George HW Bush funeral: Former president flown to Texas after moving eulogies at National Cathedral
Follow latest updates as mourners arrive to pay tribute to the former president
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Your support makes all the difference.George HW Bush, the 41st president of the United States, is being honoured in a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral today following three days of mourning in which his body lay in state at the Capitol Rotunda.
The Texas Republican, an ex-oil executive who served in the Oval Office between 1988 and 1992 having previously been Ronald Reagan's vice-president and CIA director, oversaw the post-Cold War transition and led a successful Gulf War in Iraq.
The four living ex-presidents - Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Bush's son George W Bush and Barack Obama - are in attendance at the service, with George W Bush giving an emotional eulogy where he called his father "wonderful".
Current President Donald Trump sat in the front row with the Obamas, Clintons and Mr Carter.
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“His life code was tell the truth, don’t blame people, be strong, try your best, forgive stay the course, and that was and is the most American of creeds,” Jon Meacham said.
The historian and author also quoted former Saturday Night Live cast member Dana Carvey, who played the former president in numerous skits.
Mr Meacham is the author of the book, Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush.
Here’s what the cover and first page of George HW Bush’s funeral programs at the National Cathedral look like, as shot by CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller:
"He believed that to whom much was given, much was expected," Jon Meacham said. “An imperfect man, he left us a more perfect union.”
The author has concluded his remarks, leading to another hymn before further proceedings.
Jenna Bush Hager read a short passage from Revelation, followed by a second eulogy from the former Prime Minister of Canada.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney says at the start of his eulogy that he believes no other president in American history will be remembered as honourable, courageous or principled as George HW Bush, who served as commander-in-chief during his tenure as the head of Canada.
Former Senator Alan Simpson is now stepping forward to provide the third eulogy.
The Wyoming Republican was one of George HW Bush’s closest friends on Capitol Hill throughout his tenure, recalling how the president invited him to Camp David when he served as vice president.
“At that time, his popularity rating was 93%. Mine was .93 per cent,” he said. "He was a class act."
Here's more from former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's eulogy for George HW Bush, who he considered a close friend:
“You would have wanted him on your side," the senator said while concluding his eulogy. Mr Simpson said George HW Bush “never hated anyone,” adding he was the "most decent and honorable friend I ever met."
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