Transcripts For CSPAN Tribute 20240705

Something no one can live without. Wow is there for our customers with reliability, value, and choice. It all starts with great internet. Announcer wow sports cspan as a Public Service along with these her providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. Announcer President Biden was among several highprofile figures to attend a tribute ceremony for former first Lady Rosalynn carter in atlanta. During the Service Several speakers, including her son, reflected on her life and accomplishments. Mrs. Carter died at the age of 96 at her home in plains georgia. O beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain for Purple Mountain magesties above the fruited plains America America god shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea o beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life America America may god thy gold refine till all success be nobleness and every gain define o beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears America America god shed his grace on thee please be seated. With the president of Emory University and the congregation of glenn memorial United Methodist church, i welcome you to this space and this hour. As we praise god and give thanks for the life of Rosalynn Smith carter. We also surround this family with love as they mourn the loss of a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother. Friends, let us affirm together the faith rosalynn lived so beautifully, death, though real, does not have the last word. And gods love is greater than any foe. And the way of service and grace in this world is the way of eternal life. Even now. Let us pray. Oh, mighty god, we step away from the demands of the day to give thanks for the life of your child rosalynn. We celebrate 96 years of faith and love, but we rejoice in moments shared with her, memories cherished now as treasures. In this hour renew our spirit with your spirit that we like rosalynn might in courage and grace do justice, love, kindness, and walk humbly with you throughout our days, in the name of jesus christ we pray, amen. Maya angelou wrote when great trees fall. When great trees fall, rocks on distant hills shudder and lions hunker down in tall grasses, and elephants lumber after safety. When great trees falls in the forest, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear. When great souls die, the air around us become light, rare, and sterile. We breathe briefly, our eyes of fields of hurtful clarity and our memory suddenly sharpens, examines the words unsaid and promises of walks never taken. But did you know that in isaiah, chapter 40, verse 28 says, do you not know and have you not heard the lord is the everlasting god, the creator of the earth. He will not grow tired and weary in his understanding no one can fathom. He gives us strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. And even youth grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall. Heres where i shout and get happy, for those who hope in the lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not go weary. They will walk and not faint. Im going to have chip carter come and tell you about a great soul. Chip i want to welcome all of you here and thank you for coming to help my family and to mourn with my family, and mostly just celebrate a life well lived. My mother was the glue that held our family together, through the ups and downs and thicks and thins of our familys politics. As individuals, she believed in us and took care of us. When i was 14, i supported president johnson for president. And every day i wore a johnson sticker on my shirt. And periodically i would get beat up and my shirt torn and the buttons pulled off and my sticker always destroyed. And i would walk the block during lunch from school down to carters warehouse and my mother would have a shirt in a drawer already mended, button sewn on and the l. B. J. Sticker still applied. Years later, she was influential in getting me into rehab for my drug and alcohol addiction. She saved my life. When i started making speeches for dad in his political career, i was so nervous, i often vomited in the waiting room before we went onstage. And one day after debating seven other children of offspring of candidates for president , i called my mother and told her how nervous i got, and she told me something that i have used a thousands times since, she said, chip, you can do anything for 20 minutes except hold your breath. [laughter] chip when i was in the second grade at Plains High School, they had a donkey basketball game in the stadium in the School Building there to raise money for the school. And my mother rode her donkey as fast as it would slowly go right under the goal, spun around so she was facing its tail, caught the pass and made the winning two points. She was my hero that night, and shes been my hero ever since. A couple years ago, mom and i were talking, when she said that when dad asked her to marry her for the second time, she said yes. But she expected him to provide for her a life of adventure. He told her it would happen. She told me that she has lived on both coasts and hawaii while in the navy and began her family. Mom said when it was decided they would leave the navy and move back to lanes, that she was upset. And the family story is that they rode in a car from connecticut to plains, georgia, and when mom had something to say to dad, she would say, jack, would you tell your father when dad ran for office the first time my mother ran carters warehouse, she loved it. When he went for a Campaign Trip or during the legislative session, she was really pleased to be in the office and be the boss. She told me that when dad started running for president that the thing she enjoyed the most were the people that she met across the country, and that from working in carters warehouse, she said, i was able to speak the languages and prices and yields and relate to everyday issues and farm families especially in iowa. She said because of that, shes the one that helped win that election there. Then as first lady of the United States, always trying to follow the teaching of jesus and to do what he taught her to do as a guideline. She said, you will always get criticized by somebody for everything you do, so you might as well do it right. She and dad were able to make a positive difference in peoples lives and that of so many families, too. My parents 77year partnership is often talked about. Mom was always well informed on the issues of the day. In the white house, mom asked dad so many questions, that he finally said, she should attend cabinet meetings, so she did and caught a lot of flak for that. But she was then able to speak with authority on issues across our country and the world. She would often try and often fail to get dad to do what was right politically. When she couldnt change her dads mind, she would repeat to herself, a leader takes people where they want to go, a great leader takes people where they need to go. Losing the election in 1980 was devastating to us all. My parents were still young, my mother only 53. And they knew they still had more to contribute. She decided they would become missionaries and spent months trying to decide how to accomplish their goal. Finally, they decided as partners to start the Carter Center, which would allow my mother to continue to fight the stigma of Mental Illness and allow them both to help the poorest of the poor on this earth as jesus had taught them. Mom started the Rosalynn Carter institute for caregivers at Georgia Southwestern University to train and support those who help others. At the same time mom and dad continued to support habitat for humanity and mom continued to support the friendship force. She told me that her adventures had led her to more than 120 countries. She had been flyfishing all over the world. She had met kings and queens, president s, others in authority, powerful Corporate Leaders and celebrities. She said the people she felt the most comfortable with and the people she enjoyed being with the most were those that lived in absolute abject poverty, the ones without adequate housing, without a proper diet, and without access to health care. She said daddy kept his word, and she had probably had more adventures than anybody else on earth. Mama is always fun to be with. On the halloween before the pandemic, mom showed up at amys house. Amy lives on a street which closes down on halloween and every house is decorated. Mom was beautifully dressed as a Monarch Butterfly. The secret service were dressed in casually but perfectly as secret service agents. She proceeded to go up and down the street with her great grandchildren and go trickortreating up and down and talk to people all over the street. She got back to amys and was so excited because she had been out so much and nobody had recognized her. After dad was put in hospice, my mother was ripe with dementia. My siblings, my wife, and i would stay with them so there would always be a Family Member around. One day my mother was sitting with my wife, becky, and she was reminiscing on what it was like to go and live in hawaii. And she was talking about learning all the native dances, and she got up from the sofa, pushed her walker away, which she couldnt take a step without and proceeded to do the hula for two or three minutes. She grabbed her walker, turned around and sat back on the sofa and turned to my wife and said thats how you do it. I will always love my mother. I will cherish how she and dad raised their children. Theyd given us such a great example of how a couple should relate. Let me finish by saying that my mother, Rosalynn Carter, was the most beautiful woman ive ever met and pretty to look at, too. Thank you. [applause] thank you, chip. Next well have the reading of the lords prayer. Would you read it with me, please. Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, our kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespass as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the glory and power and the glory forever, amen. Blessed assurance jesus is mine oh what a foretaste of glory divine heir of salvation, purchase of god born of his spirit washed in his blood this is my story this is my song praising my savior all the day long this is my story this is my song praising my savior all the day long this is my story this is my song this is my story this is my song praising my savior all the day long this is my story this is my song praising my savior all the day long a reading from the book of phillippians 4 15, i can do all things in christ who strengthens me. President biden, dr. Biden, president carter, jack, chip, jeff, amy, very distinguished guests and friends, Rosalynn Carter was my boss and became my very good friends. She hired me to direct her projects office at the white house and kept me busy as her volunteer ever since. We shared so many special times together, shopping for beads in a market in ghana, popping in unannounced to a Peer Support Program in americas georgia. Bird watching at the Carter Center. What a remarkable woman she was. Wife, mother, business manager, political strategist, diplomat, advocate, author, yet what i remember most about her was her tireless dedication to taking care of others. She was often found recalling the time that Margaret Mead came to visit her in the white house. Dr. Mead said to her then, our success as a society and our value as individuals must be measured by the passion we show for the most vulnerable among us. In many ways, dr. Mead had captured the very essence of Rosalynn Carter. The issues that claimed her time and attention, Mental Health, support for caregivers, fighting tropical diseases, even building latrines to stop the spread of a blinding eye disease. These were not sexy causes but brought leadership to projects that affected many. She was boundless and her passion for action even more so. I shall never forget the day as first lady she decided to personally visit the refugee camps in thailand where thousands of cambodians lay desperately ill and dying. I have to do something, she said. Rosalynn was determined to help. The doctors in the camps called her the yankee angel because she brought hope where there had been none. As a result of her efforts, a Broad Coalition came together and raised tens of millions of dollars for refugee relief. Her tenure as first lady of the United States was just one chapter in a life that was really devoted to caring and doing good for others. With president carter, she founded the Carter Center as one of the worlds foremost humanitarian organizations. She invited me one year to join her on a trip promoting guinea worm eradication in north africa. In a small village in northern ghana she insisted i meet a little boy being treated in a containment center. You have to see the worm, she said. You have to see how much suffering it causes. The alleviation of suffering has been a intrigal part of rosalynns life for as long as ive known her. While campaigning for her husband early one morning at a factory gate, a woman covered in cotton dust approached her. What is your husband going to do as governor of georgia to help my daughter suffering from Mental Illness . Thus began her more than 50year career as a Mental Health advocate, lobbying for her husband, then the United States congress, and finally later, the w. H. O. To increase support for Mental Health. When students at her alma mater, georgia southwestern, documented the isolation, the stress, and burnout that afflicted so many caregivers in their community, she lent her support to the creation of the Rosalynn Carter institute for caregivers. Today its a national advocate for programs to build resilience and strength and families navigating the daunting challenges of caring for loved ones, a challenge that her own family confronted with grace these last few years. Even the plight of the Monarch Butterfly did not escape rosalynns attention. Threatened by loss of habitat and alarming decline, the monarch needed an advocate and who better than rosalynn. She first started with her garden in plains and then she created a butterfly trail across georgia, and finally she wrote Michelle Obama that the butterfly needed a garden on the white house grounds. A short time later there was a garden on the south lawn. What a remarkable life she led. Born at a time and a place where segregation was the norm. As a young wife she joined the fight against Racial Discrimination in her church and her community, raised during an era when opportunities for women were limited at best, she became an ardent advocate for the equal rights amendment. She ensured that women were well represented in the senior ranks of government, and she even successfully lobbies her husband for equal pay for her east wing staff, something for which i will always be grateful. Married at 18 and the mother of three little boys by the age of 25, she became an invaluable Business Partner in the peanut warehouse operation. When jimmy carter decided to run for the state Senate Without consulting her, the last time he ever did that, she still pitched in as a key campaigner and political strategist, a role in which she excelled in the years that followed. She served our country as one of its most activist and accomplished first ladies. Her legacy is defined not only by her work in Mental Health but also by the multiple roles she played at jimmy carters closest adviser. Personal emissary to the leaders of several latin american countries, consultant on his most important speeches, lobbyist for key legislative initiatives, and spokesperson on controversial policy matters. Once, as she departed for iowa just two days after the grain embargo had been announced, she quipped, i happen to always be the first one out after a major decision or happening, but its interesting. Whether it was the mideast peace negotiations at camp david or planning strategy for the Democratic Convention in 1980, rosalynn was present and a full participant. She loved her time in washington and was very sad to leave, but she returned to georgia ready to pursue her passion to, as she once said, use my influence to give voice to those who may be powerless and persuade the powerful to listen. As i had the privilege of knowing rosalynn over the years, i was constantly reminded that for her, life was truly about helping others and finding joy in the simple act of service. She never sought fame, fortune or accolades for the work that she did, though her accomplishments have been widely recognized and honored. In so many different ways, she promoted a more caring society. A number of years ago at the end of an interview with jon stewart then of the daily show. He said you are truly one of the good people in this world. Today we find a remarkable person, one of the truly good people in the world. May those of us who loved her as a friend on her her life by building a legacy of caring deeply for the most vulnerable among us. [applause] a reading from the book of psalms, may the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, lord, my rock and my redeemer. President carter, President Biden, dr. Biden, Vice President harris, second gentleman, president clinton, secretary clinton, mrs. Bush, misses obama, mrs. Trump, distinguished guests and friends, Rosalynn Carter would be so pleased to see that she brought all of you together on this day. [applause] first, my deepest condolences to you, president carter. To jack, chip, jeff, your families, im honored you asked me to participate today. News reporters and public figures we cover do not always have the smoothest of relationships. Given the nature of our different roles, our interactions can be uncomfortable at times. The first time i met Rosalynn Carter it was 1970 and she was campaigning hard for her husband to be elected governor. It was from the tarmac of a small airport in georgia and i sensed wariness on her part. I was only a cub reporter for an atlanta tv station so that was understandable. Im happy to say that the wariness melted away. It may have taken about 40 years for that to happen. [laughter] but it had by the time she invited me to attend a luncheon in washington where she was receiving and award for her work on care giving. She knew we have a son with disabilities and that care giving is essential in our lives. My respect for her goes back to the beginning. There was always a groundedness and selfassurance about her despite what she later wrote about they are early struggles with public speaking. I covered the carters through their time as georgia governor, through the Historic Campaign for the presidency in 1976, through their years in the white house. What we witnessed was a first lady who saw her role as going well beyond the essential, warm and welcoming host, to being a close and trusted, yes, adviser. In essence and extension of the president himself. A first lady who understood the weight of her words. And especially her actions. A first lady who cared deeply about the american people. About how Government Policies an actions affect their daily lives. A first lady who took on tough asignment, who was, in her words, determined to be taken seriously. And who wasnt afraid of controversy. That started at the very beginning of her time in the white house when, as you heard she made big news by sitting in on cabinet meetings. As she put it, there was no way i could discuss things with jimmy in an intelligence way if i didnt. Continuing her push for something to be done about Mental Health, she issue she had adopted as first daily of georgia she immersed herself in the subject. Insisting that ways be found to bringt out of the shadow, to erase the stigma associated with Mental Illness. She personally lobbied for legislation and she saw it become law. A Childhood Immunization initiative that led to the virtual elimination of measles as a Public Health problem. Took on an ambitious diplomatic mission, a twoweek trip to the caribbean, central and south america. She said she wanted to be valuable in each country. To bring back their concerns to her husband. She had studied his Foreign Policy intently, especially on human rights. She took a cram course in spanish. I was one of the reporters who traveled with her on that 12,000 mile journey. I had not studied spanish and ill never forget the looks on faces of latin leaders as they realized they were dealing with a serious, salespeoplely wellinformed and wellbriefed representative of the president of the United States. The person closer to him than anyone else. Criticism ahead of time that she would be dismissed melted away. She lobbied for other important legislation including one of the earliest efforts to cut the cost of health care. The socalled hospital Cost Containment bill. Mrs. Carter was traveling with the president in japan to attend an economic summit when word came from washington that they were a few votes shy including from a senator traveling with them on the bullet train to kyoto. It was mrs. Carter who spoke to hawaiis senator spark montanaga and persuade thoimed phone in his proxy and the bill passed. And there was the middle east. 13 days of tense talks among president carter, israels bagin an egypts anwar sadat. Mrs. Carter was the one who suggested first they meet at camp david, noting it was far removed from the pressures and the controversies of washington. President carter said she was a partner in his thinking throughout the negotiations. The camp david accords have survived as one of the very few enduring agreements to come out of the middle east. I last interviewed president and mrs. Carter together in plains in july, 2021, as they were celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary. I asked them how they thought President Biden was doing early in his term. President carter was very specific on issue after issue and quite complimentary of the new president. Mrs. Carter said simply, its a great relief to have him in office. And what a love story. For 77 years they adoard each other. And had much in common. Intelligence, compassion, curiosity, courage, and apparently they could both be a little stubborn. She often said the most challenging time of their marriage was when they coauthored a book. My connection with president and mrs. Carter is more than professional. It was a summer of 1976 when i met my husband, al hunt, who was then with the wall street journal, on the Plains High School athletic field. Where competitive thencandidate jimmy carter organized soft bam games between his campaign staff, with a lot of help from the very fit secret service agents, and on the other side the press corps. The press always lost. [laughter] al and i didnt see each other again until the spring of 1977, after nbc news moved me to washington to cover the white house. You know, if jimmy carter hadnt been elected we would likely never have gotten married, had three children, and a grandson. So as fate and only 1,683,247 votes would have it, our lives are connected with theirs. When jimmy carter was running for president the first time, a reporter asked rosalynn why she was campaigning five days a week, 20 hours a day. Her answer . Its a labor of love. Besides, i wont have any regrets if he loses because im doing everything i can possibly do. That to me explains why she did so much, worked so hard throughout her entire life. At the white house and in the many years before and since. Championing the rights of the underserved, coming to the aid of the most vulnerable, doing whatever she could to improve the lives of others. So she wouldnt have regrets that she hadnt done everything in her power to do. Thats who she was. Without Rosalynn Carter i dont believe there would have been a president carter. She and the two of you set and example for all of us. I agree with my friend jim who wrote, her memory will be a blessing, her influence on the world will be her monument, end quote. Because of Rosalynn Carter, millions of lives are better off. What a gift she left. [applause] great is thy faithfulness o god my father blessed am i with thee great is thy faithfulness great is thy faithfulness morning by morning new mercies i see great is thy faithfulness lord unto me great is thy faithfulness great is thy faithfulness morning by morning new mercies i see all i have needed thy hand hath provided great is thy faithfulness lord unto me i chose something that is hard to read would crying, so be patient. My mom spent most of her life in love with my dad. Their partnership and love story was a defining feature of her life. Because he isnt able to speak to you today im going to share some of his words about loving her. This is from a letter he wrote 75 years ago while he was serving in the navy. My darling, every time i have ever been no way from you i have been thrilled when i returned to discover just how wonderful you are. While i am away i tried to convince myself that you really are not, could not be, as sweet and beautiful as i remember. But when i see you, i fall in love with you all over again. Does that seem strange to you . It doesnt to me. Goodbye, darling, until tomorrow. Jimmy. [applause] what wondrous love is this oh my soul for my soul for my soul what wondrous love is this to bear the dreadful course for my soul for my soul to bear the dreadful course for my soul when i was seeking on seeking on seeking on when i was seeking on oh my soul when i was for my soul for my soul to god and to the lamb i will sing i will sing to god and to the lamb i will sing i will sing to god and to the lamb who is the great i am while millions join the theme i will sing i will sing while millions join the theme i will sing and when from death im free ill sing on ill sing on and when from death im free ill sing on and when from death im free ill sing and joyful be and through eternity ill sing on ill sing on and through eternity ill sing on oh my soul what wondrous love is this o my soul o my soul what wondrous love is this o my soul ill sing on and through eternity ill sing on a reading from the book of galatians chapter 5 1314. Serve one another humbly in love, for the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command. Love your neighbor as yourself. Thank you all for being here. As you can see from the service, music was so important to my grandmother and its been just beautiful, so thank you. Governor and first lady kemp, thank you. Senators warnock and alsop, ossoff thank you. Congresspeople, mayor dickens, thank you all. And again a special thank you, secretary clinton, mrs. Bush, mrs. Obama, mrs. Trump, and dr. Biden. Thank you all for coming and acknowledging this remarkable sisterhood that you share with my grandmother. And thank you all for your leadership that you provided for our country and the world. Secretary clinton and dr. Biden , we also welcome your lovely husbands. [laughter] this is a difficult day for my family. But we have been so enormously gratified by the love and support that we have felt from across the world. So thank you so much. As reverend warnock told me, my grandmother doesnt need a eulogy. Her life was a sermon. And it was a mighty testament to the power of faith and to the power of a deep and determined love. And she lived this public love story that we all know of. That has inspired the world including in these last days. Including in these last days. And i think of all the things , she accomplished, her most viral moment was when they were at a baseball game and the braves put them on the kiss cam. [laughter] and just like today, i mean, people were crying at the braves game, you know. [laughter] but we heard about it for years. Its amazing. But in my family, we all experienced those more private love stories. She was my grandmother, first, and she was like everyone elses grandmother in a lot of ways. Almost all of her recipes call for mayonnaise, for example. We all got cards from her on our birthdays, 20 bill in it. When i was 45, 20 bill. [laughter] like. She was so down to earth, yall, it was amazing. One of the stories we have been talking about in my family the last few days, we were on a family trip. We were on a flight on delta from here to somewhere. We were all sitting in the back of the airplane together, it took off and we looked over, and my grandmother took out this tupperware of pimiento cheese and this loaf of bread and started making sandwiches. And she gave it to all of us grandkids. Then she started giving them to all the people on the plane. People were sitting there like Rosalynn Carter just made me this sandwich. They couldnt believe it but she loved people. She was cool, like, she did tai chi with a sword. If you want to see a 5yearold boy be excited, theyd come back, dad, did you know mom carter has a sword . She once told me about this trip yall took to havana in the 1950s. She said yall went down there for the night and didnt get a hotel room, and i said, what did you do . She looked at me like, we danced. [laughter] we slept on the plane. They danced, didnt they . She was a rock for our family. And thats true. But in many ways she was more, as chip said, an advencherer, a adventurer, a voyager, a mountain climber. She learned to ski in her 60s and skied for 25 more years. As chip said, she fished trout streams from georgia to wyoming and from venezuela to siberia. Visited 120 countries. Climbed mount kilimanjaro, fount mount fuji, summited peaks in bolivia and other places. She went to the Everest Base Camp in nepal. I can guarantee she was looking up at that thing, thinking, if they would just let me. [laughter] and based on what she did i think she could have done it. She was born just a few years after women got the right to vote. In this small town in the south where people were still plowing their fields behind mules. But she was made for these long journeys and she was made to summit these mountains. As they said before when she started in politics, she had never talked to a group of people bigger than her sunday school class. And then she elected a governor, and a president , she shaped our national policy, she faced down dictators herself on issues of human rights. She built the Carter Center from an idea into a powerhouse of human rights. As chair of that board, ive watched her do it. Its because she poured out her love. All over the world. Especially as kathy said to end of the road, her 122 countries included liberia and mali and sudan. It was natural for her to open up her heart to those people, not with pity. But as partners. And she knew in those communities and recognized that ancient steel from rural women who carried their children and their communities on their backs. Whether theyre from a 600person town in south georgia or south sudan. As the song says, she knew what comes back when you give your love away. And for my grandmother, what came back was this unshakeable strength and this powerful faith and not just an abiding love but a fierce, determined, advench adventurous love that sustained her on all of these long journeys. Journeys like caffe mentioned which has taken almost 40 years. But the Carter Centers unwavering efforts and their powerful partners in these tiny villages took a disease that affected 3. 5 Million People every year in the poorest parts of the world. This year, there wont be millions of cases, papaw, we have had seven total cases. And were in the last mile because she could see far. And she kept going. Was not afraid of these long journeys. Her advocacy for Mental Health was a 50year climb that is as remarkable as any other. And its been mentioned already , but if you imagine just how far our society has come in the last five years on issues of Mental Health, and you think that she decided in 1970 to tackle the ancient stigma associated with Mental Illness. It is remarkable how far she could see and how far she was willing to walk. That effort changed lives and it saved lives, including in my own family. She was made for these long journeys. The Rosalynn Carter institute helps caregivers because you cant journey alone. Even the Rosalynn Carter butterfly trail goes 3000 miles from mexico to canada. John lewis once said in all his marches, he only learned one thing. Dont let them turn you around. That was my grandmother to a t. One of my last memories of her was in a hospital. We were there for my grandfather but she had her own physical limitations that made it hard for her to walk she had to practice. She was ready to go for one of these walks. And she picked up this cane and i looked at the cane, she looked at me, and she said, you know, its not a cane. She said, its a trekking pole. [laughter] she said, its the exact same kind those women use when they go to the south pole. I watched her walk down that hall, that trekking pole. And i followed her. And i just pray that we never lose sight of that path. Amen and thank you. [applause] imagine theres no heaven its easy if you try no hell below us above us only sky imagine all the People Living for today imagine theres no countries it isnt hard to do nothing to kill or die for and no religion too imagine all the People Living life in peace you may say im a dreamer im not the only one hope some day youll join us and the world will be as one imagine no possessions i wonder if you can no need for greed or hunger brotherhood of man imagine all the people sharing all the world you may say im a dreamer but im not the only one hope someday youll join us and the world will live as one [applause] a reading from the gospel of matthew 5 68. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see god. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me let there be peace on earth a peace that was meant to be with god as our father, love and harmony, let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me let this be the moment now with every step i take, may this be my solemn vow to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me let there be peace on earth the peace that was meant to be with god as our father, brothers all are we let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony let peace begin with me let this be the moment now with every step i take, let this be my solemn vow to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me you may be seated. I also want to remind you that im going to give you some directions for the house, and that if you violate those directions, some of the first ladys bodyguards might just you got my message. [laughter] remain seated when the procession starts out, out of respect for the family. Youve heard everything about this great soul. Youve heard that she was from plains, georgia. You heard the fact that she loved and she had compassion, even for a butterfly. You heard the fact how she loved her grandchildren. And oh, how she loved j. C. , jimmy carter. I also have to tell you that she loved j. C. , jesus christ. And i believe the reason why she did so much of the things she did, because she read in spanish and english that faith without works is dead being alone. So when she read the word of god it went to her head. And then it got in her heart. And somewhere in the kingdom of god, ambassador young, she decided to put her hands to the things of god. From her head, to her heart, to her hands. Mr. President , she made it a habit. From her head, to her heart, to her hands. And she made it a habit. If you love our first lady, who was global, make it a habit. Take your passion and make it a habit. Link your passion up with compassion. And then there will be peace. And then there would be love. And then well have a house united, not divided. She would say thank you to all the first ladies that came. And stopped all the traffic in georgia and atlanta. [laughter] mr. President , she would say thank you for the time you came down to visit president jimmy carter and sat in the living room, you and your beautiful bride. She would say thanks to all of you, governors, she would say thank you. But i want to tell you something, to all the staff, she would say thank you. But theres somebody in here who is very important and only them are going to get what im about to say. Theres some folks that make all this possible. Their sole mission is to make sure you get home safe. For 46 years, the men and women of the secret service have made sure that she got home safe. For 46 years. They left their families and traveled with rosalynn. They made sure, garth, that she got home safe. For 46 years, they gave themselves, jason, they had ice cream. Peanut butter ice cream. They did all the things she did. For 46 years, they made sure she got home safe. I want to tell each and every one of them, she would tell you, thank you. You got me home safe. [applause] oftentimes, mr. President , we dont acknowledge those who keep us safe. Rosalynn carter is in heaven and she did the work of the lord in the kingdom all around the world, and don, and all the directors for 46 years, got her and her family home safe. And i say thank each and every one of you. Those that are standing post and those that are listening on the radios right now. Thank you, and she loves you, and aint nothing you can do about it. [laughter] were going to have the benediction prayer. Theyre going to sing. And i remind you, please, sir, please, maam, the bible says i beseech you, governor. Dont move. Father, in the name of jesus, thank you for this glorious celebration of this wonderful, great soul that has fallen in our midst, but she is not dead. Shes alive in each and every one of us, shes alive in 122 countries, shes alive in every hall in our government. Shes alive in every nonprofit in this nation and around the world. Shes alive. Shes resting in the arms of jesus. We ask that you comfort each and every soul here today. As her sons and daughters of the secret service take her back home to plains. In jesus name i pray, amen. The lord bless you and keep you the lord make his countenance upon you lift his countenance upon you and give you peace and give you peace and give you peace the lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and be gracious the lord be gracious gracious unto you Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen [wind beneath my wings playing] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2023] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] announcer weeknights at 9 00 eastern, cspans encore presentation of books that shaped america. Cspan partnered with the library of congress which explored key pieces of legislation literature that had a profound impact on our country. Tonight we feature free to choose with our guest, lecture of economics at the university of california santa barbara. Watches cspans encore presentation of books that shaped america, weeknights at 9 00 eastern on cspan, or go to cspan. Org booksthatshap edamerica to view the series and learn more about each book featured. Announcer looking for while considering the past. Youre asking middle and High School Teachers to create a five to six minute video addressing one of these questions. In the next 20 years, what is the most important change you would like to see in america over the past 20 years, what has been the most important change in america. As we do each year we are giving away 100,000 in total prizes with a grand prize of 5,000. And every teacher who has students participate in this years competition has an opportunity to share aortion of an additional 50,000. Friday, january 19, 2024. For information, visit our website at studentcam. Org. Announcer cspans campaign 20 torry for coverage continues with the president ial primary caucuses. 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Announcer wow supports cspan as aublic service, along with these other television providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. Announcer and now, Ohio Republican senator j. D. Vance outlines his vision for the republican party, including workforce training and higher education, building the Defense Industrial base, and supporting american families. He also talks about aid to ukraine during his 20 minute remarks. Hi, senator. Thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate you taking the time