By Maureen Dowd
At his funeral on Thursday, Jimmy Carter was precisely where he wished to be — distanced from his presidential peers, and somewhat elevated above them.
When Brian Williams questioned Carter in 2010 regarding a notable Oval Office image with President Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and the Bushes, where Carter had placed himself apart, he acknowledged feeling “superior” to the others due to his remarkable post-presidency achievements.
The scene in Washington last week was remarkable: a deceased leader and a resurrected leader at polar opposite ends of the ethical spectrum. There was Carter, the virtuous, ascending to the heavens, while Trump, the convicted, sought ascent back to the Oval Office. Carter’s commitment to integrity contrasted sharply with Trump’s propensity for deceit.
As tributes flowed at Carter’s state funeral at the National Cathedral for his diligent efforts to eradicate global diseases, Trump was on the hunt for a malady to associate with immigrants to rationalize closing the border.
While the centenarian was celebrated for his integrity and his enduring 77-year marriage to Rosalynn, Trump was preparing for sentencing related to his vice — falsifying documents to conceal an affair with an adult film actress while Melania cared for their newborn.
As Carter received accolades for being ahead of the curve on climate change, Donald “Drill, Baby, Drill!” Trump clings to his outdated views even as neighborhoods in Los Angeles are engulfed in flames.
Carter was a genuinely devout individual. Witnessing his joy while teaching Sunday school in Plains, Georgia, was memorable. Trump perceives faith as a transactional tool, much like everything else he approaches.
In his eulogy, President Joe Biden subtly shaded Trump by emphasizing Carter’s “character, character, character.” However, Biden’s own attempts to conceal his aging struggles make him an imperfect messenger on that front.
The sight in the first three rows of the nave was captivating, a potent mix of historical rivalries, resentments, scars from battles, and moments of the unique camaraderie that arises from belonging to the world’s most influential club.
Trump may feel uplifted by his victory, yet in this elite circle, he remained largely an unwelcome self-absorbed figure. Karen Pence, still not having moved past Trump’s dismissal of his followers’ threats to hang her husband at the Capitol, kept Trump at bay in the pews. Others appeared to do so as well, including Hillary, Bill, Kamala, Doug, Joe, and Jill (who was also in a bit of tension next to Kamala). Mike Pence offered a handshake, turning the other cheek.
W. clearly has not altered his view of Trump since he famously remarked, after witnessing his inaugural speech, “That was some weird shit.” He ignored Trump, who has accused the younger Bush president of failing to prevent 9/11 and of being responsible for the Iraq invasion, which Trump referred to as “possibly the worst decision” in presidential history. Nevertheless, W. greeted Al Gore warmly, likely appreciative that, unlike Trump with Biden, Gore conceded their closely fought election. W. also playfully tapped Obama’s stomach, as though they were old fraternity brothers reuniting.
Michelle Obama, weary of the entire political atmosphere, opted not to attend. Eager to mingle with the influential, Trump approached Barack. The president-elect views W., Gore, Hillary, Kamala, Pence, Biden, and Carter as failures, yet Obama won twice and transcended his party with a personality cult, as Trump did.
Melania, dressed like a Valentino devotee, appeared lost in her own thoughts, perhaps searching for the quickest way out of D.C.
It might seem improbable that the man who sold the presidential yacht, dismissed “Hail to the Chief” as overly grand, and washed Ziploc bags to reuse had much in common with the ostentatious Monarch of Glitz.
Yet Carter and Trump both exhibited tendencies toward excess, each vain in their own manner; Carter’s excessive virtue often frustrated Americans during his presidency with his frugal micromanagement and blunt, discouraging truths. Who wishes to be led into a quagmire of despondency? Trump thrives in the superficiality that Carter renounced, peddling Bibles and cologne. He often resorts to extreme degradation of others, veering into harsh cruelty.
Both prided themselves on being outsiders challenging conventions, and both were steeped in grievances.
During my visit to Plains in 2017 to interview Carter for his 93rd birthday, his grievances were apparent. He expressed feelings of being overlooked and mistreated by his Democratic successors (much as they grew annoyed with him for his independent diplomatic ventures and virtue-signaling criticisms). Carter admitted he didn’t even possess Obama’s email. He stated that his best relationship with a successor was with George H.W. Bush, and he lamented his wife being excluded from a mental health forum for first ladies held by Michelle Obama, despite it being Rosalynn’s special initiative.
Despite his reputation for avoiding political maneuvering, Carter played the political game skillfully during my interview at his unassuming home, donning a prominent “JC” belt buckle and showcasing the furniture he crafted. He was ahead of the curve in acknowledging Trump, which many Republicans and tech leaders have since followed, defending him regarding his hypocritical ties to evangelicals — possibly in hopes of encouraging Trump to send him on a diplomatic mission to North Korea.
During a concert for his birthday, when the pianist asked if he had a song request, he responded, “Imagine.”
The iconic John Lennon song was performed by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood at the Washington funeral.
The farmer from Plains always dreamt of envisioning a world where individuals coexist in peace, treating one another with basic human dignity. If only the Chaotic Emperor could take a lesson from that.
