A Day in the Life of President Bush (photos): 1.2.07

yahoo.com, whitehouse.gov ^ | Tuesday January 2, 2007 | GretchenM

[GretchenM]

On this "National Day of Mourning throughout the United States," President and Mrs. Bush attended the funeral service for former President Gerald Ford at the National Episcopal Cathedral in DC today. President Bush was among those asked to eulogize (text and webcast at this link) his predecessor.

Henry Kissinger's eulogy was very informative about the international achievements of Ford's presidency. I've been looking for the text but haven't found it so far. If anyone does, please post it or link it on this Dose.

Goodbye, President Ford. Thank you
for your faith in Christ that helped bind
up and heal the wounds of this land
when we were riven and bleeding.

[SevenofNine]

I think that might be kids belong to Jack Ford

One of the kid look like Gerald Ford as young man

[snugs]

[GretchenM]

I just got the feeling Mrs Regan was able to get through those days because of him and his gentle strength.

Same here. I could tell she was leaning on him in many ways.

[snugs]

Congratulations for yesterday

[La Enchiladita]

Kissinger's was the best tribute of the service. Even though I could not understand every word, I could feel his personal connection and his respect for President Ford, as well as appreciate the gravitas that he brought to the proceeding.

[snugs]

Congratulations

[GretchenM]

My two younger kids reminded me that they met Gerald Ford when he spoke at an "Acquire the Fire" spiritual revival in Detroit.

Wow, had no idea. That's great.

We are fortunate to have had him so long in our company, and some day we will be in his company, together with our Lord!

Amen! It will be awesome to get to hash over their presidential years with them. I have lots of questions. =)

[pollyannaish]

That is pretty much true here, without the hats.

Funny thing though...in the past ten or twelve years, I've noticed a lot of younger people with bare legs and shoulders and wearing all manner of colors to funerals. In fact, I went to one recently where the majority of people were wearing hooded sweatshirts and flip flops—in church mind you! It was VERY disturbing.

I guess most of us who are parents are falling down on our job!

[pollyannaish]

You would think. But who knows. (Remember how much flak the VP got for the parka in Russia? It kind of reminds me of that!)

[Mo1]

You're the Best!!!

Thank you!

[snugs]

I do not have a problem with people wearing brighter colours to everyday funerals where the person departed has requested it providing it does not offend the church/church members where the service is being held.

I do think though with formal funerals such as this that out of respect for the various cultural beliefs of the country as a whole and what most people find acceptable or normal for funerals that at least dark if not black should be worn especially by those taking an official role.

In cases such as this funeral the IMHO service is for the country and the office he held as well as for actual the man and his immediate family and therefore IMHO there is a difference and what is worn should reflect this difference.

[McGavin999]

Nobody does ceremony better then we do. It really makes you proud.

[pollyannaish]

Good point. Especially when it's not held in a traditional church. In general though, I feel church attire should be a little more respectful and therefore formal even for every day services...but perhaps I am old fashioned in feeling that way.

That said, state funerals are a completely different matter...and protocol should be followed carefully.

But hey, I'm a bad arbiter of these things because I miss the elegance of hats and gloves and nice clothes were worn as a matter of course in public. Of course, what I see of that era is mostly from old family photos, historical photography and the movies...so perhaps I love an idea that never was! (And I am not disciplined enough to wear torturous clothes such as girdles...so I'm probably not worthy of that kind of elegance either. Ha!)

[snugs]

I was thinking that as well LOL on reflection it was probably not the best thing to have especially as on the same visit he did wear a thick black overcoat.

I still suspect though the parka was especially designed to withstand biting cold temperatures that would be experienced being out in that snow for the length of time he was that the overcoat would not have protected him from. Maybe though the design could have been better like the more fashion type that Lynne wore whilst still the similar type of coat/parka it looked more like a conventional jacket. Also the hiking boats were somewhat strange but again in his defense he obviously did not want to slip over which would probably have caused more of a stir and a disruption in the proceedings.

The ski hat even as a most ardent Cheney fan I cannot find any justification for

Click here for link to photo somehow do not think appropriate to post the actual one on tonight's dose.

[pollyannaish]

LOL. I half expect him to be wearing red Keds with rubber toes with that outfit. Ever seen those?

I had about a million pair as a munchkin. Wore them with a very similar coat, in fact. :-D

He's cute in it, if not exactly appropriate. And I can't begrudge him wanting to stay warm. It had to be unbearably cold!

[GretchenM]

I grabbed the remote and put captions on for Kissinger. The captions people missed a few of his words, rather comically at times, but it helped overall.

It has taken him decades to tone down the extreme thickness of his accent. I was glad he spoke more slowly than usual, and enunciated better. Someone must have told him somewhere along the way it's no good that you're saying brilliant things if you're the only one who can understand them.

[GretchenM]

Hi Wolfie - hope you're not working too hard! How is the job?

[La Enchiladita]

It's the accent combined with the gravelly voice; it's a strange voice. A case study in speech pathology.

[La Enchiladita]

It just occurred to me: Where was Rumsfeld sitting?

[snugs]

I think I know what you mean though not actually familar with that particular brand.

I think though the hiking boats went better LOL