With a who's who of international politics past and present in attendance, former friends and colleagues said goodbye Friday to former President Ronald Reagan at his state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington.
"Ronald Reagan belongs to the ages now," President George W. Bush said in his eulogy. "But we preferred it when he belonged to us."
Reagan died Saturday from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 93.
As such high-profile figures as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev watched, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor opened the eulogies and honored a promise she made to Reagan decades ago.
O'Connor, the first woman on the high court and a Reagan appointee, was asked in the mid-1980s by Reagan to read at his state funeral.
For the reading, Reagan had chosen Pilgrim leader John Winthrop's 1630 sermon that inspired his own description of America as a shining "city upon a hill."
Bush, who visited the flag-draped Reagan casket Thursday with first lady Laura Bush, thanked former first lady Nancy Reagan for her love for the nation's 40th president and her strength.
"Today our whole nation grieves with you and your family," Bush said.
He said that when Reagan is buried today on a hilltop outside the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., "a great American story will close."
Thatcher Remarks Shown In Video
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher says the world has lost a great president -- and she has lost a dear friend.
Thatcher's eulogy to Reagan was videotaped. Thatcher herself is at the cathedral, but gave up public speaking after a series of strokes.
In her recorded message, Thatcher said Reagan tried to "mend America's wounded spirit" and "free the slaves of communism." But she also said Reagan pursued these goals with "almost a lightness of spirit."
She says his humor reassured an anxious world -- especially after the assassination attempt on him. Thatcher said Reagan won the Cold War -- not only "without firing a shot, but by turning old enemies into new friends."
Thatcher's remarks were followed by remarks from former Canadian Prime Minister Mulrooney and former President George H.W. Bush, Reagan's vice president.
The former vice president said he "learned more from Ronald Reagan" than he learned from anyone else in his life.
"I learned kindness, we all did. I also learned courage," he said. "I also learned a lot about humor."
Bush told a story about Reagan addressing doctors after the attempt on his life soon after taking office.
George H.W. Bush said Reagan, in the hospital bed, told doctors, "I hope you're all Republicans."
Bush, Nancy Reagan Share Words
The casket of Reagan, after a 15-minute motorcade from the U.S. Capitol, was carried to the top of the cathedral's stairs, where the dean of the cathedral said a prayer and a military band played "Hail to the Chief."
Afterward, the honor guards carrying the casket made their way up the aisle as the congregation watched.
With the casket in place, the Reagan family took its seats in the front pew. Before former first lady Nancy Reagan took her seat, she greeted President George W. Bush across the aisle. Bush walked her to her seat and whispered in her ear.
The removal of the flag-draped casket of the 40th U.S. president from the catafalque at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda ended two days of visitation by hundreds of Americans and scores of foreign dignitaries.
After a brief ceremony at the Capitol that featured a 21-gun salute, a motorcade carrying the casket and Nancy Reagan moved slowly through the closed streets of Washington to the cathedral.
Other figures attending the funeral are German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, interim Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawer, South African President Thabo Mbeki and former Vice President Al Gore. Former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., also attended.
Rotunda Viewing Hours Were Extended
Police had cut off the line of rotunda visitors earlier Friday morning. But they still allowed people who were already in line to continue to file past the coffin.
The public viewing initially had been scheduled to end at 7 a.m. EDT. But police had extended that time to allow the large crowds that had already passed a police perimeter to view the casket.
Some visitors couldn't fight back the tears, others saluted. One man turned and threw a kiss at the casket just before leaving.
Parents were toting their sleepy toddlers. Uniformed military members were saluting their former commander-in-chief.
And in one case, a guide dog led its blind owner past the flag-draped casket.
Reagan's Final Moments Described
Joanne Drake, chief of staff of the Reagan office, described some final moments in the life of Reagan.
Drake said Nancy Reagan told her that as the end neared, the former president "opened his eyes and he gazed at her." Drake said Mrs. Reagan told her: "his eyes were as blue as ever and he closed them and died."
Nancy Reagan told Drake the look was "the greatest gift ever."
Drake said Nancy Reagan is "doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances" and has been greatly comforted by the outpouring of support.
Nancy Reagan, Family Receive Dignitaries
Former leaders from around the world have been visiting Nancy Reagan.
She's staying at the presidential guest house in Washington.
Among those who've visited are Gorbachev and Thatcher, who wrote in a condolence book, "To Ronnie, well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Speaking through an interpreter, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone reminisced about visiting Reagan at his presidential library in California.
Nakasone said, "He told me that would be the spot he would be buried and right next to him would be buried Mrs. Reagan."
He told Mrs. Reagan he felt, "very privileged to have an opportunity to work with one of the greatest American presidents."
Reagan's Daughter Clears The Air
In a 1996 interview aired for the first time Thursday, Reagan's daughter -- Patti Davis -- expresses regrets about rebelling against her parents.
The "NBC Nightly News" interview was granted on the condition it not be aired until Reagan's death.
During the Reagan administration, Davis wrote a book criticizing her father and openly challenging his political views.
Davis told NBC's Tom Brokaw she wanted to bridge his politics with the politics of her own generation, but mistakenly tried to do that "out of anger."
She said she felt "a bit left out" because of her parents' devotion to each other.
Davis, who is 57, said she knows her father is "in heaven" and "Alzheimer's-free."
Stay with NBC 6 and NBC6.net for continuing coverage of President Ronald Reagan's funeral.
Click here to light a virtual candle, sign the official condolences book at the Ronald Reagan Library and leave a message for Nancy Reagan.
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