ford, also gave a tribute that was written by his father. 

"By fate of a brief season, Jimmy Carter and I were rivals, but for the many wonderful years that followed, friendship bonded us as presidents since John Adams and Thomas Jefferson," Ford read. "It is said that President Adams last words were, Thomas Jefferson still survives now, since Jimmy has a good decade on me, I'm hedging my pets by entrusting my remembrances of Jimmy, 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 than miles."

Ted Mondale, the son of Carter's Vice President Walter Mondale, also read a tribute on behalf of his late-father, who died in 2021.

All living former U.S. presidents and Biden attended the ceremony, along with former members of Carter's administration and Vice President Kamala Harris, while Supreme Court Justices and foreign leaders were invited to the service. 

The funeral comes after the late former president laid in state at the Capitol rotunda on Tuesday and Wednesday, where members of the public were invited to pay their respects to Carter. 

The late president, who was born in Plains, Georgia, lived an exemplary life of public service. Carter, a peanut farmer, served as the country's 39th president from 1977 to 1981. He also served as the governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975.

Presiding Bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church Sean Rowe, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington Mariann Budde, and Dean of the Washington National Cathedral Randolph Marshall Hollerith also participated in the religious component of the ceremony. 

The service, which began at 10 a.m. concluded just after 12 p.m. Eastern.

The full program for Thursday's service is available here.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.