Jimmy Carter: Proud of Obama, Atlanta Falcons

Former President Carter hit the Capitol rotunda with a big smile following the inaugural ceremony on Monday. 

Carter, who served one term in the White House, from 1977 to 1981, told The Hill that he loved President Obama's "speech, the songs, prayers and the weather" as he headed into the lunch in Statuary Hall with members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, the president's Cabinet and other dignitaries.

The former president and Georgian said he was "very proud" of the run made by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons this season. 

The Falcons lost the NFC Championship game, and a chance for the franchise's second trip to the Super Bowl, to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

"It was a good game and I'm so proud," he said of the 28-24 result. "They came up short, four points short." 

Carter, who also is a big Atlanta Braves fan and is frequently seen in the stands, said he is now looking forward to baseball season. 

The Democratic president wasn't the only former commander in chief seen mingling. 

Former President Clinton shook plenty of hands before the lunch, giving a handshake and shoulder pat to Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who is slated to take his wife, Hillary Clinton's, spot atop the State Department.