Biden remembers "dear friend" Jimmy Carter for his "decency"

What he's saying: Biden said the death of his "dear friend" was a "sad day," but it brought back "an incredible amount" of good memories of a "remarkable leader," who was a statesman and humanitarian.

• "It was not only his policies," said Biden, who remembered the Carters as "very kind."
• It was "his character, his decency," continued Biden, who described Carter as an example of "simple decency."
• He added: "Can you imagine Jimmy Carter walking by someone who needs something and just keeps walking? Can you imagine Jimmy Carter referring to someone by the way they look or the way they talk? I can't. I can't."
• While some could see Carter as "a man of a bygone era with honesty, character, faith and humility," Biden said he saw him as "not only of our times, but for all times" — someone who embodies "the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away."

More from Axios:

• Jimmy Carter's life in photos
• 10 memorable Jimmy Carter quotes
• "A man of great character": All 4 living presidents pay tribute to Jimmy Carter

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that then-Sen. Biden was not the first person to endorse Carter for president in 1976.