{"id":12691,"date":"2018-12-05T12:46:05","date_gmt":"2018-12-05T20:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=12691"},"modified":"2018-12-05T12:46:05","modified_gmt":"2018-12-05T20:46:05","slug":"former-president-george-h-w-bush-state-funeral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=12691","title":{"rendered":"Former President George H.W. Bush state funeral"},"content":{"rendered":"

They shared a total of 22 years spent living in the White House – and a wooden pew in the National Cathedral for the memorial service of George HW Bush.<\/p>\n

It’s not often that so many commanders-in-chief, present and past, are gathered in one place.<\/p>\n

Usually at the funerals of presidents or the opening of presidential libraries.<\/p>\n

At the state funeral of the 41st president of the United States in Washington on Wednesday, there were four together in the front row.<\/p>\n

When George W Bush arrived and took his place on the other side of the nave, he brought that total to five, and their total years of service running the country to 30.<\/p>\n

The significance of the moment was not lost on some.<\/p>\n

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Skip Twitter post by @benrileysmith<\/a><\/p>\n
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Four presidents sit together for Bush funeral. Bipartisanship embodied.\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/jLl0gHqFF7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith)\u00a0December 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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SNAPSHOT: Rare in American history. Four of five living U.S. Presidents. Modern medicine and travel make it more regular now than a generation ago.\u00a0@wkyc<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/bfZWl8VU90<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Tye (@TVTye)\u00a0December 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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And let’s not forget the vice-presidents gathered too.<\/p>\n

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer noted that every living VP since 1977 was present.<\/p>\n

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Every VP since 1977 is at President Bush\u2019s funeral, except one. Mondale, Quayle, Gore, Cheney, Biden, and Pence are there. The only one missing is President Reagan\u2019s VP, George HW Bush.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer)\u00a0December 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\"Short<\/span><\/figure>\n

The handshakes and non-handshakes<\/h2>\n

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were the last to arrive. As they took their places at the front pew, they shook hands with the Obamas next to them.<\/p>\n

Oh, to know what was going through Michelle Obama’s mind as she politely but stiffly greeted Mr Trump.<\/p>\n

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She recently said in an interview that the birther conspiracy theory pushed by him – falsely claiming Barack Obama was not born in the US – was something she would never forgive him for.<\/p>\n

There was no public handshake between Hillary Clinton, who was sat on the other side of the Obamas, and Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

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Not awkward, guys. Not awkward unless we let it BE awkward\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/sqnOa7GgRf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rebecca Sinderbrand (@sinderbrand)\u00a0December 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The 2016 election campaign was marked by acrimony between candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, with the Republican calling for her imprisonment over her use of a private email server.<\/p>\n

“Lock her up” became a chant at Trump rallies during the campaign and his presidency.<\/p>\n