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Washington says goodbye to Gerald Ford

Former US president Gerald Ford left his beloved US Capitol for the last time yesterday as the period set aside for ordinary Americans to say goodbye to him gave way to an elaborate invitation-only funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.

Thousands filed into the Capitol Rotunda over two days and a night to pay respects to the man summoned to the highest office when the Watergate scandal consumed Richard Nixon's presidency in 1974.

Afterward, Ford's remains briefly lay in repose outside the Senate chamber in tribute to his tenure as Senate president when he served as Nixon's vice president. Similarly, his casket had rested outside the chamber of the House of Representatives upon its arrival on Saturday in remembrance of his 25 years as a congressman from Michigan.

The thunder of cannon heralded Ford's departure from the Capitol, a military honor guard carrying his casket down the steps as his widow, Betty, watched, and his honorary pallbearers stood with hands over their hearts.

On a national day of mourning that closed most of the US government as well as financial markets, the cortege wound under blue, blustery skies through the streets of the US capital, white-gloved police officers lining a route passing the White House to the cathedral.

More than 3,000 guests including foreign dignitaries came to the cathedral for a service marking the life of the 38th president with the tolling of the bell 38 times.

Jimmy Carter, the Democrat who defeated Ford in 1976, chatted with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the high-powered assembly waited for the procession.

As the first order of business yesterday, Ford's flag-draped casket was moved from the Capitol Rotunda to lie in repose briefly outside the Senate.

A bell at the Washington National Cathedral tolled 38 times for the 38th president as the cortege moved through Washington streets for the funeral service.

Funeral services were held in the cathedral for former presidents Dwight Eisenhower in 1969 and Ronald Reagan in 2004, and ex-president Woodrow Wilson is buried there.

President George W. Bush, former secretary of state Henry Kissinger and former NBC television anchor Tom Brokaw were eulogists at the service.

On Monday under gray, rainy skies, the president and first lady Laura Bush, along with former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush and former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, were among thousands of Americans who viewed the casket as it lay in state at the Capitol.

Former first lady Betty Ford sat with members of the Ford family, who held hands as they watched the military honor guard and the casket.

Following yesterday's service in Washington, Ford's remains were to be flown to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he grew up, for a brief private service at his presidential museum and public viewing overnight.

A private funeral service was to take place at Grace Episcopal Church in East Grand Rapids today, followed by a private burial at the museum.
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