Typically, at the funerals of former politicians, the respect and honor shown by attendees overshadow their political disagreements.
WASHINGTON — Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President, is being honored Thursday with the pageantry of a state funeral in the nation’s capital.
Among the guests at the funeral were the five living individuals who have held the position of president, in addition to international dignitaries, former and current vice presidents, Supreme Court judges, and members of Congress.
Foreign dignitaries attend Carter’s funeral
Alongside American political figures, various foreign dignitaries were present as well. This group included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently announced his resignation, Prince Edward, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres.
Seated together, Prince Edward and Trudeau were seen speaking at length as they awaited the start of the service.
Top Biden officials attend the service
Among Biden White House officials attending Carter’s funeral are chief of staff Jeff Zients, climate adviser John Podesta and Tom Perez, director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Club of former presidents meets at the service
It’s 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’s funeral.
Carter’s funeral is the largest gathering of the “presidents club” since five of them attended the Washington funeral services for George H.W. Bush in December 2018.
As Gerald Ford’s son read his father’s 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’s a cost and process they both well know.
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.
Congressional leaders attend Carter’s funeral
Senate Majority Leader John Thune was seated next to House Speaker Mike Johnson for Carter’s funeral. Democratic leaders are also in Washington National Cathedral, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
Bipartisanship on display in the Washington National Cathedral
Bipartisanship was 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 among attendees supersedes their partisan differences.
Another point of note is that Carter’s funeral appeared to be the first time that Pence and his former running mate, Trump, were in the same space since their term together and fractured relationship following the Jan. 6 violence at the U.S. Capitol.
The two spoke at a 2023 Lincoln Day Dinner in Iowa during the 2024 GOP presidential primary but were on stage at different times.
Trump and Pence shook hands as the former president took his seat at the funeral, just in front of his former vice president.
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
Country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, who succeeded Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter as ambassadors for Habitat for Humanity, performed John Lennon’s “Imagine,” reprising their role at the former first lady’s funeral in 2023.
The lyrics are remarkable for a former first couple of the United States, the world’s preeminent military and economic superpower.“Imagine there’s no countries
Nothing to kill or die for
Livin’ life in peace.”
