Ex-President’s Center Dedicated : Reagan Buries Hatchet, Heaps Praise on Carter

President Reagan, a gracious victor at a monument to the vanquished, paid homage today to Jimmy Carter as a man of faith and integrity and said their political differences “attest to the greatness of our nation.”

Reagan spoke at the dedication of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center, four circular buildings on a hilltop outside Atlanta housing the 39th President’s library, a museum and scholarly research facilities.

“For myself, I can pay you no higher honor than to say simply this: You gave of yourself to your country, gracing the White House with your passion and intellect and commitment,” Reagan told the man he drove from office with a 1980 landslide.

Reporters Twitted

Carter, appearing to enjoy the attention, told reporters hounding him and Reagan that “your questions make me very glad to be a former President.”

In one of his few direct references to Carter’s actions in the White House, Reagan reflected on the memories each President takes with him when he leaves office and said one of Carter’s fondest must be the welcoming ceremony for “the hostages you did so much to free.”

That praise contrasted sharply with Reagan’s 1980 campaign rhetoric, when he blasted Carter’s failure to win freedom for the Americans held captive 444 days in Iran. The hostages were freed moments after Reagan took the oath of office to succeed Carter.

First Meeting Since ’81

It was the men’s first meeting since Reagan asked Carter--along with former Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford--to attend the 1981 funeral of assassinated Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

Neither Nixon nor Ford attended today’s ceremony in Atlanta, but Walter F. Mondale, Carter’s vice president, was present.

Reagan, at 75 the nation’s oldest President, at the end of his remarks added birthday wishes to Carter, who turned 62 today, and quipped, “If I can give you one word of advice--life begins at 70.” Carter responded with his trademark grin.

Carter called Reagan’s remarks “beautiful” and said, “I don’t think I ever heard (a speech) that was more gracious or more generous or more thoughtful.”

He said the speech made him understand “more clearly than I ever have in my life why you won in November, 1980, and I lost.”