Jimmy Carter turns 100: Biden pays tribute to his 'beloved friend'

President Joe Biden paid tribute to his 'good friend' Jimmy Carter on occasion of the former president's 100th birthday, calling him a 'moral force' for the country.

'Happy 100th birthday,' Biden said in a video posted to the White House social media accounts. 'You've always been a moral force for our nation and the world.'

'You're one of the most influential stories in our history. Even after you left office, the moral clarity you showed throughout your career showed through again, your commitment through the Carter Center and the Habitat for Humanity,' he added.

'Mr. President, I admire you so darn much and God continue to bless you: Mr. President and a good friend,' he said.

Biden 81, spoke in front of Carter's presidential portrait on display at the White House. The video included images of a young Joe Biden, then a senator from Delaware, in the Oval Office with President Carter.

Biden was an early endorser of Carter's when Carter ran in the Democratic presidential primary in 1976. He and Jill Biden stayed close to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. 

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Additionally, the North Lawn of the White House features a display that includes the number '100' with the message 'Happy Birthday President Carter' in honor of the 39th president.

The former president is spending his birthday at his home in Plains, Ga., where he has been in hospice care for 19 months.

He is the first former U.S. president to live to be 100. 

Carter became an inspiration after his one-term in office for his post-presidency work, when he became a Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian and an advocate for democracy. 

He and Rosalynn established The Carter Center in 1982 to 'wage peace, fight disease, and build hope.' 

His grandson Jason Carter told The New York Times that the former president has 'really gotten re-engaged with the world.' 

He admitted the family worried for their patriarch after the death of Rosalynn Carter last year. 

The last time Jimmy Carter was seen publicly was nearly a year ago, using a reclining wheelchair to attend his wife's funeral. He looked severely diminished. 

But, Jason Carter says, the former president has rallied. 

'In these last few months, especially, he has gotten a lot more engaged in world events, a lot more engaged in politics, a lot more, just engaged, emotionally, with all of us,' he told the Associated Press.

Carter likes to listen to Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers Band and Garth Brooks. His is also frustrated with the performance of the Atlanta Braves. 

And what he is looking forward to is Election Day, so he can vote for Kamala Harris. 

Jason Carter also said his grandfather, who has did election monitoring around the world, appreciated Biden's decision to step down as the Democratic presidential nominee.

'He, like a lot of us, was incredibly gratified by his friend Joe Biden´s courageous choice to pass the torch,' he said. 'You know, my grandfather and The Carter Center have observed more than 100 elections in 40 other countries, right? So, he knows how rare it is for somebody who´s a sitting president to give up power in any context.'

Jason Carter continued: 'When we started asking him about his 100th birthday, he said he was excited to vote for Kamala Harris.'

He also revealed Harris calls often to check in on the former president.

Carter's hometown is marking his birthday with a flyover of military jets, a naturalization ceremony for 100 new citizens and a concert. 

All the former presidents were invited to contribute a video message - all but Donald Trump.

Trump used Carter as a punching bag to knock Biden before Biden dropped out of the race. 

Carter will not attend the celebrations in person. He is bedbound and being cared for by his sons and daughter.

'The caregiving side of this takes a toll, as it would in any family,' Jason Carter told The Times. 'All of us, I think, are surprised to see that he's still going.'

'You know,' he added, 'he may very well be immortal.'