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President Bush was among the crowd of friends and family who gathered yesterday at St. Matthew's Cathedral in the District to pay tribute to the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. By all accounts, the man who had served on the Supreme Court for more than 33 years was a character. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, drew laughter at the funeral when he recalled that in January 2001, Chief Justice Rehnquist was scheduled to speak at a Mass. "He said he was going to speak on the disputed presidential election." Cardinal McCarrick said he privately worried that it...

What a concept: Prayer in a public place As William Rehnquist's casket was placed in the rotunda of the Supreme Court, I asked myself: "What's wrong with this picture?" Then it hit me: A minister was actually praying, calling Rehnquist a "child of God," right there in the entrance hall of the Supreme Court! It is a fact that the Ten Commandments are posted above the bench in the chamber where these nine folks preside. And each session begins with the words " . . . and God save this honorable court." If an American child were to attempt that...

Chief Justice Rehnquist's pallbearers included Judge John G. Roberts, who had been nominated by President Bush to fill the Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Judge Roberts, who was once a law clerk for Chief Justice Rehnquist, has now been selected by the president to succeed Mr. Rehnquist as chief justice of the United States. Confirmation hearings for Judge Roberts will likely begin next week.

Teary-eyed Supreme Court justices and a long line of other Americans paid their last respects to William H. Rehnquist on Tuesday at the court where he served for 33 years. Among the pallbearers was his former clerk, John Roberts, the man chosen to succeed the nation's 16th chief justice. Roberts and seven other pallbearers bore the flag-draped casket up some 40 steps of the high court to the Great Hall, where marble busts of all the former chief justices line the wall. Several of the justices wept as they stood around Rehnquist's casket, including Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Rehnquist died...

President Bush had a very busy day today, meeting with Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings and First Lady Laura Bush, to discuss the educational needs of children displaced by Hurricane Katrina and how states might be able to absorb the cost of the large numbers of new students. He also met with the Cabinet to discuss the recovery efforts following the hurricane, and reuniting family members with each other, healthcare provision and finances.At noon, the President met with representatives from national voluntary organizations to discuss how best to help the Americans who are evacuees from the hurricane. He pledged a...

The flag-draped coffin of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist was brought to the Supreme Court's Great Hall this morning as court justices, his nominated successor and friends and family looked on in a highly symbolic and emotional ceremony marking the death of the nation's 16th chief justice. Rehnquist's wooden casket, draped with the American flag, was carried up the Supreme Court's long marble stairs by a former assistant and seven former law clerks, including John Roberts, the man nominated by President Bush to succeed him. ... President Bush and first lady Laura Bush came to the court building shortly before...

<p>Wednesday's funeral for Chief Justice William Rehnquist, a Protestant, will be in Washington's Roman Catholic cathedral -- an unusual but not forbidden occurrence under church rules.</p> <p>The Catholic directory on interfaith matters says churches are "generally reserved for Catholic worship" but local bishops may permit worship by other Christians who lack a place "for celebrating worthily their religious ceremonies."</p>

WASHINGTON -- Chief Justice William Rehnquist's body will lie in repose in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court on Tuesday and Wednesday and he will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery following funeral services Wednesday. The court announced Sunday that the public will be invited to pay its respects from 10:30 a.m. EDT until 10 p.m. on Tuesday and from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesday. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., with funeral services open to friends and family. The burial at Arlington will be private. In a sensitive...