WASHINGTON – Joe Biden was the inaugural U.S. senator to back Jimmy Carter’s unexpected presidential campaign, perceiving the progressive southerner and fiscal conservative as a vital transitioning leader for a Democratic Party grappling with losses among working-class supporters.

They shared a vision and both understood the feeling of being underestimated.

This marked the beginning of their complicated and intertwined relationship, which persisted until the end—culminating in Biden set to honor Carter by delivering his eulogy at Carter’s request. Biden referred to Carter as “the spirit and the heart of the American people.”

“To me, what Jimmy Carter embodies is pure decency, just pure decency,” Biden remarked Sunday. “That’s what the rest of the world looks to America for.”

Biden expressed admiration and friendship for Carter.

“I’ve been spending time with Jimmy Carter for more than 50 years,” he shared.

Remaining Grounded

A crucial element of their relationship was both men’s ability to stay grounded despite their achievements, according to Jason Carter, Jimmy’s grandson.

“My grandparents have a strong bond through their shared ability to navigate the challenges of politics while remaining true to themselves,” Jason Carter told YSL News.

Nonetheless, they had their differences.

Biden criticized Carter for failing to effect change within the Democratic Party.

“He couldn’t break through the entrenched beliefs of the Democratic Party, and he couldn’t break through his own limitations,” Biden reflected in his memoir “Promises to Keep,” where he described Carter’s administration as overly insular.

Reviving America’s Essence

Biden has sought to address the changes faced by non-college-educated workers, positioning his presidency as part of a “blue-collar strategy to rebuild America.”

However, similar to how “Reagan Democrats” contributed to Carter’s electoral defeat, Trump’s appeal among non-college-educated voters played a pivotal role in his return in the 2024 race.

After Biden’s victory over Trump in 2020, he promised to “restore the soul of America,” drawing inspiration from Carter—even though Biden regarded Carter’s strong morals during his presidency as potentially excessive.

“You thump that Bible just one more time,” Biden narrated he warned Carter, “and you might lose me too.”

To truly understand Carter, Biden noted with admiration on Sunday, one must realize that “he has never stopped being a Sunday school teacher at that Baptist church in Plains, Georgia.”

Concerns Over Experience

Carter appeared to have his reservations regarding Biden’s qualifications for the presidency.

In 2019, while Biden was campaigning at age 76, Carter expressed doubt about whether a senior citizen could handle the pressures of the White House, considering that he was in his 50s during his own presidency.

However, Biden later reflected in his memoir that he learned valuable lessons about the importance of experience from Carter’s time in office.

“Jimmy Carter was a good man with solid principles, but that alone wasn’t sufficient,” Biden wrote. “That’s when I first understood that gaining experience while serving as president can be risky.”

Biden’s Perception of Trust Issues with Carter

Biden, known for his skills in Congress, often felt that Carter, who was new to Washington, was rather aloof. Despite dedicating time traveling the country to support Carter during his campaign—an effort Carter later recognized, stating Biden was his “most effective supporter” in 1976—Biden sensed a lack of trust from Carter, notably during their brief meetings where Carter often checked his watch.

As a Foreign Affairs Committee member, Biden attempted to bridge gaps between Carter and foreign leaders, particularly with German chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who was upset with Carter over his sudden decision to cancel the neutron bomb deployment in Western Europe.

When Schmidt was preparing for talks with the Soviets concerning an arms limitation agreement, he refused to engage with Carter or his secretary of state beforehand. However, he was willing to discuss matters with Biden, expressing his frustrations over Carter but assuring Biden that he wouldn’t betray the West.

Biden Supported Carter on Panama Canal Treaties

Biden played a significant role in helping defend Carter’s treaties transferring control of the Panama Canal to Panama, a notable achievement for Carter’s foreign policy.

Additionally, Biden attempted—but was unsuccessful—in assisting Carter with the ratification of the SALT II nuclear arms treaty with the Soviet Union.

Biden and Carter Experienced Clashes Disagreement on Busing

During Jimmy Carter’s presidency, Joe Biden often aligned with Carter, voting alongside him more frequently than many senators from his party in three out of four years, as reported by CQ Almanac.

However, their relationship faced challenges because of the controversial topic of busing used for school integration.

Biden, who opposed court-mandated busing in his home state, aimed to gain Carter’s backing for legislation that would restrict judges from mandating busing of white students to predominantly Black schools and vice versa. Carter considered Biden’s initiative unconstitutional, as noted by biographer Jonathan Alter.

This disagreement strained their relationship. In September 1977, Biden expressed his frustration about the president he had supported: “Nixon had his enemies list, and President Carter has his friends list. I guess I’m on his friends list, and I don’t know which is worse,” Alter recounted in “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life.”

Following Ted Kennedy’s announcement of his intent to challenge Carter for the 1980 Democratic nomination, Biden contemplated running as a consensus candidate. Ultimately, he decided against it, admitting later that he wasn’t prepared to explain why he wanted to be president or what his plans would be if he won.

In the 1980 reelection campaign for Carter, Biden’s involvement was less significant than in 1976, but he still made contributions.

“On July 31, 1980, Joe Biden along with twelve other senators met at lunch to strategize support for me,” Carter recorded in his diary. “They held a press conference afterward that received minimal media attention – as expected.”

Biden’s Gains from Carter’s Vice Presidency Reforms

When Biden decided to run as Barack Obama’s vice president in 2008, it was influenced by changes Carter had made to the role of vice president. Walter Mondale, who served under Carter, was not just an assistant but a genuine partner, enjoying a West Wing office, privileged access to meetings, and personal lunches with the president.

Mondale was the first person Biden turned to for advice outside his family when considering joining Obama.

“He shared with me how his weekly lunches with President Jimmy Carter became the foundation of their effective collaboration,” Biden mentioned in his 2017 book “Promise me, Dad.” “So, Barack and I decided to adopt that practice, ensuring we had regular private discussions where we could speak openly and honestly about everything bothering us.”

“The Right Leader for This Time”

As Biden secured the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, Carter referred to him as “the right person for this moment in our nation’s history.”

“He acknowledges that honesty and dignity are essential qualities that shape both our vision and our actions,” Carter stated during his endorsement at the Democratic National Convention, praising Biden as a loyal and dedicated friend for many years. “Now, more than ever, that’s what we require.”

Unfortunately, Carter could not attend Biden’s inauguration, marking the first presidential inauguration he missed since he took office in 1977.

The night before the inauguration, Carter called to extend his best wishes, assuring Biden that he would be with him in spirit.

In Carter’s final months, Biden regularly wrote to him, expressing his thoughts and prayers.

According to Jason Carter, these communications were less about substantial discussions and more about “celebrating a lifetime of friendship.”

On Sunday, Biden reflected on Carter, saying that the world might not witness someone like him again.
“Everyone would benefit from trying to embody a bit of Jimmy Carter’s spirit,” he remarked. “He always stepped up when called upon.”