Thousands See Former First Lady's Casket

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Thousands see former first lady's casket
By KELLEY SHANNON, Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN, Texas - Thousands of visitors streamed past the casket of Lady Bird Johnson as former presidents and first ladies headed to Texas for her funeral service Saturday.

About 2,000 guests are expected at the service at Riverbend Centre, including first lady Laura Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush; former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton; President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn Carter; and former first lady Nancy Reagan. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President Kennedy, also was expected to attend.

Three days of ceremonies began Friday with private family prayer services, followed by a huge public outpouring. The body of the wife of former President Lyndon B. Johnson lay in repose at the LBJ Library and Museum, which was open to the public overnight.

About 10,500 people had visited the library to pay their respects, according to a family spokeswoman.

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The first person to file past the casket wiped a tear from her eye as she left the building."I'm very honored. What a neat lady," said Mary Vidani, 57, who lives near Austin. "I had to be here. I always wanted to meet her and shake her hand and this is as close as I could get."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070714/ap_on_re_us/johnson_funeral

[Captain Hilts]

1. Lady Bird was cool. nt

[ronnykmarshall]

3. Very much.

God bless you Lady Bird.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Tell Ann, Molly and Liz I said 'hello'! nt

[onehandle]

2. Smirk's hiding? How Nixonian. nt