Draft:Death and state funeral of Jimmy Carter

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76th Governor of Georgia
39th President of the United States
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Seal of the President of the United States

Planning is underway for the expected death and state funeral of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, age 99.

Background

After several years dealing with various health issues and declining physical ability, including several falls in his home, the Carter Center announced on February 18, 2023, that Carter was staying at home to "receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention".[1] Sources noted that hospice care medically means that the patient is expected to have not more than six months to live, though patients in hospice care typically die within several weeks. The following week after the announcement, it was reported that Carter's close family members had come to his home in Georgia to spend his final days with him,[2] although local news reported four months later that Carter remained "in great spirits, visiting with family and still enjoying ice cream", speculating that Carter might still be alive for his 99th birthday in October.[3] In late August 2023, Carter's grandson Jason Carter provided an update of Carter's health, noting that his grandfather was "in the final chapter" of his life,[4] and in mid-September, Jason further reported that both Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter were "coming to the end",[5] though both were well enough to be taken for a drive through the Plains Peanut Festival on September 23.[6] When Carter reached his 99th birthday on October 1, 2023, the Associated Press noted that Carter had "defied all odds again".[7] On November 17, 2023, it was announced that his wife Rosalynn would also be entering hospice care;[8] she died two days later, at the age of 96,[9] and Carter attended her funeral.[10]

Carter had been the earliest-serving living former president for seventeen years, since the death of Gerald Ford in 2006. In September 2012 he surpassed Herbert Hoover as the President with the longest retirement.[11][12] Two years later, on March 22, 2019, he became the nation's longest-lived president, when he surpassed the lifespan of George H.W. Bush, who was 94 years, 171 days of age when Bush died in November 2018; both men were born in 1924.[13] He noted how difficult it felt to reach his 90s, the former president saying in a 2019 interview with People that he never expected to live as long as he has, claiming his secret to a long life is a good marriage.[14] With Carter's death, the distinction of earliest living former president passes to Bill Clinton, and that of oldest living president passes to incumbent president Joe Biden, with the oldest living former president being Donald Trump.

In accordance with federal law and precedent, it is expected that upon Carter's death, President Biden will declare a national day of mourning and order all flags "throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions" lowered to half staff for 30 days after his death.[15][16] Carter had previously made arrangements to be buried on the grounds of the home he and Rosalynn shared in Plains, Georgia. He noted in 2006 that a funeral in Washington, D.C., with visitation at the Carter Center was planned as well.[17] The official funeral rites to conducted by the government of the United States are planned to occur over a period of five days, with part of the funeral rites including a lying in state at the Capitol rotunda. [15][16]

Eulogy

While on a California trip in March 2023, President Biden stated that Carter had asked him to deliver his eulogy following his death.[18]

Attending guests

It is expected that most of the living former presidents and vice presidents will attend.[15][16] However, sources have questioned if former president Trump would attend.[16]


See also

References

  1. ^ Barrow, Bill (February 18, 2023). "Carter Center: Former President Jimmy Carter in hospice care". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  2. ^ McKend, Eva; Rose, Andy (February 25, 2023). "Jimmy Carter's children and grandchildren remain at his side during hospice care, relative says". CNN.
  3. ^ FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team (June 24, 2023). "99 days until Jimmy Carter turns 99". Fox 5 Atlanta.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Pengelly, Martin (August 20, 2023). "Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in 'final chapter', ex-president's grandson says". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Irwin, Lauren (September 15, 2023). "Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn 'coming to the end,' grandson says". The Hill.
  6. ^ Sutton, Joe; D'Antonio, Isabelle (September 23, 2023). "Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter visit Georgia festival ahead of former president's 99th birthday, Carter Center says | CNN Politics". CNN.
  7. ^ "Jimmy Carter: tributes pour in as ex-president celebrates 99th birthday". The Guardian. Associated Press. October 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Iyer, Kaanita (November 17, 2023). "Former first lady Rosalynn Carter enters hospice care | CNN Politics". CNN.
  9. ^ "Rosalynn Carter, former first lady and tireless humanitarian who advocated for mental health issues, dies at 96". NBC News.
  10. ^ Rojas, Rick; Fortin, Jacey (November 28, 2023). "Americans Glimpse Jimmy Carter's Frailty and His Resolve". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Reilly, Katie (January 20, 2017). "How Jimmy Carter Beat Cancer and Became the Oldest President to Attend an Inauguration". Time. Archived from the original on January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  12. ^ Jacobo, Julia (March 21, 2019). "Jimmy Carter is poised to be the president who has lived the longest in US history". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  13. ^ Barrow, Bill (March 22, 2019). "Jimmy Carter's new milestone: Longest-lived U.S. president". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  14. ^ Carlson, Adam (October 15, 2019). "Jimmy Carter: Why I Chose Habitat and How I Keep Going". People. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c Cunningham, Joe (February 20, 2023). "What Happens When a Former President Dies? Questions Arise as Jimmy Carter Enters Hospice Care". KPEL-FM.
  16. ^ a b c d Troy, Tevi (February 22, 2023). "When a President Passes". Bipartisan Policy Center.
  17. ^ "President Carter Talks of Funeral Plans". Deseret News. Associated Press. December 4, 2006. Archived from the original on March 2, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  18. ^ Judd, Donald (March 14, 2023). "Biden says Carter asked him to deliver his eulogy". CNN.

External links

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