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John McCain lies in state at US Capitol as American leaders pay respects John McCain: bipartisan leaders gather to say farewell to senator
(about 13 hours later)
John McCain, one of the most influential US politicians of the past century never to win the White House, returned to his political home on Friday, lying in state at the US Capitol in Washington. The death of John McCain, one of the most influential US politicians of the past century never to win the White House, brought leaders from both parties together on Saturday at the National Cathedral in Washington for his memorial service.
“Though the highest office eluded him, he attained what is far more enduring: the abiding affection of his fellow citizens, and an example down the generations,” said the House speaker, Paul Ryan, paying tribute to the senator who died last Saturday, just short of his 82nd birthday. The US Senator, a Republican who had represented Arizona for decades and was known as a war hero and a political maverick, died last Saturday of brain cancer, just short of his 82nd birthday.
On Saturday morning, a day after he was afforded the rare honor of lying in state at the US Capitol, politicians and supporters of all stripes gathered to say farewell, in the kind of bipartisan gathering McCain was known for championing. The most glaring absence was Donald Trump, who was missing after being expressly barred by McCain before his death from being invited to his funeral events. As hundreds filed into the church, Barack Obama and George W Bush prepared to give eulogies.
Obama was accompanied by his wife, Michelle, and Bush by his wife, Laura. Hillary and Bill Clinton were there, a day after they attended Aretha Franklin’s funeral in Detroit.
Democratic vice-president Joe Biden followed McCain’s flag-draped casket into the cathedral and then took his pew - in between film star Warren Beaty and billionaire and former New York Republican mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Henry Kissinger sat behind chief of staff John Kelly. The president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law Jared Kushner attended.
McCain’s widow, Cindy, arrived at the cathedral after earlier placing a wreath at the Vietnam War memorial in the capital. McCain was shot down as a Navy pilot in that war and was a prisoner of the North Vietnamese for more than five years.
The previous day, a service in the US Capitol, was attended by the vice-president, Mike Pence, and speaker of the House, Paul Ryan.
“Though the highest office eluded him, he attained what is far more enduring: the abiding affection of his fellow citizens, and an example down the generations,” said Ryan.
McCain ran for president twice – in 2000, when he lost the Republican primary to George W Bush, and in 2008, when he was defeated by Barack Obama. But Congress, though less celebrated in movies and TV, is where much of the nation’s business gets done, and McCain was among its giants.McCain ran for president twice – in 2000, when he lost the Republican primary to George W Bush, and in 2008, when he was defeated by Barack Obama. But Congress, though less celebrated in movies and TV, is where much of the nation’s business gets done, and McCain was among its giants.
On Friday he returned there for the last time in a casket draped in the stars and stripes. His family attended a commemorative service where his mother, 106-year-old Roberta, clutched the hand of his daughter, 33-year-old Meghan, who sobbed with raw grief. On Friday his family attended the commemorative service where McCain’s mother, 106-year-old Roberta, clutched the hand of his daughter, 33-year-old Meghan, who sobbed with raw grief.
There was the awkward spectacle of the McCain family listening to Donald Trump’s deputy, Mike Pence, deliver a tribute, with everyone in the rotunda keenly aware of McCain and Trump’s mutual enmity.There was the awkward spectacle of the McCain family listening to Donald Trump’s deputy, Mike Pence, deliver a tribute, with everyone in the rotunda keenly aware of McCain and Trump’s mutual enmity.
Pence insisted: “As the president said yesterday, we respect his service to the country.”Pence insisted: “As the president said yesterday, we respect his service to the country.”
In brief remarks, he added: “We gather here today to honor an American patriot who served a cause greater than himself … We will ever remember that John McCain served his country, and John McCain served his country honorably.”In brief remarks, he added: “We gather here today to honor an American patriot who served a cause greater than himself … We will ever remember that John McCain served his country, and John McCain served his country honorably.”
Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, recalled McCain’s “signature cackle” and “that John McCain glint in his eye”.Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, recalled McCain’s “signature cackle” and “that John McCain glint in his eye”.
Ryan added: “So I think ahead now. I think ahead to the day when I – like so many – will bring my own children, and perhaps their children, to that hallowed lawn in Annapolis.Ryan added: “So I think ahead now. I think ahead to the day when I – like so many – will bring my own children, and perhaps their children, to that hallowed lawn in Annapolis.
“I think about that. I think about what I might say to them: ‘This is one of the bravest souls our country ever produced’.”“I think about that. I think about what I might say to them: ‘This is one of the bravest souls our country ever produced’.”
Cindy McCain approached her husband’s flag-draped casket, bowed her head, clasped her hands and mouthed a prayer. Then his mother was wheeled to his side and silently crossed herself.Cindy McCain approached her husband’s flag-draped casket, bowed her head, clasped her hands and mouthed a prayer. Then his mother was wheeled to his side and silently crossed herself.
McCain would have appreciated the setting at the centre of the marbled corridors of power where, for nearly 35 years, he worked with members of both parties and enjoyed an often cordial, sometimes prickly relationship with journalists.McCain would have appreciated the setting at the centre of the marbled corridors of power where, for nearly 35 years, he worked with members of both parties and enjoyed an often cordial, sometimes prickly relationship with journalists.
At 10.53am his casket was solemnly placed on a catafalque, draped in black, in the rotunda under the vast dome of the US Capitol, surrounded by ornate carvings, gold-framed epic historical paintings and statues including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.At 10.53am his casket was solemnly placed on a catafalque, draped in black, in the rotunda under the vast dome of the US Capitol, surrounded by ornate carvings, gold-framed epic historical paintings and statues including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.
McCain is the 31st person to lie in state in the US Capitol, a rare distinction reserved for military personnel or elected officials. Four private citizens have lain in honour, including Billy Graham, the Christian evangelist, in February, and Rosa Parks, the civil rights leader, in 2005.McCain is the 31st person to lie in state in the US Capitol, a rare distinction reserved for military personnel or elected officials. Four private citizens have lain in honour, including Billy Graham, the Christian evangelist, in February, and Rosa Parks, the civil rights leader, in 2005.
Among the first guests to arrive on Friday, in a wheelchair, was Henry Kissinger, the former secretary of state, now 95 years old. Another striking presence was McCain’s mother, Roberta, whose wheelchair was pushed by a man in white naval uniform, and who wore a translucent garment over a black blouse.
Pence, wearing a suit and blue tie, stood with hand on heart as the casket was lowered. McCain’s widow, Cindy, dressed in black, was on his left side. The defence secretary, James Mattis, attorney general, Jeff Sessions, White House chief of staff, John Kelly, and national security adviser, John Bolton, were also among the guests.
A graduate of the US Naval Academy, McCain served as a naval aviator for 22 years and spent five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam’s “Hanoi Hilton”. He served in the House of Representatives from 1983-1987 representing the first district of Arizona. In 1986, he was elected to the Senate, serving as chairman of the armed services committee at the time of his death last Saturday.A graduate of the US Naval Academy, McCain served as a naval aviator for 22 years and spent five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam’s “Hanoi Hilton”. He served in the House of Representatives from 1983-1987 representing the first district of Arizona. In 1986, he was elected to the Senate, serving as chairman of the armed services committee at the time of his death last Saturday.
McCain was the Republican party’s 2008 nominee for president, losing to Barack Obama, and later said he regretted choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate.McCain was the Republican party’s 2008 nominee for president, losing to Barack Obama, and later said he regretted choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Palin, the former governor of Alaska, was not present on Friday and has reportedly not been invited to any of the commemorative services, which began in Arizona, continue at the National Cathedral on Saturday – speakers include Barack Obama, George W Bush and Kissinger – and culminate with McCain’s burial at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on Sunday. The senator reportedly meticulously planned the series of events himself after learning that he was terminally ill with brain cancer. Palin, the former governor of Alaska, was not present on Friday and has reportedly not been invited to any of the commemorative services McCain will be buried at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on Sunday.
Also missing: Donald Trump, a sworn political foe of McCain who made no mention of him at a rowdy rally in Indiana on Thursday night.
Mitch McConnell and his Senate counterpart, Chuck Schumer, Ryan and House counterpart Nancy Pelosi, and Pence and his wife Karen each presented wreaths at the casket.
McConnell said: “He had America’s fighting spirit, our noble idealism, our solemn patriotism, and our slightly irreverent streak all rolled into one.”
There was heavy rain outside, lending an atmosphere of, simultaneously, drama and solemnity to the occasion.There was heavy rain outside, lending an atmosphere of, simultaneously, drama and solemnity to the occasion.
This article was amended on 1 September 2018 to correct the name of George W Bush’s wife.
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