The country was saddened on Sunday at the news that Rosalynn Carter had died at the age of 96, and while dignitaries everywhere began paying tribute to the late former first lady, one particular expression of sympathy struck a rather embarrassing note, as the Daily Mail reports.
In an attempt to convey condolences on behalf of himself and his wife, former President Bill Clinton's X account inadvertently included a tribute posted on the occasion of Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein's death back in September.
As news of Mrs. Carter's death began to spread, Clinton took to social media to declare, “Rosalynn Carter was the embodiment of a life lived with purpose.”
However, that seemingly heartfelt sentiment was followed by a statement paying tribute to Feinstein – the same one used when the Democrat lawmaker passed away earlier this fall.
The Mail noted that initially, the post was edited and then deleted altogether before a corrected, lengthier statement specific to Mrs. Carter was published shortly thereafter.
Following the aforementioned corrections, the statement from the Clintons honored Rosalynn Carter as “a compassionate and committed champion of human dignity everywhere.”
Bill and Hillary praised the former first lady and called her “an unwavering voice for the overlooked and underrepresented.”
“Because of her early leadership on childhood immunization, millions of Americans have grown up healthier,” the Clintons added. “And through her decades of work at the Carter Center and with Habitat for Humanity, she spread hope, health, and democracy across the globe.”
Bill Clinton added a personal touch by noting, “Hillary and I are deeply grateful for her extraordinary service to our nation and world, and for more than 40 years of friendship.”
Fortunately, there were plenty of other high-profile figures whose public statements on Mrs. Carter's passing did not encounter technical difficulties such as those that plagued the Clintons, with a long list of prominent Americans giving voice to the esteem in which they held the late wife of former President Jimmy Carter.
Joe and Jill Biden, for their part, heralded the inspiration Mrs. Carter's legacy offers generations of Americans, saying, “She was a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; and advocate for mental health and wellness for every person; and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones, and people with disabilities.”
Speaking on behalf of himself and wife Laura Bush, former President George W. Bush characterized Mrs. Carter as a pillar of strength for her husband and observed, “their partnership set a wonderful example of loyalty and fidelity.”
Former President Donald Trump opined that Mrs. Carter “earned the admiration and gratitude” of the entire nation for her “legacy of extraordinary accomplishment and national service,” while former first lady Melania Trump said, “We will always remember her servant's heart and devotion to her husband, family, and country.”
Rosalynn Carter died at her Plains, Georgia home with family by her side, just two days after entering hospice care. In addition to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, she is survived by millions of Americans who will continue to honor her decades of service and devotion in both the personal and public spheres.
