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Solemn Faces on a Day of Revelry
Visitors stop to view Gerald R. Ford's coffin as they follow the line through the Capitol Rotunda. Mourners began lining up at 5 a.m. to pay their respects to the 38th president.
(By Gerald Martineau -- The Washington Post)
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She voted for Ford in 1976, when he lost to Jimmy Carter, and wondered how the late president would have influenced history had he been given four more years in the White House. "It probably would be a lot different today," she said, "with the views he had -- the wisdom."
Jim Christie, 56, a retired Navy officer who lives in Woodbridge, brought his daughter Rachel, 10.
After waiting in line about 90 minutes, Christie said he was moved to find Ford's son Jack in the Rotunda. Jack and his brother Steven were greeting the visitors.
James Dozier, 25, who works for a nonprofit organization in Denver, didn't expect to stay in Washington for New Year's. But he extended his vacation after Ford's death. He had been here when Reagan died, and he stood in line for more than eight hours then to go through the Rotunda. But Ford's memorial carried more significance, he said.
"Although I wasn't alive" during his presidency, "I've always admired and respected President Ford," he said. "When you look at politicians today, there's so much cynicism. He wasn't elected. He did what he thought was right. I'd probably say he was my favorite president."
Ford was the commencement speaker at Barbara Stull's graduation ceremony at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria. His son Steve was in her class, which graduated in 1974, while Ford was still vice president. Stull said she didn't remember what he said. But she said she will never forget his voice and demeanor.
"He was like everyone's father," she said. "He kind of reminded me of my dad. He was quite a gentleman."
As police escorted a few stragglers from the guest book signing area about 6:30 p.m., a young couple spoke about their plans for the evening. Heather Harber, 23, and Zack Ryan, 28, had driven all night from Massachusetts. They expected to watch the fireworks with friends in Alexandria. Their night was still young.
"There's still five hours left," Ryan said.
