US honours former president Jimmy Carter in state funeral

Ceremony was held at the National Cathedral, a neo-Gothic landmark in Washington

Former president Jimmy Carter was honoured on Wednesday at a state funeral in Washington, where President Joe Biden and all four surviving former US leaders paid their last respects to the centenarian who will be remembered as much for his work after leaving the White House as he will for his single term in office.

His flag-draped coffin was carried by uniformed guards into Washington's National Cathedral, the neo-Gothic church and dominant landmark of the US capital, as family, friends and officials sat solemnly in the pews.

Steven Ford, the son of another former president, Gerald Ford, gave a tribute written by his father. The two former presidents, bitter rivals in the 1970s, became friends later and made a pact to speak at each other's funerals.

He spoke about the two men flying aboard Air Force One en route to Egypt to attend the funeral of Anwar Sadat, the former Egyptian leader who signed a peace deal with Israel in 1978, with support from Mr Carter.

The coffin of former US president Jimmy Carter during a state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington. AP

US President Joe Biden pays tribute to Mr Carter. AP

Front row from left, Mr Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff; second row from left, former president Bill Clinton, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, former president George W. Bush, Laura Bush, former president Barack Obama, president-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump, stand during the state funeral. AP

Mr Biden touches the coffin. AFP

The coffin is carried into Washington National Cathedral. AFP

Mourners stand around the flag-draped coffin of Mr Carter as he lies in state in the Capitol. AP

Members of the public wait to view the coffin.

Mr Carter's family pay their respects. Reuters

Ms Harris, left, pays her respects. Reuters

Mr Trump and his wife Melania pay their respects. AFP

US Senator Mitch McConnell. Reuters

Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, daughter of former US president Lyndon B. Johnson, pays her respects. Bloomberg

Former senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont touches the American flag draped over the coffin. AP

Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, left, pays his respects. Bloomberg

"There's an old line to the effect that two presidents in a room is one too many," Mr Ford said. "Frankly, I wondered how awkward that long flight might be to Cairo, and it was a long flight, but the return trip was not nearly long enough for it was somewhere over the Atlantic that Jimmy and I forged a friendship that transcends politics."

Mr Carter's grandson, Jason, spoke of his grandfather's dedication to promoting peace in the Middle East, even after leaving the White House.

"His heart broke for the people of Israel, it broke for the people of Palestine, and he spent his life trying to bring peace to that Holy Land, and he talked about it at the dinner table," he said. "It was the same in public as it was in private."

Mr Biden had earlier declared January 9 a national day of mourning after Mr Carter died on December 29, aged 100. All executive departments and agencies of the federal government will be closed for the day and he ordered US flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days.

"Jimmy Carter's friendship taught me strength of character is more than title on the power we hold, it's the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, that everyone, I mean everyone, deserves an even shot," Mr Biden said during the funeral.

He said he would cherish the visits he and his wife Jill had with Mr Carter and his late wife Rosalynn, including one a few months before he died. "We saw Jimmy as he always was, at peace with a life fully lived, a good life of purpose and meaning and of character."

Mr Biden has only 11 days left in his presidency and this is likely to be the last time he gives a eulogy in the role.

Former US presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton attended the funeral, as well as president-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20. Justin Trudeau, who resigned as Canada's prime minister on Monday, also participated.

Jimmy Carter: 1924 - 2024

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Events to honour Mr Carter began in the late president's home state of Georgia. His body was taken to Washington on Tuesday, where it lay in state at the US Capitol.

Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate majority leader John Thune all gave speeches at the Capitol that highlighted Mr Carter's faith, humility and love for his country.

Mr Carter, the 39th president of the US, served a single term from 1977-1981. After leaving the White House, he dedicated his time to humanitarian causes. In 2002, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for human rights and engaging in international peace negotiations.

The former president's remains will be flown back to Plains, Georgia for a private service at the church where he once taught Sunday school, before his burial.