Washington, Jan 9, (dpa/GNA) – President Joe Biden paid tribute to the late former president Jimmy Carter on Thursday, at a state funeral in the US capital Washington DC.
In his speech, Biden said his friendship with Carter had taught him that strength of character was more valuable than titles or power. He denounced abuse of power and warned, that there was an obligation not to provide a safe haven for hatred.
President-elect Donald Trump and predecessors Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were at Thursday’s service at Washington’s National Cathedral.
Trump sat next to Obama before the service began, the two talked. Clinton and Bush took their seats in the same row. Their wives were also there, with the exception of Michelle Obama.
Biden and his vice president Kamala Harris, sat in the front row with their respective partners.
Other political celebrities were also in attendance, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Former Republican US President Gerald Ford, who held office immediately before Carter and lost to the Democrat in the 1976 election, left a prepared eulogy for Carter after his death in 2006. His son Steven read it.
The two maintained a remarkable friendship after being rivals in the election campaign.
The speech concluded with the words: “As for me, Jimmy, I’m looking forward to our reunion. We have much to catch up on.”
Carter died on December 29 at the age of 100. The Democrat was in the White House from 1977 to 1981.
A family funeral will take place later on Thursday in Carter’s home town of Plains in Georgia. Memorial services had already begun in his home state on Saturday.
His body was then flown to Washington on Tuesday, and the coffin was laid out in the US Capitol building.
Biden has ordered flags to be flown at half mast for 30 days, which will also cover the day his successor Trump is sworn in on January 20, outraging the Republican.
GNA