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Americans traveled from across the country on Wednesday to visit former President Jimmy Carter, who was in state at the US Capitol, ahead of his funeral Thursday
A handful of visitors spoke to Fox News while waiting in line see Carter’s casket – some knew him personally and others simply admired the late president.
Catherine, from nearby Gaithersburg, Maryland, said it was important for her to pay her respects to Carter because he was inspirational in how he spent so much of his life helping others.
“One of the reasons I respect him is that he showed a lot of us seniors that when you retire, you don’t just stop working,” he told Fox News’ Rich Edson. “You can use your resources, your experience to help other people, and that’s what I hope to do.”
AN “EXTRAORDINARY MAN”: FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER IS IN STATE AHEAD OF STATE FUNERAL
A Boy Scout troop salutes the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter at his lying-in-state ceremony inside the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 8, 2025. (SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images)
Georgia native Riley Cagle said she made the trip to Washington, D.C., because Carter was a “dear friend of (her) family” and was unable to attend his funeral in the Peach State.
Riley Cagle’s grandparents Gerald (second from left) and Brenda (far right) pose for a photo with former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn. (Riley Cagle)
Although Cagle did not know him personally, he said his aunt was one of Carter’s best friends and that she was in attendance when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His grandparents also knew Carter and they had shared several “amazing” stories about him growing up, including his love of pineapple sandwiches.
“Man, they just don’t make them like him anymore,” Cagle said, adding that “they didn’t make them like him back then either.”
Former President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn were spotted in 1983 with Riley Cagle’s great-grandmother. (Riley Cagle)
Natalie, another visitor from Maryland, said Carter was “the epitome of a faithful and humble servant” and congratulated him on a “job well done.”
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Respect for Carter transcended political lines as Ted McConnell, a staffer on former President Gerald Ford’s 1976 campaign, was on hand at the Capitol on Wednesday.
“As you know, President Ford and President Carter became compatriots and close friends after the presidency, so today I’m supporting both President Ford and President Carter,” said McConnell, who even wore a “Jimmy Carter for President” button.
Former President Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024 at his home in Plains, Georgia. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)
McConnell said he appreciated everything the humanitarian work that Carter did around the world and had “the honor of honoring him at his laying (sic) in state” on Wednesday.
Another man attended with a similar “Jimmy for President” pin, but actually volunteered to work on the late president’s campaign as a high school student and attended Carter’s 1977 inauguration.
Eric Stromayer told Fox News’ Chad Pergram that lines to see Carter’s casket were moving quickly and encouraged “those who want to give a well-respected president a good send-off to come down and take advantage of the opportunity”.
Thousands of people traveled to Washington, DC between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning to pay their respects to former President Jimmy Carter as he lay in state inside the rotunda of the US Capitol. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Carter’s casket will be removed from the rotunda at 9am on Thursday to be taken to Washington National Cathedral before his state funeral at 10am.
His remains will be flown to Georgia later in the day via Special Air Mission 39 for a private ceremony in his hometown of Plains.
Fox News’ Rich Edson and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
