Biden orders flags to be flown at half-staff to honor Mondale

President Biden on Tuesday ordered flags at the White House, public office buildings and other government properties to be flown at half-staff to honor former Vice President Walter Mondale, who died Monday at the age of 93. 

Biden announced the decision in a press release from the White House, writing that U.S. flags flown at public grounds, military posts, naval stations and at all embassies and U.S. offices abroad will be flown at half-staff “until sunset, on the day of interment.” 

Kathy Tunheim, a spokesperson for the family, said that Mondale died peacefully of natural causes at his home in downtown Minneapolis Monday evening while surrounded by members of his immediate family. 

In Biden’s statement announcing the decision to lower all government flags, he wrote that Mondale, who served as vice president during former President Carter’s single White House term, “defined the modern vice presidency, elevating the position into a true partnership with the President.” 

Biden added that Mondale, who eventually became the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee, “made history when he became the first Presidential nominee of either party to select a woman as his running mate.” 

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in statements Monday praised Mondale for his decision to select former New York Rep. Geraldine Ferraro as the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee.

“I know how pleased he was to be able to see Kamala Harris become Vice President,” Biden said of Mondale on Monday. 

Harris in her statement said Mondale “worked side by side with President Carter as the two endeavored to end the arms race, promote human rights, and establish peace.” 

“I will miss him dearly, and my heart is with his family today. I hope they find comfort in knowing that he is with his beloved wife, Joan, and daughter, Eleanor, now—and that his legacy will live on in all of us,” she added. 

Carter himself shared a statement on Twitter saying he was mourning the passing of Mondale, whom he called his “dear friend.” 

“During our administration, Fritz used his political skill and personal integrity to transform the vice presidency into a dynamic, policy-driving force that had never been seen before and still exists today,” Carter wrote, referring to Mondale by his widely-used nickname. 

“He was an invaluable partner and an able servant of the people of Minnesota, the United States, and the world,” Carter added of Mondale, who before joining the White House served as Minnesota’s attorney general and as one the Midwestern state’s U.S. senators.