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US leaders to attend Ford funeral US leaders to attend Ford funeral
(about 4 hours later)
US leaders past and present are set to attend the funeral of the country's 38th President, Gerald Ford, who died last week at the age of 93.US leaders past and present are set to attend the funeral of the country's 38th President, Gerald Ford, who died last week at the age of 93.
President George W Bush will deliver a speech at the ceremony at Washington DC's National Cathedral.President George W Bush will deliver a speech at the ceremony at Washington DC's National Cathedral.
Mr Ford became president after Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal, and served from 1974 to 1977.Mr Ford became president after Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal, and served from 1974 to 1977.
He will be buried near his presidential library in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Wednesday.He will be buried near his presidential library in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Wednesday.
Former presidents Bill Clinton, George H W Bush and Jimmy Carter, who defeated Mr Ford in the 1976 presidential election, will also attend the funeral service. Tuesday has been designated as a national day of mourning.
Mr Ford died on 26 December in California. His body has been lying in state in Washington's Capitol building since Saturday. Mr Ford died on 26 December in California. He has been lying in state in Washington's Capitol building since Saturday.
On Monday, Mr Bush and his wife Laura were among thousands of people who paid their respects to his flag-draped coffin. A bell is to toll 38 times for the 38th president, as his body is taken to the National Cathedral for the funeral service.
Mr Ford's wife, Betty, was also present, as were the couple's children, who spent time talking to mourners as they filed past the casket.
'Integrity''Integrity'
One of Monday's visitors to the Capitol, 56-year-old John Erb from Alexandria, Virginia, said he had been in the Army during Mr Ford's administration. Those paying tribute will include President Bush, his father George Bush Snr, and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
I think what he brought back to the White House was integrity, trust Jack Oslund, mourner href="/1/hi/world/americas/863634.stm" class="">Gerald Ford: Obituary href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6211997.stm" class="">Life in pictures href="/1/hi/world/americas/6212569.stm" class="">In quotes: Reaction to death The list of honorary pallbearers - who escort the coffin but do not carry it - includes Vice-President Dick Cheney, former Defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Mr Ford's running mate in his failed 1976 presidential campaign, ex-Senator Bob Dole.
He said he had come to pay his respects because "it's part of the old commander in chief thing". I thought when he pardoned Nixon he stood up and did what the country needed John Banks, mourner href="/1/hi/world/americas/863634.stm" class="">Gerald Ford: Obituary href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6211997.stm" class="">Life in pictures href="/1/hi/world/americas/6212569.stm" class="">In quotes: Reaction to death
Bob Dole, Mr Ford's vice-presidential running mate in the 1976 election, was also among those who attended. Jimmy Carter, who defeated Mr Ford in that election, will also attend the service.
On Monday President Bush and his wife Laura were among thousands of people who paid their respects to his flag-draped coffin.
Mr Ford's wife, Betty, was also present, as were the couple's children, who spent time talking to mourners as they filed past the casket.
Mr Ford took office as public trust in the White House plummeted in the wake of the Watergate scandal and as the US eyed defeat in Vietnam.Mr Ford took office as public trust in the White House plummeted in the wake of the Watergate scandal and as the US eyed defeat in Vietnam.
Many mourners at the Capitol remembered his most difficult decision - pardoning Mr Nixon of any crimes committed during his presidency, a decision analysts say probably cost him the 1976 election.Many mourners at the Capitol remembered his most difficult decision - pardoning Mr Nixon of any crimes committed during his presidency, a decision analysts say probably cost him the 1976 election.
John Banks from Georgia told the Associated Press: "I thought when he pardoned Nixon he stood up and did what the country needed, not what would further his political career."John Banks from Georgia told the Associated Press: "I thought when he pardoned Nixon he stood up and did what the country needed, not what would further his political career."
Another mourner, Jack Oslund of Virginia, said: "I think what he brought back to the White House was integrity, trust."
In an interview with the Washington Post, conducted shortly before his death and published on Sunday, Mr Ford expressed regret over the Vietnam War.
"I hope we never live through another era like that in American history. The answers were very evasive. The results were very disillusioning," he said.