In State Funeral, a Farewell to Ford

As Carter, Clinton and the elder Bush greeted one another, it served as a reminder that the world's most exclusive club has shrunk considerably in the past few years. Nancy Reagan, last at the cathedral to memorialize her own husband, arrived wearing dark glasses. When former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw forgot to mention her as he greeted the first families in his eulogy, she whispered to Rosalynn Carter, then made a slight, sardonic wave in Brokaw's direction.

Ford's Washington farewell began at the Capitol, where his casket lay in state over the weekend. About 36,000 people came through the Rotunda to pay respects, a considerable showing but a fraction of the estimated 100,000 who showed up for Reagan. The casket, initially brought to the House doors to remember his time there, was moved yesterday morning to the Senate doors to mark his service as vice president and Senate president.

Draped in a flag and borne aloft by a nine-man military honor guard, the casket left the Capitol to a 21-gun salute, and the motorcade paused by the White House en route to the cathedral, where it was welcomed to the strains of "Hail to the Chief." As the organ played "America, the Beautiful," President Bush escorted Betty Ford down the center aisle, her eyes focused forward, never glancing at the crowd.

She stood in the front row amid her children, Michael, Jack, Steven and Susan, as the honorary pallbearers entered, including Vice President Cheney, former defense secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft, former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and former secretary of state James A. Baker III, all Ford administration veterans. The honor guard brought in the casket and lay it on a catafalque before the pulpit.

Jack Ford recited a passage from Isaiah and Susan Ford Bales from James. Her voice quavered a bit as she read. The elder Bush lightened the atmosphere, telling stories illustrating the former president's less serious side. Ford, he said, understood the value of laughing at himself. Bush said he could elaborate but would not, then imitated comedian Dana Carvey imitating Bush: "Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent."

Brokaw likewise mixed seriousness and humor, joking that some of Ford's 1970s-era jackets should be "eligible for a presidential pardon." But he praised him as "the most underestimated" president. "Gerald Ford brought to the political arena no demons, no hidden agenda, no hit list or acts of vengeance," Brokaw said. As he finished, he turned to the casket: "Farewell, Mr. President. Thank you, Citizen Ford."

In his homily, Ford's pastor from California, the Rev. Robert G. Certain, recalled that the former president shortly before his death raised with him the subject of the Episcopal Church schism over the consecration of a gay bishop and the blessings of same-sex unions. "He said that he did not think they should be divisive for anyone who lives by the great commandments and the great commission to love God and to love neighbor," Certain said.

After two hours, the casket was brought out of the cathedral and the bourdon bell tolled 38 times for the 38th president as the cortege made its way to Andrews for the final trip home. Accompanying the family was Jimmy Carter, who defeated Ford in 1976 but later grew to be a close friend. At Ford's request, Carter will speak at today's interment.

In contrast to the Washington pomp, Ford's return to Grand Rapids took place on a more personal scale. The casket was greeted at Gerald R. Ford International Airport by the marching band from the University of Michigan, where Ford was a football star, playing the school's rousing fight song.

As thousands of Michigan residents lined the streets near the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on a cold, windy afternoon, a sign in Beaner's Coffee read, "Gerald Our Ford." Outside the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building, a young fan wore a Michigan football jersey and draped a school flag over his shoulders in Ford's honor. Boy Scouts from the Gerald R. Ford Council saluted the passing hearse.

"Michigan's president," he was called by the state's Democratic governor, Jennifer Granholm. A man of intellect and achievement, she said, "in a plain brown wrapper."

Staff writer Peter Slevin in Grand Rapids contributed to this report.