President Joe Biden declared Thursday a National Day of Mourning in honor of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. It also marks the final day of public memorial services for the 39th president. This morning, President Biden gave the eulogy at Carter’s state funeral service that was held at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C. All four living former U.S. presidents, including President-elect Donald Trump, attended the service. The ceremony followed days of memorial services in Georgia and Washington and ahead of planned private memorial services Thursday evening at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, and the Carters’ residence.
Carter, a lifelong Democrat, was the longest-living U.S. president. Before serving as commander in chief, he was a peanut farmer, a naval officer, a Georgia state senator and Georgia’s 76th governor. He was regarded as “the son of the South,” a devoted family man and a humanitarian. The Nobel Peace Prize recipient championed global human rights, peace and democracy. His efforts post-presidency have led to the near eradication of the debilitating Guinea worm disease. He was married for 77 years to his wife, Rosalynn Carter, who died in November 2023. A little more than a year later, Carter died on Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100.
On Thursday’s special edition of “Closer Look,” Rose Scott talks with guests about President Carter’s life and legacy. We hear from Georgia Tech professors Marilyn Brown and Richard Barke. They reflect on Carter’s policies, his global influence and his life of service. They also shared why some viewed Carter as an outsider and explained some of the challenges and successes of his presidency. Edie Poe also offered reflections. She was President Carter’s first Black campaign staffer and an assistant to Hamilton Jordan, who served as Carter’s chief of staff during his presidency. Poe talked candidly about what it was like working with Carter during the early days of his campaign through his time in the White House.
