Biden praises Jimmy Carter as example of “simple decency”

President Biden on Sunday evening praised the late President Jimmy Carter as an example of “simple decency” in brief remarks, hours after Carter’s death at the age of 100 was announced.

The president, in a brief but warm tribute, said of Carter that he had “lived a life measured not by words, but by his deeds.”

Carter, the 39th president and the longest-living president in U.S. history, died Sunday at home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family.

Mr. Biden, who is vacationing in St. Croix, told reporters what Carter represented was “an example of … simple decency.” The president recalled that he had been the first sitting senator to endorse Carter, when he ran for president in 1976. He said, “I told him why I was endorsing — that it was not only his policies, but his character, his decency, the honor he communicates.”

The president noted Carter’s exemplary post-presidency, during which he worked for decades to eradicate disease not only at home, but also around the world, to “enforce peace, advance civil rights, human rights, [promote] free and fair elections around the world,” and to help with his own hands to build housing for the homeless.

Carter, Mr. Biden said, “stands as a model what it means to live a life of meaning and purpose, a life of principle, faith and humility.”

Mr. Biden also expressed admiration for Carter’s own long fight against his cancer after his diagnosis nine years ago. 

“Jimmy Carter was just as courageous in his battle against cancer as he was in everything in his life,” the president said. “Cancer is a common link between our two families,” he added, noting that when Bo Biden died, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter “helped us heal.” 

“He lost his father, his brother, his sisters, to this terrible disease,” Mr. Biden said. He added that when Carter himself was diagnosed with cancer, “we did our best to comfort him.” 

contributed to this report.