Look at their expressions — serious, marked by experience, carrying the burden of significant choices. If you tally their total years of life, it amounts to 379, a duration that could take us back to the 1650s, a time when the concept of America as a nation had yet to take root.
Reflect on the reason for their gathering: to pay tribute to a fellow member of their esteemed group, the last representative of his era, whose life began shortly after the end of World War I.
Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden were all present.
On Thursday, within the sacred space of Washington National Cathedral, these five former presidents convened to honor the late Jimmy Carter during his state funeral. This gathering momentarily stitched together a narrative of American history, linking them to figures like the Roosevelts, Lincoln, and Washington, who was the first to hold the position. Close by, four other individuals — Dan Quayle, Al Gore, Mike Pence, and Kamala Harris, the current vice president — were also visible, all of whom have at one point been a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.
The American government’s three branches were designed to operate independently of any single individual. However, due to the public’s fascination with personality and our cultural tendency to elevate individuals, the role of the President of the United States has evolved into a unique entity — a blend of the individual and the office that occupies a distinctive cultural space.
The presidency is steeped in tradition and ritual. For instance, “Hail to the Chief” plays as a president enters a formal function, and audiences rise to acknowledge the president’s presence. A protective shield surrounds their every movement, and speeches are delivered under the authority of the presidential seal. This significance is felt acutely, continuing even during elaborate memorials that last several days.
The presence of these five individuals — who are not always aligned ideologically — at Carter’s funeral is especially remarkable.
Yet, the striking aspect is not solely that they guided the nation through significant events like the Kosovo conflict, the aftermath of 9/11, the Iraq War, the rise of the internet, through economic strife, climate change, and a global pandemic. It’s not just about the mixed opinions regarding their leadership, both commendable and controversial.
In fact, it is quite the opposite.
Witnessing these historical figures sitting side by side in the cathedral highlights their humanity, reflecting that they are individuals like everyone else. On this day of remembrance, they came together in a show of unity to honor someone who represented the values of a previous generation. This singular image, where no one — not even the sitting president — was in command, serves to humanize them. It reinforces Abraham Lincoln’s timeless assertion of a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
“The power of regular people,” expressed Jason Carter, the grandson of Jimmy Carter, during his eulogy.
In a nation where the influence of political donations is vast and complex, it’s important to note that these five leaders are not considered “regular people” in the traditional sense. The authority they wield, have wielded, or will wield is formidable.
Yet, ultimately, this power is constrained, not only by the system of checks and balances but also by the interpretations of history. Regardless of how Biden, Trump, Obama, Bush, and Clinton are judged in the annals of history, the narrative will always embody the essence of Carter, for whom they gathered.
Even so, the imagery of Thursday is undeniably significant. As Stuart Eizenstat, a close friend and advisor to Carter, aptly noted during the service, “He may not be a candidate for Mount Rushmore, but he belongs in the foothills.”
