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ELIZABETH STAWICKI: The guests came from as far away as Tokyo and included senior members of Minnesota's Supreme Court, federal court, and Mondales family members. There was a toast, pictures, and the official naming of the new law school complex. Throughout the ceremony, the genuine affection between Mondale and former President Jimmy Carter was readily apparent. And when Mondale introduced Carter, he did so with a bit of humor.

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- The President and I are still friends. No other Vice President can make that statement.

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ELIZABETH STAWICKI: The bond between Mondale and Carter was unique, even when the two took office. Unlike past US presidents, Carter wanted Mondale to be an equal partner, and that meant for the first time, the Vice President had his office next to the Oval Office. Mondale participated in every meeting that Carter had with foreign leaders. And as Carter said, Mondale was privy to matters of defense.

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- It was amazing to me that up until that time, this is a note for historians. A footnote. No Vice President had ever been acquainted with the use of nuclear weapons and was not authorized to use them if necessary. It skips from the President down to the Secretary of State and then the Secretary of Defense and so forth.

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ELIZABETH STAWICKI: Carter the partnership was unusual for the time but invaluable to the country and the world. Carter spoke of Mondale's encouragement and sound judgment through tough times. Those included the late '70s energy crisis and Iraq's invasion of Iran. Carter also said Mondale was at his side, giving him encouragement through the bumpy negotiations at Camp David that led Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to sign a peace accord. Peace, said Carter, was their common mission.

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- For the four years, we never fired a bullet. We never dropped a bomb. We never launched a missile. And at the same time, I think we upheld the integrity and the strength of our country. So I'm deeply indebted to this man that is being honored here.

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ELIZABETH STAWICKI: Carter however took the opportunity to request more of the University of Minnesota Law School and the Hubert Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Carter now spends his time trying to help the poorest people throughout the world through the Carter Center. He challenged the U of M.

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- It's nice to name a building after my friend and my hero, Fritz Mondale. But I would really love to hear some time in the future, maybe the next two or three or four or five years, that this law school and maybe the Hubert Humphrey Institute have joined together to address the problem of people who are just as intelligent, that those rich, powerful, influential, secure people in America care about them.

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ELIZABETH STAWICKI: After the ceremony, Mondale said he was honored, but the idea that former President Jimmy Carter would travel to Minnesota meant a lot to him personally.

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- This relationship between me and Carter has been special. And it's not just buddies. We were involved with big goals and broad principles, and I think we both served those objectives and did it in an honest way.

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ELIZABETH STAWICKI: I'm Elizabeth Stawicki, Minnesota Public Radio.