Biden eulogizes Dingell: ‘Dignity was how John walked. Dignity was how John talked’

Former Vice President Joe Biden eulogized former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) at his funeral Tuesday, focusing on how important dignity was to Dingell’s life.

“I can sum it up in one word why I cared so much about John Dingell … dignity,” Biden told those gathered at the Church of the Divine Child in Dearborn, Mich.

{mosads}“Dignity was how John walked. Dignity was how John talked. Dignity was how John carried himself,” Biden said.

“Everything he worked on was rooted in the belief that every single solitary person wanted and deserved to be treated with dignity, wanted to be recognized no matter who they were, just recognized for their worth, for the job they did.”

Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress, died last Thursday at age 92.

He had recently entered hospice care after a cancer diagnosis.

Biden told the crowd that Dingell “fought like hell” for others and that so many were mourning the Michigan Democrat not because they necessarily knew him, but “because they knew John knew them.”

“He gave me confidence. He made me believe more in myself than I had. John had that special capacity to do so, because when you were with him, you knew you were with greatness,” Biden said.

Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.) were also scheduled speak at the event, but could not attend because of inclement weather.