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The dignitaries at President Carter’s funeral weren’t necessarily his biggest admirers; in fact, he might have been the most unconventional member of the former Presidents’ club.
However, at Carter’s final farewell in Washington, D.C., his five successors each demonstrated the impact of his transformative presidency.
Bill Clinton’s pragmatic Southern governorship mirrored Carter’s practicality. George W. Bush’s folksy persona, unlike his Ivy League background, echoed Carter’s down-to-earth image as a peanut farmer. Barack Obama’s composed demeanor found a parallel in Carter’s leadership during turbulent times. Joe Biden’s empathy and faith-based approach resonated with Carter’s lifelong commitment to his church.
Donald Trump, an outsider who disrupted the presidency in his own way, represents a different kind of departure from tradition, mirroring Carter’s initial rejection of established norms nearly fifty years ago.
The former Presidents’ united presence at the funeral—a rare display of national unity—was reminiscent of the gathering for President George H.W. Bush’s funeral in 2018. (Michelle Obama’s absence was due to a scheduling conflict in Hawaii.)
This demonstration of tradition was a fittingly paradoxical end to Carter’s life, mirroring his often contradictory nature.
Once dismissed as a simple country man and one-term president, Carter is now hailed as a champion of democracy and global diplomacy.
As Jonathan Alter noted in TIME, Carter effectively transitioned from the White House to a more significant role as a global conscience for decades.
Carter’s funeral drew numerous political figures and global leaders, with tributes carefully planned and prepared over many years. The event, though somber, lacked the raw urgency of other presidential funerals, largely because Carter had long prepared the nation for his passing. (Tributes from Gerald Ford and Walter Mondale were read by their sons.)
Despite its predictability, the significance of the day remained undeniable.
Washington National Cathedral’s grandeur amplified the solemnity of the occasion. The coffin appeared immense, emotions ran high, and the seating arrangement of dignitaries created a scene of calculated diplomacy, showcasing the placement of Obama next to Trump, the Pences behind them, and Kamala Harris seated separately.
As Washington and the world bid farewell to the 39th president, the day unfolded with a sense of inevitability. Biden delivered a eulogy, leaving open the question of who would be next to receive such a grand farewell.
“Today, many think he was from a bygone era,” Biden said. “But in reality, he saw well into the future.”
The day’s formality was somewhat at odds with Carter’s informal style. Yet, Carter recognized the significance of the occasion, not just as a personal farewell, but as a tribute to the country and the presidency he championed. Carter, who initially opposed playing “Hail to the Chief,” allowed its use one last time as a final acknowledgment of the institution he sought to humanize. His successors, each shaped by his influence, acknowledged their own legacies were intertwined with his.
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