President Biden praised former President Carter ahead of his 100th birthday on Tuesday, telling him, “Mr. President, I admire you so darn much.”
“Your hopeful vision of our country, your commitment to a better world, and your unwavering belief in the power of human goodness continues to be a guiding light for all of us,” 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,” acknowledging Carter’s work both during his term in office and since leaving the White House.
“Even after you left office, the moral clarity you showed throughout your career showed through again in your commitment through the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity — resolving conflicts, advancing democracy, preventing disease, and so much more. It’s transforming the lives of people not only at home but around the world,” Biden said.
Biden noted his 1976 endorsement of Carter’s presidential campaign — the first nod of support Carter received from an elected official outside of his home state of Georgia.
“Mr. President, you’ve always been a moral force for our nation and the world. I recognized that as a young senator. That’s why I supported you so early. You’re a voice of courage, conviction, compassion, and most of all, a beloved friend of Jill and me and our family,” he said.
Biden noted 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’s always going to be with you. She’s always there, and I know you know that,” Biden said in his message.
