See Famous Friends Honor John McCain At Senator's Memorial Service
Sep. 1 2018, Published 3:54 p.m. ET
John McCain was honored by numerous famous friends from politics and show business at his memorial service at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, September 1. The late Arizona Senator and former Presidential candidate was eulogized by former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, and former VP Joe Biden and actor Warren Beatty were two of his pallbearers. But his former running mate, Sarah Palin, wasn't invited! Scroll down RadarOnline.com's for more on McCain's memorial.
McCain died at age 81 of brain cancer on Saturday, August 25, unleashing a huge outpouring of tributes to the maverick politician. The late Republican Senator had been known for reaching across the aisle and Democrats Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and Barack and Michelle Obama showed up to pay their respects. Strangely, however, Palin, whom McCain picked as his VP (they lost to Obama in a landslide), reportedly didn't get an invite!
A gathering of former Presidents and First Ladies: The Obamas, Clintons, and George W. and Laura Bush sat together in the front row of McCain's memorial, all looking somber. Although McCain had banned President Donald Trump from his funeral, his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner were also there. McCain's daughter, The View star Meghan, was sobbing while giving her eulogy.
The maverick politician had a host of eclectic friends. Jay Leno and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger were two of the mourners. Kissinger delivered a eulogy, as did former Senator and VP candidate Joe Lieberman, Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush and former Senator Kelly Ayotte.
Bush eulogized fellow Republican McCain, who served in the Senate for more than 30 years. "I'll miss him," the former President told the audience. "He was honest, no matter who he offended."
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"John was a restless soul…always on to the next thing," Bush recalled in his speech on Saturday. "He dedicated his life to national ideals."
Ex-President Barack Obama got emotional while speaking about McCain, shedding a tear before the crowd. Obama said he was surprised and saddened when, before his death, the Senator had asked him to give a eulogy. "John liked being unpredictable," Obama affectionately recalled.
"We laughed with each other and we learned with each other," Obama recalled of McCain's White House visits as the former President's wife looked on. "We never doubted we were on the same team." McCain's daughter, Meghan, had blasted current leader Donald Trump in her earlier eulogy for her beloved father.
Music at the memorial for McCain included "America the Beautiful," and "Battle Hymn of the Republic." President Trump, who regularly clashed with McCain, did not attend any of the services for his late foe but his daughter, Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner were at the big Saturday event. On Sunday, the former POW, war hero, congressman, senator and two-time Republican presidential candidate will be laid to rest at his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Survivors include his mother Roberta, 106, wife Cindy, seven children and five grandchildren.
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