Gerald Ford Returns Home For The Last Time

Burial Ceremonies Wednesday On Grounds Of Ford Museum In Grand Rapids, Michigan

(CBS/AP)  Another eulogist, NBC newsman Tom Brokaw, said Ford brought to office "no demons, no hidden agenda, no hit list or acts of vengeance," an oblique reference to the air of subterfuge that surrounded Nixon in his final days.

In his homily, Episcopalian minister Robert G. Certain touched on the fractious debate in the church over homosexual relationships, and said Ford did not think the issue should be splitting Episcopalians. He was the Ford family's pastor at St. Margaret's Church in Palm Desert, Calif.

"He asked me if we would face schism after we discussed the various issues we would consider, particularly concerns about human sexuality and the leadership of women," Certain said. "He said that he did not think they should be divisive for anyone who lived by the great commandments and the great commission to love God and to love neighbor."

The overarching image of the past few days has been the "genuine outpouring of good will," says CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer. "I always said he's the nicest person I ever met in public life, and I think today we saw there were many people who felt the same way."

On a national day of mourning that closed most of the government as well as financial markets, the cortege brought the late president's casket to the cathedral in blustery winds that blew off the hats of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, and members of the honor guard outside the service.

White-gloved police officers lined the route passing the White House to the cathedral; light, subdued crowds watched the cortege.

Inside, more than 3,000 people mourned the man who was charged with restoring trust in government after Nixon's downfall. They remembered an unassuming leader who was content with his congressional career until history called him to higher office.

President Bush escorted his widow, Betty Ford, down the aisle of the great stone cathedral, which stretches nearly the length of two football fields and has soaring towers, 215 stained glass windows and an organ with 10,650 pipes.

Carter engaged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in an animated conversation while waiting for the funeral party. Rice also chatted with Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton, and at one point the three ex-presidents — Carter, the elder Bush and Clinton — shook hands.

Among others at the cathedral: Nancy Reagan, who mourned her husband Ronald there in 2004; former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a presidential prospect for 2008.

Thousands of average Americans had filed into the Capitol Rotunda over two days and a night to pay final respects.

Funeral services were held there for former presidents Eisenhower in 1969 and Reagan in 2004, and ex-President Woodrow Wilson is buried there.

Ford died at 93 on Dec. 26 at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

He was appointed vice president by Nixon to replace Spiro Agnew, who resigned in a bribery scandal stemming from his days as Maryland governor. After Nixon resigned, Ford assumed the presidency for 2½ years.

A month after taking office, Ford pardoned Nixon for any Watergate crimes he might have committed.

Ford historian and CBS news consultant Douglas Brinkley says be believes the last few days have shown that Americans now approve of the decision to pardon Nixon.

"I think the country has voted, and they believe that the pardon was the right thing to do," he said. "That was not always the case back in '74. It wasn't the case in '84, '94. But now, in this new year, I think we can say that history will show that Gerald Ford was correct."