President Biden praised former President Carter ahead of his 100th birthday on Tuesday, telling him: “Mr. President, I admire you so much.”
“Your hopeful vision of our country, your commitment to a better world, and your unwavering belief in the power of human kindness continue to be a beacon to us all,” Biden said in a birthday message released to CBS News on Sunday.
Biden praised Carter as “one of the most influential statesmen in our history,” and acknowledged Carter’s work both during his tenure and since leaving the White House.
“Even after you left office, the moral clarity you demonstrated throughout your career resurfaced in your commitment through the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity—resolving conflict, promoting democracy, preventing disease, and so much more. It’s changing people’s lives, not just at home but around the world, says Biden.
Biden noted his 1976 endorsement of Carter’s presidential campaign—the first nod of support Carter received from an elected official outside his home state of Georgia.
“Mr. President, you have always been a moral force for our nation and the world. I recognized that as a young senator. That is why I endorsed you so early. You are a voice of courage, conviction, compassion, and above all, a beloved friend of Jill and me and our family,” he said.
Biden noted that this is Carter’s first birthday without his longtime wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died in November 2023 at the age of 96.
“We know this is the first birthday without Rosalynn. It’s bittersweet, but we also know she’s always with you. She’s in your heart; she’ll never go away. She may be gone, but she’ll always be with you. She’s always there, and I know you know it,” Biden said in his message.
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