Washington National Cathedral, a noted DC building, took 83 years to build, finally opening its doors in 1983. It was packed with politicians and high-profile figures from across the political spectrum on Thursday, reflecting its rich history.
For Eisenhower’s 1969 funeral, the Second World War general was dressed in his wartime military uniform and, at his request, placed in a simple, government-issued casket that was meant for regular US soldiers, according to the White House Historical Association.
At Ronald Reagan’s funeral in 2004, Margaret Thatcher – a partner of Reagan’s in confronting the Soviet Union – was one of the attendees, but her eulogy, recorded weeks earlier as her health was deteriorating, was aired to mourners by video.
Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader, who negotiated over nuclear arms with Reagan in the final years of the Cold War, was also there.
