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President Biden Delivers Eulogy at Reverend Jesse Jackson's Funeral in Chicago
Current and Former US Leaders Attend Reverend Jesse Jackson's Funeral
At the funeral of Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. in Chicago, President Joe Biden delivered a eulogy honoring the late reverend's life and his impact on American society. The service saw a large attendance of current and former high-ranking US officials, including former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who paid their respects to Jackson, a symbolic figure of the Civil Rights Movement.
In his speech, President Biden highlighted the late reverend's emphasis on hope and resilience, guided by his religious faith. He quoted the biblical verse, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Biden also praised Jackson's courage and convictions, describing him as a “man of conviction, persistence, unafraid, undeterred by any obstacle.”
President Biden's Personal Experiences and Connection with Reverend Jackson
President Joe Biden underscored his long-standing relationship with Reverend Jesse Jackson, recalling his own childhood and personal tragedies. He spoke of growing up as an Irish Catholic in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and later moving to Wilmington, Delaware, where segregation laws were still in effect. He also shared experiences from his childhood stutter and the difficulties it brought, as well as the tragic accident that led to the loss of his family members.
President Biden emphasized that Reverend Jesse Jackson understood the importance of personal relationships in driving change within American society. He also noted that while working alongside Jackson as a leader in the Democratic Party, they sometimes had differences of opinion, but he respected the reverend's passion, convictions, and his effort to find common ground. He remembered Jackson as a man who “changed history, impacted countless lives, and brought hope to Americans.”
*Source: YouTube: USA TODAY (2026-03-06)*
