WASHINGTON, USA (AP) – The US yesterday honoured Gerald R Ford under towering cathedral arches, a high-powered fanfare for the common man who was summoned to the presidency in the crisis that drove his predecessor from office.

“In President Ford, the world saw the best of America and America found a man whose character and leadership would bring calm and healing to one of the most divisive moments in our nation’s history,” president George W Bush said in his prepared eulogy.

The elaborate invitation-only service at the Washington National Cathedral was the final assembly in the capital’s portion of the state funeral for the 38th president, before Ford’s interment today in the Midwest city of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The elder president George H W Bush called Ford a “Norman Rockwell painting come to life” and pierced the solemnity of the occasion by cracking gentle jokes about Ford’s reputation as an errant golfer. Former president Bill Clinton and vice-president Dick Cheney joined in the laughter.

Henry Kissinger, Ford’s secretary of state, paid tribute to his leadership in achieving nuclear arms control with the Soviets, in the first political agreement between Israel and Egypt, and in helping to bring majority rule to southern Africa, among other achievements often overlooked in the modest man.

“In his understated way, he did his duty as a leader, not as a performer playing to the gallery,” Kissinger said. “Gerald Ford had the virtues of small town America.”

The crisp steps of the military pallbearers echoed through the cavernous space as Ford’s remains came to a church he had visited at least seven times as vice-president, president or ex-president.

On a national day of mourning that closed most of the government and financial markets, the cortege brought his casket to the cathedral in blustery winds that blew off the hats of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, and members of the honour guard outside the service. White-gloved police officers lined the route passing the White House to the cathedral, while subdued crowds watched the cortege.

Inside, more than 3,000 people – including the three living ex-presidents – mourned the man who was charged with restoring trust in government after Richard Nixon’s downfall.

“When president Nixon needed to replace a vice-president who had resigned in scandal, he naturally turned to a man whose name was a synonym for integrity,” Bush said in his remarks. “And eight months later, when he was elevated to the presidency, it was because America needed him, not because he needed the office.”

Thousands of average Americans filed into the Capitol Rotunda over two days and a night to pay final respects to Ford. Afterward, Ford’s remains briefly lay in repose outside the Senate chamber in tribute to his tenure as Senate president when he served as Nixon’s vice-president.

The thunder of cannon heralded his departure from the Capitol, a military honour guard carrying his casket down the steps as his widow watched and his honourary pallbearers stood with hands over their hearts.

Ford was appointed vice-president by Nixon to replace Spiro Agnew, who resigned in a bribery scandal stemming from his days as Maryland governor. After Nixon resigned, Ford assumed the presidency for 2 and a half years.

A month after taking office, he pardoned Nixon for any Watergate crimes he might have committed. Nixon resigned rather than face impeachment after he was implicated in a White House cover-up of a burglary at Democratic Party national headquarters in the Watergate apartment complex.

Ford died at 93 on December 26 at his home in Rancho Mirage, California.