The United States’ five living presidents, family, friends and dignitaries from around the country and the world filled Washington National Cathedral for a service on Wednesday to honor the 41st president, George H.W. Bush.
Here are the major moments from the day’s events. [Find full coverage of the funeral here.]
Choked with emotion, a former president eulogized both his predecessor and his father.
Former President George W. Bush held back tears throughout the eulogy for his father, breaking down briefly as he concluded his remarks. In a 12-minute tribute, he remembered his father as an imperfect, but beloved man who gave him wisdom as a president and a father.
“Through our tears, let us see the blessings of knowing and loving you — a great and noble man, and the best father a son or daughter could have,” he said. “And in our grief, let us smile knowing Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom’s hand again,” Mr. Bush concluded, becoming tearful as he mentioned his late mother, Barbara, and Robin, his sister who died at the age of 3.
transcript
Emotional Farewells: Scenes From the Bush Funeral
Former President George Bush was eulogized by his eldest son, former President George W. Bush, and the biographer Jon Meacham. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama also attended the funeral alongside President Trump at Washington National Cathedral.
-
[music] “Last Friday, when I was told he had minutes to live, I called him. The guy who answered the phone said, ‘I think he can hear you, but he hasn’t said anything for most of the day.’ I said, ‘Dad, I love you and you’ve been a wonderful father.’ And the last words he would ever say on earth were, ‘I love you, too.’ And we’re going to miss you. Your decency, sincerity and kind soul will stay with us forever. So through our tears, let us know the blessings of knowing and loving you, a great and noble man. The best father a son or daughter could have. And in our grief, let us smile knowing that Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom’s hand again.” “The George Herbert Walker Bush who survived that fiery fall into the waters of the Pacific, three-quarters of a century ago, made our lives and the lives of nations, freer, better, warmer and nobler. That was his mission. That was his heartbeat.” “I believe it will be said that no occupant of the Oval Office was more courageous, more principled and more honorable than George Herbert Walker Bush. President Bush was also responsible for the North American Free Trade Agreement — recently modernized and improved by new administrations — which created the largest and richest free-trade area in the history of the world.” “The most decent and honorable person I ever met was my friend George Bush — one of nature’s noble men. His epitaph, perhaps just a single letter: the letter L for loyalty. It coursed through his blood. Loyalty to his country, loyalty to his family, loyalty to his friends, loyal to the institutions of government and always, always, always a friend to his friends.” “Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect to do his will. Working in you, that which is well pleasing in his sight, the blessing of God Almighty the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be on you and remain with you in this world in which we live, this day and forevermore. Amen.”
While speakers honored Mr. Bush’s service to his country, they also remembered his humor and quirks.
The 41st president had a significant political legacybeyond the presidency, including serving as C.I.A. director and ambassador to China. But speakers also focused on the elder Mr. Bush’s sense of humor and quirks as they remembered him.
Jon Meacham, Mr. Bush’s biographer, recalled how he accidentally shook the hand of a store mannequin while on the campaign trail in New Hampshire.
Former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming recalled how Mr. Bush, despite his love for jokes, constantly forgot the punch lines and told stories of how the pair sang songs from the musical “Evita” and joked about the origins of an ornate vase.
And the younger Mr. Bush made the crowd laugh as he recalled his father’s imperfections, including his poor dancing and his aversion to vegetables, particularly broccoli. (He also recalled how James Baker, an old friend and the elder Mr. Bush’s chief of staff, smuggled him a bottle of Grey Goose vodka and a steak from Morton’s.)
In a rare occurrence, all living presidents and first ladies gathered in the same pew.
Only a handful of other occasions have seen all living presidents and their spouses gather in the same place, and Mr. Bush’s funeral became the latest instance where these former occupants of the White House came together.
