Washington says goodbye to John McCain
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Photo: Tasos Katopodis/AFP/Getty Images
Washington gathered to say goodbye to Senator John McCain on Saturday, with several notables attending his memorial service at the National Cathedral.
The big picture: This is a rare moment in the nation's capital when people from all political ideologies join together, paying their respects to a giant of the Senate.
The latest: Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama delivered eulogies.
- Bush: "Back in the day, he could frustrate me, and I know he’d say the same thing about me. But he also made me better."
- Obama: "For all our difference, for all the items we sparred, I never tried to hide – and I think John came to understand – the long standing admiration that I had for him.”
McCain's daughter Meghan spoke at the service, saying: "I am here before you today saying the words I have never wanted to say, giving the speech I have never wanted to give, feeling loss I have never wanted to feel. My father is gone."
At the National Cathedral, McCain's casket arrived after the public spent the day paying their respects at the Capitol Rotunda on Friday.
Those invited to the service, according to CNN:
- Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner
- Former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- Senate and House Minority Leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi
- Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
- A number of foreign ministers, including those from Saudi Arabia, Estonia, Lithuania, and more.
- Several former prisoners of war.
Nearby at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, McCain's wife Cindy laid a wreath in honor of those lost during the war, flanked by White House chief of staff John Kelly and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
What they're saying:
- Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH): "I was glad to be with my fellow Senators at the National Cathedral to honor and celebrate John McCain’s life and legacy. John certainly made a deep impact on me – like he did so many others across the world."
- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): "Beautiful rendition of Oh Danny Boy at @SenJohnMcCain funeral. A powerful remembrance of an American hero, who fought & bled for our Nation. The remarks by @MeghanMcCain were particularly powerful, showing a daughter’s love for her father. May he Rest In Peace."
- Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND): "It has been a privilege to call John my friend. His legacy looms large in the U.S. Senate, around the country, & across the world."
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): "Our country is full of heavy hearts today as we say goodbye to John McCain. We share a profound sense of gratitude for the life John lived, and the legacy of service and unwavering commitment he’s left us to cherish."
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY):
One sweet thing:
Go deeper: Photos inside the National Cathedral
