"Friend, I Have Much to Say"... Carter's Eulogy for Ford Who Passed First

Ford, Carter's Greatest Political Rival, Left a Eulogy Before His Death
Five Presidents, Including Trump and Obama, Gather in One Place
Some See the Event as an Unprecedented Display of Unity Beyond Political Ideology

The funeral service for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who passed away last month on the 29th at the age of 100, was held at the Washington National Cathedral. During the state funeral, President Joe Biden, Steven Ford, son of former President Gerald Ford, and Ted Mondale, son of former Vice President Walter Mondale, delivered eulogies honoring Carter.

The funeral service for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100 on the 29th of last month, was held at the Washington National Cathedral. During the state funeral, President Joe Biden, Steven Ford, son of former President Gerald Ford, and Ted Mondale, son of former Vice President Walter Mondale, delivered eulogies honoring Carter. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.

On the 9th (local time), The New York Times reported that the funeral was filled more with laughter than tears due to a eulogy written by Carter's political rival, the late former President Gerald Ford. Born 11 years before Carter, Ford passed away in 2006. Ford had prepared the eulogy for Carter in advance, based on a promise between the two that whoever passed away first would have a eulogy ready for the other. Ford’s eulogy was read aloud by his third son, Steven Ford.

In the eulogy, Ford said, "As we comfort our sorrow by rejoicing and feeling grateful to have known this man, this beloved man, this very special man, we say our farewells," praising Carter by stating, "Carter’s legacy of peace and compassion will remain a unique presence beyond the bounds of time." He continued, "I was looking forward to our reunion. There is much to talk about. Old friend, welcome home." Notably, Steven Ford’s voice choked up while reading this passage.

What made Ford’s eulogy even more special was the fact that Carter, a Democrat, was Ford’s "greatest political rival" who defeated him in the 1976 presidential election when Ford, a Republican, was seeking re-election. Ford also mentioned the circumstances at the time. He said Carter "annoyed me" and "knew my political vulnerabilities and successfully pointed them out." He added, "I didn’t like it, but I didn’t know that the 1976 election results would bring me the deepest and longest-lasting friendship."

Ford became vice president under President Richard Nixon, and when Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal, Ford assumed the presidency. However, his pardon of Nixon dealt a political blow. Carter capitalized on this and won the election. The Washington Post noted that while the 1976 campaign was relatively tame compared to today’s harsh political climate, it was considered quite rough by the standards of the time.

The two former presidents, who could have remained bitter enemies, began building a friendship reportedly sparked by the funeral of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated in October 1981. Carter had lost his re-election bid to Republican Ronald Reagan the previous year. On the return flight, Ford and Carter shared the presidential plane and "somewhere over the Atlantic, Carter and I forged a friendship that transcended politics." He added, "We immediately agreed to exercise one of the privileges of former presidents: to forget the harsh words we exchanged in the heat of battle."

Walter Mondale, vice president under the Carter administration who passed away in 2021, also left a eulogy for Carter, which his son read. The eulogy, reportedly written after learning in 2015 that Carter had a tumor, stated, "Today, we join in mourning to honor our dear friend President Carter, who demonstrated principled and dignified leadership and courageous dedication to civil and human rights."

President Biden Pays Tribute at Former President Carter’s State Funeral, Urges Resistance Against Abuse of Power

AP Yonhap News

While Carter and Ford demonstrated their friendship beyond their rivalry even after death, current President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump were far from such a display. Reading a eulogy honoring Carter’s life, Biden said, "We have a duty to give no refuge to hatred." He also stated that "the greatest sin" is to "stand against abuse of power," remarks widely interpreted as directed at Trump.

Meanwhile, Trump watched the funeral from the row behind Biden. Before the event began, he was seen on camera actively engaging in conversation with former President Barack Obama sitting next to him. Photo by AP and Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Trump watched the funeral from a seat behind Biden. Before the event began, he was seen on camera actively engaging in conversation with former President Barack Obama sitting next to him. When former President George W. Bush entered, Obama stood to shake his hand, but Bush and Trump, both Republicans, did not make eye contact. Bush, the only surviving Republican former president aside from Trump, did not endorse Trump in this election.