Jimmy Carter lies in state at the U.S Capitol building. Photo Credit: CNN
Jimmy Carter lies in state at the U.S. Capitol building. Photo Credit: CNN
The state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, 2024, is being held Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral, where, for the first time in history, all five living U.S. presidents are coming together: President-elect Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.
It’s the first meeting of what might be called the “Presidents Club”-that rarefied fraternity of former and sitting U.S. chiefs-since the funeral for George H.W. Bush last December. So-called because of the select few who have held what is routinely described as “the loneliest place in the world,” it binds those who have felt the burdensome weight of that ultimate political authority.
The gathering comes at a time when tensions among the members have grown sharper than ever. Trump, who is set to return to the White House after a four-year absence, is being criticized by the former presidents. Kate Andersen Brower, author of Team of Five: The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump, characterized this moment as “the most contentious in modern history.”
Even as different as each was, their mutual bond had them sharing their duties within the Oval Office. Of course, his predecessors will be at the funeral, honoring the service of Carter, who was the 39th president from 1977 to 1981. During the time outside of his presidency and unto his passing-43 years-very few seemed as humble, inhumane as the causes he has lifted high into his legacy.
From Calvin Coolidge to Joe Biden, Carter lived through 17 presidencies. At 100, the oldest living former president and longest-serving member of the exclusive “Presidents Club,” his commitment to seeking peace, eradicating disease, and building homes for people with low income has won him respect worldwide.
Thursday’s funeral will celebrate Jimmy Carter’s extraordinary legacy, one that stands out among the presidents for a unique path he forged within the club: whereas others dive into the fray of politics, he often did not, instead dedicating himself to community service. The event will not only celebrate Carter’s life but also spotlight the complex relationships of the “Presidents Club.” It’s a reminder of the shared burdens of leadership and the lasting impact of public service.
