Washington honors McCain at funeral

Former presidents, vice presidents, and officials from the current and former administrations gathered on Saturday at the funeral for the late Sen. John McCainJohn Sidney McCainArizona race becomes Senate GOP’s ‘firewall’ Trump administration weakens methane pollution standards for drilling on public lands Another recession could hit US in 2019, says credit union association chief MORE (R-Ariz.).

Former Presidents Obama, Clinton and George W. Bush were in attendance at the Washington National Cathedral, along with Michelle ObamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaMichelle Obama warns against voter apathy in new PSA Michelle Obama adds dates to book tour 'due to overwhelming fan demand' Michelle Obama’s book tour to include stadium events MORE, Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonTrump rallies in Nevada amid Supreme Court flurry: 'We're gonna get Brett' Trump: 'Good news' that Obama is campaigning again Trump boosts Heller, hammers 'Wacky Jacky' opponent in Nevada MORE and Laura Bush, as well as former Vice Presidents Joe BidenJoseph (Joe) Robinette BidenFord taps Obama, Clinton alum to navigate Senate hearing Trump endorses Republican candidate in key NJ House race Poll: Most Massachusetts voters don't think Warren should run for president in 2020 MORE, Dick Cheney and Al GoreAlbert (Al) Arnold GoreAl Gore: 'This experiment with Trumpism is not going well' Protecting democracy requires action from all of us Poll: Democrat Bredesen leads GOP's Blackburn by 5 points in Tennessee Senate race MORE.

George W. Bush in his eulogy said of McCain that “in one epic life was written the courage and greatness of our country” and noted “presidents were not spared” McCain's commitment to honesty.

Obama said McCain “liked being unpredictable, even a little contrarian" and called on Americans to be "bigger" than the "bombast," "phony controversies" and "manufactured outrage" of politics.

The Trump administration was represented by the president's daughter and adviser Ivanka TrumpIvana (Ivanka) Marie TrumpEx-Trump, progressive strategists battle over charges of anti-Semitism surrounding Eric Trump Ethics watchdog requests probe into Trump officials traveling to campaign events Trump praises Arizona governor's pick of Jon Kyl to succeed McCain MORE, Jared KushnerJared Corey KushnerThe Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by United Against Nuclear Iran — Kavanaugh confirmation in sudden turmoil Manafort’s plea deal — the clear winners and losers Five takeaways from Manafort’s plea deal MORE, Defense Secretary James MattisJames Norman MattisOvernight Defense: Trump identifies first soldier remains from North Korea | New cyber strategy lets US go on offense | Army chief downplays talk of 'Fort Trump' Pompeo backed continued US support in Yemen war over objections from staff: report Stand with veterans instead of predatory for-profit colleges MORE, chief of staff John KellyJohn Francis KellyMORE and national security adviser John Bolton, as well as President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump rallies in Nevada amid Supreme Court flurry: 'We're gonna get Brett' Trump: 'Good news' that Obama is campaigning again Trump boosts Heller, hammers 'Wacky Jacky' opponent in Nevada MORE's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. Trump himself was not invited.

Bipartisan lawmakers and foreign leaders were also in attendance at the event, which precedes McCain’s burial Sunday at his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Additional speakers included McCain's daughter Meghan McCain, who contrasted her father's "American greatness" with "cheap rhetoric"; former senator and close McCain friend Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who offered humorous anecdotes and a defense of McCain's vote against the GOP's health-care reform bill last summer; and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who called McCain a "gift of destiny."

Prior to the funeral, McCain's wife, Cindy McCain, laid a wreath on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial not far away in Washington, D.C. McCain served in the Vietnam War as a Navy pilot. In 1967, he was shot down, captured and held hostage for more than five years.

McCain died of brain cancer on Aug. 25 at age 81.

— Updated 12:11 p.m.