Do you remember where you where on March 28, 1969? For those unborn, it was the day that Dwight Eisenhower passed away. Our 34th President died peacefully at Washington D.C.’s Walter Reed Hospital.
With the passing of Gerald R. Ford this week, instant memories come flooding back to a similar personal experience of being in the USA Capitol during the memorial services.
Our job with the State of North Dakota has included an annual budget hearing with the U.S. House Interior and Insular Affairs committee to support the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. I represented the National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers.
Travel arrangements were booked with NWA flights and room reservations at the famous Willard Hotel. Then, Ike passed away. The hearings were postponed one day later, but we were unable to change plans to travel. The crush on hotel space in particular made the decision rather easy, arrive on the original schedule or get bumped. The trip from Bismarck went as scheduled.
Wash. D.C. was a very solemn city, but the taxi ride from National Airport and Hotel check-in went smoothly. It was late afternoon, so the bags were unpacked and TV turned on. The black and white set was covering every move of funeral arrangement.
The old Willard Hotel was rapidly filling up with funeral attendees, however. It appeared to be prudent to catch an early dinner, so down the elevator to check out a seafood restaurant. Much to my surprise and delight, the lobby was occupied with 8-10 GOP leaders from North Dakota. The delegation was the “official ND party”, and had assembled to go to dinner with Congressman Tom Kleppe (Bismarck) and Mark Andrews (Fargo).
They most graciously invited me to join them, so we were off in two crowded taxi’s to Hogates which is the local tourist trap seafood restaurant. Kleppe and Andrews met us at the table.
Dinner was upbeat, tasty and non-partisan, particularly for the only Democratic appointment of Governor William Guy at the table. We ate well, and Dutch treat as per North Dakota style and tradition!
The group split into several post-dinner destinations, however Congressman Mark Andrews asked if any of us wanted to tour the Capitol and see the Eisenhower casket lying in state in the Rotunda.
Not to be too shy, I was first on in the Congressman’s town car. We drove the 20 some blocks to Capitol to an underground garage. A simple wave by Andrews to the security guards gave us swift passage to these private areas.
Andrews, a long time Fargo history buff, took us first to the floor of the House of Representatives. He pointed out the bench seats, bullet holes that remained from a Puerto Ricans attempt to shoot up the place and we sat in the Speakers Chair. I recall pounding the gavel.
Our next stop was Statuary Hall, as he pointed out figures from each of the States and various national figures. We were met at the Rotunda entrance by a Marine guard, who simply visited briefly with Andrews and escorted us to a set of risers reserved for Members of Congress and their families.
We stayed almost an hour as the public came in the east entrance and exited to west stops toward the Lincoln Memorial. About every 10 minutes, Foreign Embassy ambassadors arrived with wreaths to be placed with help of the Marine Honor Guards. Each wreath remained for about 10 minutes, then was removed to a holding area to make room for the next wreath.
It was approaching midnight as Andrews waved us on to a final stop in the Rotendra. We were admitted to the flower/wreath holding area, with a chance to read the cards from Presidents, Kings, Queens and Celebrities.
We headed for the town car and back to the Willard. A minister from Belfield wanted to stop by the Lincoln Memorial and walk back to the Hotel. Andrews drove to the Memorial, but waited for the preacher to pay his respects. We circled the White House grounds enroute back to our Hotel. It was almost 2 a.m. when we hit the elevator button.
The next day was consumed with reading the Washington Post and staying close to the TV. Several trips down to the lobby and street was very reflective as the sound of respect and silence prevailed.
Watching the ceremony at the Capitol was fascinating. As the procession left the Capitol, driving down Constitutional Avenue to the National Cathedral, I simply grabbed my coat and hit the elevator button.
Arrival at the street provided a short wait and opportunity to see the procession whisk by. Gerald Ford’s arrangements are very similar. I had many personal opportunities to visit with him in his role as Congressman from Michigan. But, that’s another story.
