President Bush’s Funeral: George W. Bush’s Eulogy, the Trump / Clinton Tension, and Another Candy Exchange
The funeral for PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH went down yesterday . . . and the most notable moment outside the actual service was how it brought together the Trumps, the Obamas, the Clintons, and the Carters.
They sat together in the first pew . . . very awkwardly. President Trump shook hands with Barack Obama and Michelle, who were next to him and Melania. But he ignored Bill and Hillary Clinton who were next to the Obamas.
Which, frankly, had to be expected. Melania did shake hands with Bill . . . and Hillary nodded at her, but then sat rigidly and refused to look at the President. Trump also didn’t engage with the Carters.
So four of the five living presidents were all seated right next to each other, which was a sight. One person who was there described the mood on that front pew as, quote, “below freezing.” (Here’s a photo, and another with the second row.)
George W. Bush sat across the aisle from them with his family.
He also made the Obamas laugh by handing Michelle a candy . . . just like he did at John McCain’s funeral.
(Here’s video of W greeting the other presidents.)
One last interesting fact: Every Vice President since 1977 was there. Walter Mondale, Dan Quayle, Al Gore, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden, and Mike Pence were all in attendance.
The only one missing was President Reagan’s VP George H.W. Bush who, sadly, was there in spirit only.
George W. got emotional as he delivered a powerful eulogy for his father.
He called his dad, quote, “The best father a son or daughter can have,” and said, quote, “He was no cynic. He looked for the good in every person, and he usually found it.”
“People” has a bunch of photos. There are other highlights from the service, here. And here’s some tasteless reporting from ABC News, with the panelists joking about President Trump’s future funeral.
