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 (AP) - The nation remembered Gerald R. Ford on
Tuesday for what he didn't have - pretensions, a scheming agenda, a
great golf game - as much as for the small-town authenticity he
brought to the presidency.

      The state funeral for the 38th president moved to Grand Rapids,
Mich., Ford's final homecoming. The marching band from the
University of Michigan, the school for which he played football,
greeted the White House jet carrying his casket, members of his
family and others in the funeral party.

      Among those on the plane were Jimmy Carter, the Democrat who
defeated Ford in 1976 and became his friend, and Carter's wife,
Rosalynn.

      In Grand Rapids, which the Nebraska native adopted as his
hometown and represented in Congress for a quarter century, Ford's
presidential museum was opening its doors for an 18-hour public
viewing, stretching overnight, before his burial Wednesday
afternoon.

      An elaborate service at the Washington National Cathedral
unfolded in the spirit of one of its musical selections - "Fanfare
for the Common Man" - as powerful people celebrated the modesty
and humility of a leader propelled to the presidency by the
Watergate crisis that drove predecessor Richard Nixon from office.

      "In President Ford, the world saw the best of America and
America found a man whose character and leadership would bring calm
and healing to one of the most divisive moments in our nation's
history," President Bush said in his eulogy.

      Bush's father, the first President Bush, opened the eulogies,
calling Ford a "Norman Rockwell painting come to life" and
piercing the solemnity of the occasion by cracking gentle jokes
about Ford's reputation as an errant golfer. He said Ford knew his
golf game was getting better when he began hitting fewer
spectators.

      Former President Clinton and Vice President Dick Cheney joined
in the laughter.

      Henry Kissinger, Ford's secretary of state, paid tribute to his
leadership in achieving nuclear arms control with the Soviets, in
the first political agreement between Israel and Egypt and in
helping to bring majority rule to southern Africa, among other
achievements often overlooked in the modest man.

      "In his understated way he did his duty as a leader, not as a
performer playing to the gallery," Kissinger said. "Gerald Ford
had the virtues of small town America."

      Another eulogist, NBC newsman Tom Brokaw, said Ford brought to
office "no demons, no hidden agenda, no hit list or acts of
vengeance," an oblique reference to the air of subterfuge that
surrounded Nixon in his final days.

      In his homily, Episcopalian minister Robert G. Certain touched
on the fractious debate in the church over its growing acceptance
of homosexual relationships, and said Ford did not think the issue
should be splitting Episcopalians. He was Ford's pastor at St.
Margaret's Church in Palm Desert, Calif.

      "He asked me if we would face schism after we discussed the
various issues we would consider, particularly concerns about human
sexuality and the leadership of women," Certain said. "He said
that he did not think they should be divisive for anyone who lived
by the great commandments and the great commission to love God and
to love neighbor."

      The Episcopal Church has been under pressure from
traditionalists for its 2003 consecration of the first openly gay
bishop. Several prominent Virginia parishes have recently broken
away from the church in protest.

      The crisp steps of the military pallbearers echoed through the
cavernous space as Ford's remains were brought to a church he had
visited at least seven times as vice president, president or
ex-president.

      On a national day of mourning that closed most of the government
as well as financial markets, the cortege brought his casket to the
cathedral in blustery winds that blew off the hats of the chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, and members of the
honor guard outside the service.

      White-gloved police officers lined the route passing the White
House to the cathedral; light, subdued crowds watched the cortege.

      Inside, more than 3,000 people, including the three living
ex-presidents, mourned the man who was charged with restoring trust
in government after Nixon's downfall. They remembered an unassuming
leader who was content with his congressional career until history
called him to higher office.

      "When President Nixon needed to replace a vice president who
had resigned in scandal, he naturally turned to a man whose name
was a synonym for integrity," Bush said. "And eight months later,
when he was elevated to the presidency, it was because America
needed him, not because he needed the office."

      He escorted Ford's widow, Betty, down the aisle of the great
stone cathedral, which stretches nearly the length of two football
fields and has soaring towers, 215 stained glass windows and an
organ with 10,650 pipes.

      Carter, also at the cathedral service, engaged Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice in an animated conversation while waiting
for the funeral party. Rice also chatted with Chelsea Clinton,
daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton, and at one point the three
ex-presidents - Carter, the elder Bush and Clinton - shook hands.

      Supreme Court justices including John Roberts and Clarence
Thomas were in the pews. Incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi of
California exchanged a brief handshake but no words with incoming
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland; the two Democrats
have a testy relationship.

      Among others at the cathedral: Nancy Reagan, who mourned her
husband Ronald there in 2004; former Secretary of State Colin
Powell; and former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a presidential
prospect for 2008.

      Thousands of average Americans filed into the Capitol Rotunda
over two days and a night to pay final respects to Ford.

      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 House chamber upon its arrival Saturday in remembrance
of his quarter century as a Michigan congressman.

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

      Funeral services were held there for former presidents
Eisenhower in 1969 and Reagan in 2004, and ex-President Wilson is
buried there.

      Outside the Senate chamber earlier, the historic Ohio Clock
Corridor was alive with symbolism around the casket. Ford's vice
presidential bust had been moved at the family's request from
around the corner to the door of the chamber for the occasion,
gazing over the casket.

      Ford's children and half brother, Jack, paused in their prayers
to glance briefly from the bust to the casket.

      Off to their right stood a reminder of how Ford rose to his
place in history. Set back in a niche stood a bust of Nixon, the
head turned toward the casket.

      Ford died at 93 on Dec. 26 at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

      The national funeral service capped Washington's portion of a
state funeral that concludes with a final public visitation in
Grand Rapids, a private service, and interment on a hillside
overlooking his museum.

      Ford was appointed vice president by Nixon to replace Spiro
Agnew, who resigned in a bribery scandal stemming from his days as
Maryland governor. After Nixon resigned, Ford assumed the
presidency for 2½ years.

      A month after taking office, Ford pardoned Nixon for any
Watergate crimes he might have committed.

Gallery

Former President Gerald Ford dies at 93

Remembering Ford, the "accidental president"

"A man of complete integrity"

 Ford remembered as selfless leader who led nation through crisis

Politics and Government News

The nation honored Gerald R. Ford on Tuesday
under towering cathedral arches, a high-powered fanfare for the
common man who was summoned to the presidency in the crisis that
drove his predecessor from office.


Nation honors Gerald Ford

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