WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President Bush and his wife, Laura, visited the Capitol soon after returning to Washington Monday to pay their respects to former President Gerald Ford.
The couple said nothing as they stood before Ford's coffin in the Rotunda for about half a minute, The Washington Post reported. They are also scheduled to attend the funeral service Tuesday at the National Cathedral. The president and first lady flew in from Texas earlier.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi also visited the Rotunda about an hour before the Bushes. The California Democrat becomes House speaker in a few days, taking a job Ford was denied because the Democrats controlled the House throughout his years there.
Ford, the country's 38th president, was the only one in this century to hold the position without being elected either president or vice president.
Members of the public also came to the Capitol in the rain to honor Ford.
"I just wanted to pay my respects," said Elsie Cooper, a Washington resident who said she never met Ford in life. "I had so much respect for him."
Ford died last week at this California home at age 93 after a long illness.
