Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2023

November 19, 2023

Q. Mr. President, your thoughts on Rosalynn Carter? Your thoughts on theâformer First Lady?

The President. I'll take one question; then I'll depart. The day she was put in hospice, I was on the phone with the family, and I was speaking to their grandson, and the family was just showing up. You know, they're really an incredible family because they brought so much grace to the office.

And you know, it's one thing if you'reâif one is being President, and you're putting on the show while you're President. Look at what kind of post-President he was. He did the same thing for people after he was President, when he was retiredânot for money, for just help. He was an incredible guy.

Iâhe still is there. I haven'tâI talked to the family todayânot the family, the family spokesman today in Plains. And I was told that all the family, all the children and grandchildren are with Jimmy Carter.

And I always joked that he always would say to me, "You're the first person to ever"âI endorsed him. I was the first person to endorse him, as a U.S. Senator, when he ran.

But he had just great integrity. He still does. And she did too. Imagine, they were togetherâ what? Seventy-seven years.

Anyway, I hopeâanyway, they were all satisfiedâthey were happyâthe family that I talkedâthat they were together. They were together.

So God bless you all. Thanks.

NOTE: The President spoke at 5:26 p.m. on the tarmac at Naval Station Norfolk. In his remarks, he referred to Jason Carter, grandson of former President James E. Carter, Jr, and Mrs. Carter. The transcript was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on November 20.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, remarks on death at Joint Base Andrews, MD; Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters, Joint Base Andrews, MD.

Locations: Joint Base Andrews, MD.

Names: Carter, Rosalynn; Carter, James E., Jr.; Carter, Jason.

Subjects: Deaths, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter; Maryland, Joint Base Andrews; Maryland, President's visit.

DCPD Number: DCPD202301038.

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