Contrasting Tributes: A Day of Soaring Eulogies and Pointed Reminders of the Nation's Struggles

The nation's last four chief executives, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump, presented their visions of a country going through its toughest year in half a century. The occasion was the funeral of Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights leader and Democratic House member who preached change, progress, and hope. The contrasts were painful, with the three former presidents delivering soaring tributes to Lewis's optimistic courage, while Trump stayed home and tweeted about dark forces and election rigging.

Key Takeaways:

• Obama, Bush, and Clinton delivered classic rhetoric, citing Scripture, powerful silences, and sweet allusions to Lewis's character to describe his impact on the nation.
• Trump's absence from the funeral was in character, reflecting his claim to relish being on the other side, excluded by the establishment.
• Trump's speaking style was out of place at the Lewis funeral, highlighting his deep need to be the focus of attention.
• Trump suggested postponing the November election, citing the virus crisis, but ended with question marks, indicating potential doubt.
• Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., rejected the idea, stating that never in the country's history had a federally scheduled election been postponed.
• Obama praised Bush and his father for signing extensions of the Voting Rights Act and hailed Lewis for sticking to his belief that all Americans shared a foundational belief in principles of equality and fairness.
• Trump's counterprogramming, including a meeting with the family of a soldier killed on an Army base and paying tribute to Herman Cain, failed to win widespread approval.
• Lewis's final note called on "ordinary people with extraordinary vision" to "redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble."

Statistics:

• 244 years: Age of the United States as of 2020, struggling to define its identity and decide what freedom and equality will mean.
• 96 days: Time remaining before the 2020 presidential election, which Trump suggested postponing due to the virus crisis.
• 2020: The year in which the country is experiencing a plunging economy, a pernicious virus, and increasing social unrest.
• 246,000: The number of Americans who have died from covid-19, a staggering loss that has severe social and economic implications.
• 27 members: The number of House Democrats who canceled plans to attend the funeral of Sen. John Lewis, citing concerns about the spreading virus.

Sources:

• [Marc Fisher, The Washington Post, August 6, 2020]
• [John Lewis, Final Note, published on the day of his funeral]