PresidentJoe Bidenand wife First Lady Dr.Jill Bidenmarked their 100 days in office on Thursday with a trip to a rally in Georgia — as well as stop over to visit withJimmyandRosalynn Carter.
On Thursday afternoon, the Bidens, who are set to attend a drive-in rally in the Atlanta area on Thursday night,first visitedthe Carters' hometown of Plains.
While en route to Georgia that morning, the president shared a brief moment with his wife, picking her a dandelionbefore they boarded Marine One.
The Carters and the Bidens have a relationship stretching back years and former President Carter has regularly received visits in Plains from Democratic politicians.
In a video message that will play before this weekend’s world premiere ofCarterland, a new film about the former president, Biden also reflected on their years-long bond.
President Joe Biden (right) picks a dandelion for First Lady Dr. Jill Biden as they walk to Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House on Thursday.Sarah Silbiger/Getty
“Mr. President, I’ll never forget March 25, 1976. That was the day I traveled to Wisconsin and became the first United States senator, the first elected official outside of Georgia, to endorse you, Gov. Jimmy Carter, for president of the United States,” Biden says at the start of the video. “All those years ago, Gov. Carter proved me right and in the years since, President Carter did a lot more than that. He showed us throughout his entire life what it means to be a public servant, with an emphasis on the word servant.”
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Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter (center) walks President Joe Biden (right) and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden out after they after visited her and former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday in Plains, Georgia.BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/getty
Left: former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in 2015.Michael Tran/FilmMagic
Biden also shared a few words about Carter’s friend and vice president, Walter Mondale, whodied this monthat the age of 93.
“Of course there’s another partnership on our minds right now, and that’s the partnership you and your vice president, our friend Walter Mondale had,” Biden said in the video message, noting that Mondale was one of the first people he called afterBarack Obamaasked to consider joining his presidential ticket.
“I miss him. We’re all going to miss him,” Biden said.
Although the Carters were not present for Biden’sinaugurationin January, they sent well-wishes ahead of time.
“Mr. President, the night before I put my hand on the family Bible and swore the oath of office, you called Jill and me to wish us well and tell us that you would be there in spirit,” Biden said in his video message. “President and Mrs. Carter I want to thank you for your friendship, your leadership. For showing all of us what it means to be an American. Simply put, we love you and may God bless you both.”
The Carters, who have remained dedicated to theirhumanitarian workover the years, celebrated 74 years of marriage in 2020, making them thelongest-married presidential couple. President Carter is also the oldest-ever living former commander-in-chief.
“It’s hard to live until you’re 95 years old,” hetold PEOPLEin 2019, crediting his wife as the source for his energy. “I think the best explanation for that is to marry the best spouse: someone who will take care of you and engage and do things to challenge you and keep you alive and interested in life.”
source: people.com
