Gerald Ford's eulogy to his 'old friend'

Before the president Jimmy Carter is buried, his colleagues and loved ones honor his life.

And that includes the late president Gerald Fordwho had made a deal with President Carter during his lifetime to write and read the other's eulogy at his funeral. But given that Ford, who died in 2006, was 11 years older than Carter, he had already called on his son. Steven Ford read the eulogy on his behalf – a promise Steven kept at the January 9 funeral at the National Cathedral.

“By the fate of a brief season, Jimmy Carter and I were rivals,” Ford's youngest son read. “But for many of the wonderful years that followed, friendship bonded us like no other president since John Adams And Thomas Jefferson.”

He went on to read his father's words: “According to a map, there is a long way from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Plains, Georgia. But distances tend to disappear when measured in values ​​rather than miles. And it's because of our shared values ​​that Jimmy and I respected each other as adversaries, even before we cherished each other as dear friends.