McCain lies in state as tributes flow

‘This is one of the bravest souls our nation has ever produced,’ said Speaker Paul Ryan.

John McCain’s last visit to Washington began with a military honor guard carrying the body of the late Arizona Republican into the Capitol, where his former colleagues paid their final respects to the longtime senator, GOP presidential nominee and war hero.

With dozens of current and former senators and members and McCain’s family in attendance — including McCain’s 106-year-old mother, Roberta — Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan hailed the 81-year-old senator as a uniquely, unmistakably American figure.

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“Generations of Americans will continue to marvel at the man who lies before us,” McConnell said. “The cocky, handsome naval aviator who barely scraped through school, and then fought for freedom in the skies. Who witnessed to our highest values even through terrible torture, and who became a generational leader in the United States Senate, where our nation airs its great debates.”

“This is one of the bravest souls our nation has ever produced,” added Ryan.

Friday marked the first day of two days of tributes to McCain by official Washington, a gesture on a scale normally given to a president. On Saturday, former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush will offer eulogies at a funeral at the Washington National Cathedral. McCain’s body will be laid to rest on Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in a private ceremony.

Yet conspicuously absent from Friday’s ceremony was President Donald Trump, who had a testy — at best — relationship with McCain. Trump was scheduled to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, White House chief of staff John Kelly, and Kellyanne Conway, a top Trump adviser, led a group of senior administration officials who traveled to Capitol Hill for the ceremony.

Other luminaries who attended the service included: Mitt Romney, a former GOP presidential nominee and current Senate candidate; Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey; Rick Scott, governor of Florida and current Senate candidate; Henry Kissinger; former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge; and Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, among others.