Posted on 06/11/2004 9:31:52 AM PDT by apackof2
WASHINGTON - Mustering its most magnificent tributes for America's 40th president, the nation bid a final farewell to Ronald Reagan on Friday in a funeral praising the former president for his lifelong optimism and certainty about America and its place in the world.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a close friend and ideological soulmate of Reagan, paid tribute to "Ronnie," as his friends knew him, for facing the world's greatest challenges with "almost a lightness of spirit."
"His politics had a freshness and optimism that won converts from every class and every nation _ and ultimately from the very heart of the evil empire," she said in remarks taped for presentation at the funeral. Thatcher, who has given up public speaking after a series of smalls strokes, recorded her remarks months ago.
In a moment of tenderness, Nancy Reagan visited her husband's casket in the Capitol Rotunda before the funeral cortege departed for Washington National Cathedral. She caressed the flag-draped coffin, gave it a kiss and several gentle pats and appeared to have one last talk with her husband of 52 years.
President Bush, previewing his eulogy, remembered Reagan as "a great man, a historic leader and a national treasure." Like tens of thousands of Americans from all walks in life, Bush paid silent homage at the former president's coffin Thursday evening as Reagan's body lay in state on a black velvet-covered catafalque that once bore the casket of President Lincoln.
America's four living ex-presidents _ Ford, Carter, Clinton, Bush _ and dozens of current and former world leaders were among those assembled inside the cathedral for the funeral before Reagan's sunset burial Friday night at his presidential library near Los Angeles.
The cathedral's great bells pealed as Reagan's casket arrived in the rain.
Titans of power, past and present, sat shoulder-to-shoulder to pay their respects. There was former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, next to Thatcher, Britain's Prince Charles not far away, and the first President Bush and his wife, Barbara, one row behind the current President Bush and wife, Laura.
Reagan's three surviving children, Patti Davis, Ron and Michael, sat alongside Mrs. Reagan at the cathedral. A daughter, Maureen, died from cancer in 2001.
American guns around the world were firing in Reagan's honor _ at noontime, 21-gun salutes at every U.S. military base with the artillery and manpower to do it; at dusk, another worldwide round of 50-gun salutes.
It was a fitting stage exit for Reagan, the Hollywood-smooth former actor who died last Saturday at age 93. Reagan had been thinking about his last rites since he became president in 1981 and personally invited several speakers to take part.
Proud to have put the first woman on the Supreme Court, Reagan years ago asked Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to read at his funeral. At his request, she read from John Winthrop's 1630 sermon that inspired Reagan's description of America as a shining "city upon a hill."
Thatcher and the first President Bush, too, got their speaking invitations long ago.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, a good friend of the Reagans, remembered the former president as possessing "a rare and prized gift called leadership _ that ineffable and magical quality that sets some men and women apart."
Mrs. Reagan invited Irish tenor Ronan Tynan to sing Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria." The Reagans specified an interfaith service, inviting participants from Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and other religions.
Reagan's honorary pallbearers were friends from throughout his life: former Reagan aides Michael Deaver and Frederick Ryan; entertainer Merv Griffin; his White House physician John Hutton, and Charles Wick, former Hollywood producer and former head of the U.S. Information Agency.
The casket was actually carried by "body bearers" drawn from each of the military services.
The cathedral's invitation-only crowd of 2,100 included Democratic presidential contender John Kerry, who canceled political events during the week of mourning.
Americans around the nation found ways to publicly mourn the president's passing. Church bells far and wide were ringing 40 times in honor of the nation's 40th president; Las Vegas casinos planned to dim their lights briefly Friday night. Several governors called for a moment of silence in their states during the funeral. In Illinois, where Reagan was born, Gov. Rod Blagojevich named a stretch of road for him.
Not since Lyndon Johnson died in 1973 has America gone through the high pomp and ritual associated with a presidential state funeral. Former President Nixon's family, acting on his wishes, bypassed the Washington traditions when he died in 1994.
The funeral was the final public commemoration of Reagan after a week of remembrance and pageantry. More than 100,000 Americans filed past Reagan's casket as it lay in repose at the presidential library in California before it was flown to Washington on Wednesday and borne on a caisson drawn by six horses to the Capitol Rotunda, where his body lay in state for 34 hours.
Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said more than 84,000 people had visited the Rotunda as of 5 a.m. EDT on Friday.
A steady crowd continued to file into the Capitol Rotunda throughout the night and into early Friday to pay tribute. Parents toted sleepy toddlers and a guide dog led its blind owner past the flag-draped casket. Several people wore T-shirts and buttons bearing Reagan's image, others clutched small American flags.
Police briefly extended the viewing past the planned 7 a.m. cutoff to accommodate people still waiting to get in.
The final family in the line came from Conyers, Ga., and drove all night with little expectation that they would be able to view Reagan's casket lying in state.
"I think we came on adrenaline," said Stephanie Guerry, 43.
Her husband Ted Guerry, 46, said that as he walked down the steps from the Capitol he felt, "numb and struck and awed."
FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
As they played the battle hymn of the republic I had a mental image of Ronnie riding a winged horse skyward.
GWB Eulogy = very moving!
The first time, Bill had a big smirk on his face and Hillary had a foul, disgusted look on her face that showed her disdain for all the reverence being paid to Ron Reagan.
A few minutes later, the camera panned back onto the Clintons. Hillary still had the same expression (imagine a pouting teenager forced to be someplace she doesn't want to be).
Bill was sleeping. And I kid you not on this one, FRiends...
I thought both Presidents George H. and George W. Bush did an excellent job! The whole service is very worthy of a great man such as President Reagan will always be...
I haven't been able to find one yet
Reagan has reached out from the grave to deliver one final, telling blow to the Democrat slime. He has only to lie there in true dignity, and the contrast alone is sufficient to shame the human floatsome that derives its power solely by appealing to man's less noble instincts.
The outpouring of love and respect for President Reagan is so moving and everytime I see Mrs. Reagan, my heart just breaks for her, however I am glad that she is seeing how much her beloved husband was loved by his fellow Americans
I watched it too and also read that Fox kept returning to their discourteous mugs. I think it galled them that the Bushes could be so generous to the Dems. They wanted the Reps to have an unfortunate photo just like 2002.
Respect was shown by most of the other attendees. Even the loon-bucket algore came off looking almost human in comparison to the most useless man in America.
Karzai was there, looking respectful, as were Gorby, Cap Weinberg, Rummy etc.
The new PM of Iraq was there as well, but seemed not to know what to do.
I was truly impressed with Lady Thatcher's address. It was obvious that President Reagan was a true friend of hers - the love and respect really showed through.
GW's address was also good. Hs father GHW's speech was quite emotional.
A pretty impressive gathering of dignitaries present as well. I wonder if the Arabs that I saw felt rather uncomfortable with all the mention of Christ as well as a reading by the Rabbi?
Anyway - I just cannot believe how the left is screaming that the funeral and tributes are politically motivated - especially after their Wellstone fiasco... The Reagan legacy is just getting the dignity and honor he deserves.
Did you get a load of the photo of the "protesters" near the National Cathederal? They were on the Yahoo news site. What a bunch of pigs.
https://www.ronaldreaganmemorial.com/
Protesting a funeral!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you post the picture?
I don't know how to do that. You can see it on the link on the Drudge report.
"The first time, Bill had a big smirk on his face..."
I saw that too, and I couldn't detect if he was just awed by the magnificence of it all...or if he was dreaming (literally) of a day when he would be honored in such a way.
I found it on Yahoo but the link would be a href not an img and I thought its disgusting not worthy to post
Throughout the services, I kept thinking to myself "this must be driving the ACLU nuts!"
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