US honours former president Ford

Gerald Ford left his beloved US Capitol for the last time today as the period set aside for ordinary Americans to say goodbye to the president gave way to an elaborate invitation-only funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.

Thousands filed into the Capitol Rotunda over two days and a night to pay respects to the man summoned to the highest office when the Watergate scandal consumed Richard Nixon’s presidency in 1974.

Afterwards, Ford’s remains briefly lay in repose outside the senate chamber in tribute to his tenure as senate president when he served as Nixon’s vice-president.

Similarly, his casket had rested outside the chamber of the House of Representatives upon its arrival on Saturday in remembrance of his 25 years as a congressman from the state of Michigan.

The thunder of cannon heralded Ford’s departure from the Capitol, a military honour guard carrying his casket down the steps as his widow, Betty, watched.

On a national day of mourning that closed most of the US government as well as financial markets, the cortege wound through the streets of the US capital, with white-gloved police officers lining a route passing the White House to the cathedral.