A funeral for a President, and a fleeting unity for a nation

A sentiment shared by many of the thousands who visited the Capitol through the night to pay their respects to Mr. Bush

Presidential funerals provide a moment for Washington — and the nation — to pause and embrace the better side of our politics.

No one who occupies the Oval Office escapes fierce division — it is the nature of the job. Gerald R. Ford, the last president mourned by the nation after his death in December 2006, angered many with his pardon of his predecessor, Richard M. Nixon. Ronald Reagan, whose elaborate state funeral was in 2004, provoked many divisive fights over his eight years in office. George Bush, who is being mourned and celebrated this week, was no stranger to harsh