“It proves that common ground can be found even in the most divided countries.” (NBC, USA)
“A rare moment of unity in the politically divided world of Washington” (CNN, USA)
A state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981), known as the ‘greatest former president’, will be held in Washington D.C. for about two hours starting at 10 a.m. Eastern time on the 9th (Korean time on the 10th). It was held at the National Cathedral. Five former and current presidents, including President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush, and former President Bill Clinton, all attended to commemorate the deceased. This is the first time that five former and current presidents have gathered together since former President George H. W. Bush’s funeral in December 2018.
In particular, the current and former presidents and politicians, who were in conflict during their ‘active duty’ days, showed conversations and skinship without hesitation, which gave many implications to the Korean society, which is mired in extreme political conflict. Major media also diagnosed that Carter’s funeral was a long-awaited opportunity for unity in American society, where political conflict is severe.
● Trump, wearing a blue tie, sits next to Obama in a ‘bad relationship’
President-elect Trump, who took office on the 20th, appeared wearing a blue tie, the Democratic Party’s symbolic color, rather than the Republican Party’s red, symbolic color. At one point, he criticized former President Carter, who had a different party affiliation, as “incompetent,” but commemorated the deceased in a solemn manner. The New York Times (NYT) also diagnosed that his wearing of a blue tie was to pay respect to former President Carter.
The friendly appearance of President-elect Trump and former President Obama sitting side by side also attracted attention. During the 2016 presidential election, President-elect Trump raised questions about the origins and birthplace of former President Obama, who had a Kenyan father and a white American mother and was born in Hawaii. They falsely claimed that former President Obama was not born in the United States and also attacked former President Obama’s middle name, ‘Hussein’. Former President Obama also strongly criticized President-elect Trump several times, calling him an “enemy of democracy.”
The two leaders talked without hesitation that day. In particular, former President Obama smiled while talking with President-elect Trump. The British Guardian described these two as ‘oddest pairings.’ President-elect Trump also shook hands with former Vice President Mike Pence, who was vice president during his first term in office but with whom he broke up with him after losing the 2020 presidential election.
Former Presidents Bush and Obama, who have different party affiliations, also appeared in a friendly manner throughout. When former President Bush entered, former President Obama stood up and greeted him. Former President Bush also welcomed former President Obama by patting his stomach like a friend. Political media outlet The Hill reported that the two leaders created several moments of harmony amid the recent deepening political polarization in the United States.
Former President Bush also shook hands with former Vice President Al Gore, who competed with him in the 2000 presidential election. At the time, former President Bush won after the Federal Supreme Court intervened in the vote counting process in Florida, and ultimately won the presidential election.
● Biden “We must fight abuse of power”
President Biden, who was close to former President Carter during his lifetime, personally read the eulogy on this day and said, “Through my friendship with him, I learned that great character is more than the title or power we have,” and “We must not accept hatred and stand up to abuse of power.” “There is an obligation,” he emphasized. The NYT pointed out that former President Carter’s dignity and honesty were emphasized to contrast with President-elect Trump’s harsh political style.
President Biden declared this day as a ‘National Day of Mourning.’ All federal agencies were closed, and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ were also closed. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) described this funeral, which was held on the eve of the storm just before the inauguration of the new government, as “a moment that provided a solemn respite amidst political tension.” The intense political animosity in Washington politics has also come to a halt, at least temporarily, as former President Carter, known as the ‘most respected former president’ for his dedication to emphasizing human rights and democracy and eradicating hunger after leaving office, is on his final journey.
The deceased’s grandson, Jason (50), who leads the ‘Carter Center’, a non-profit organization founded by former President Carter, remembered his grandfather, saying, “He had the courage and strength to stick to his principles even when he was politically unpopular.”
Washington = Correspondent Shin Jin-woo [email protected]
Reporter Lim Hyun-seok [email protected]
New York = Correspondent Lim Woo-sun [email protected]
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