President Biden Tribute to President Jimmy Carter

leaders of the clergy distinguished guest most importantly The Carter family in April 2021 chill and I visited Jimmy and Rosen on a warm spring day down in Plains Georgia we wanted to see them Rosen met us at the front door with her Signature Smile together we entered a home that they had shared for almost 77 years of marriage none assuming red Brig ranch home reflects their modesty more than any trappings of power we walked in a living room where Jimmy greeted us like family that day just the four of us sat in the living room and shared memories that spanned almost six decades a deep friendship that started in 1974 I was a uh 31-year-old senator and uh I uh was the first Senator outside of Georgia I maybe the first Senator to endorse his candidacy for president it was an endorsement based on what I believe is Jimmy Carter's enduring attribute character character character because of that character I believe is destined Destiny in our lives and quite frankly Destiny in the life of the nation it's an accumulation of a million things built on character that leads to a good life in a decent country life of purpose life of meaning now how do we find that good life what does it look like what does it take to build character do the ends justify the means Jimmy Carter's friendship taught me and through his life taught me the 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 not a guarantee but just a shot you know uh we have an obligation to give hate no Safe Harbor and to stand up to what my dad just say is the greatest sin of all the abuse of power that's not about being perfect because none of us are perfect we're all fallible but it's about asking ourselves are we striving to do things the right things what values 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 keep the Faith with the best of humankind and the best of America is a story in My View From my perspective of Jimmy Carter's life a story of a man to State the obvious you've heard today from a great great eulogies who uh came from a house without running water or electricity and Rose as a pinnacle of power the story of of a man who was at Once Driven and devoted to making real the words of his Savior and the ideals of this nation the story of a man who never let the tides of politics divert him from his mission to serve and shape the world the man had character Jimmy held a deep CHR faith in God and that his candidacy spoke and wrote about faith as the substance of things hoped for and evidence of the Things Not Seen Faith founded on Commandments of scripture love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy mind and all thy soul and love thy neighbor as thyself easy to say but very very difficult to do in his life in this life any walk of faith can be difficult it can be lonely but it requires action to be the doers of the world but in that commandment lies the essence of my view found in the gospel found in many Faith traditions and found in the very idea of America because the 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 a nation we all are created equal in the image of God and deserve to R treated equally throughout Our Lives we've never fully lived up to that idea of America we've never walked away from it either because of Patriots like Jimmy Carter throughout his life he showed us what it means to be a practitioner of good works and a good and faithful servant of God and of the people and today many think he was from a bygone era but in reality he saw well into the future a white Southern Baptist who led on civil rights a decorated Navy veteran who brokered peace a brilliant nuclear engineer who led on nuclear nonproliferation a hardworking farmer who championed conservation and clean energy the president who redefined the relationship with a vice president Jimmy and I often talked about our dear friend Walder Mondale whom we all miss very much together they formed a model partnership collaboration and Trust because both were men of character and as we all know Jimmy Carter also established the model post presidency by making a powerful difference as a private citizen in America and I might add as you all know around the world through it all he showed us how character and Faith start with ourselves and then flows to others at our best we share the better parts of ourselves Joy solidarity love commitment not for reward but in reverence for the Incredible Gift of Life we've all been granted to make every minute of our time here on Earth count that's the definition of a good life the life Jimmy Carter lived during his 100 years to young people to anyone in search of meaning and purpose study the power of Jimmy Carter's example I miss him but I take solace and knowing and he his beloved Rosen are reunited again to the entire Carter family thank you and I mean this sincerely for sharing the both with America and the world we love you all Jill and I will cherish our visits with them including that last one in their home we saw Jimmy as he always was at peace with a life fully lived a good life of purpose and meaning of character driven by Destiny and filled with the power of faith hope and love I'll say it again faith hope and love as he returned to Plains Georgia for his final resting place we can say goodbye in the words of the prophet Micah who Jimmy so admired until his final breath Jimmy Carter did justly loved Mercy Walked humbly may God bless a great American a dear friend and a good man may he rise up be raised up On Eagle's Wings and bear on the breath of Dawn and make you to shine like the sun and hold you in the palm of his hand God bless you Jimmy Carter for for