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Esquire

Obama Paid Tribute to Things That Are "Bigger than Party" in His Eulogy for John McCain

Gabrielle Bruney
Updated
Photo credit: SAUL LOEB - Getty Images
Photo credit: SAUL LOEB - Getty Images

From Esquire

Barack Obama delivered a eulogy for John McCain on Saturday morning at the National Cathedral, in which he put into sharp relief the importance of bipartisanship-a theme that ran throughout the memorial service. Speaking before assembled array of political leaders, Obama said that McCain made him and fellow former McCain rival George W. Bush "better presidents, just as he made the senate better, just as he made the country better."

Before his death from brain cancer last Saturday, Senator McCain carefully planned his memorial service, selecting Obama and fellow former president George W. Bush to be speakers and pointedly excluding sitting president Donald Trump from the proceedings. Like Obama, Bush bested McCain in an election, the 2000 Republican primary.

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In his eulogy, Obama admitted to “a certain surprise” at being asked to speak at McCain’s memorial. The selection of his opponents as eulogizers "showed his irreverence, his sense of humor, and a mischievous streak,” said Obama. "After all, what better way to get the last laugh than to make George and I say nice things about him before a national audience.”

[This post will be updated.]

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