Dignitaries Gather To Honor Memory Of Rev. Theodore Hesburgh

Jimmy Carter says the world has lost a great man in the late Notre Dame President Rev. Theodore Hesburgh. The former president was one of several people who gathered to pay one last tribute to Notre Dame’s longest serving president.

After a funeral mass and burial service held earlier in the day, more than 9,000 Notre Dame students, friends and leaders from across the country gathered in South Bend to pay tribute to the man many knew as Father Ted.

Hesburgh held 16 presidential appointments during his life, including as a founding member of the Civil Rights Commission.

Carter recalled a time when he allowed Hesburgh to ride in one of the fastest military airplanes as a favor.

“I’m proud that I was able to do that for him because he did so much for people everywhere," Carter said. "The world will really miss this wonderful man.”

Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence also spoke at the ceremony, calling Hesburgh a champion for the poor and a voice for the downtrodden.

Hesburg died one week ago at the age of 97.