‘The brightest ... light’

Former President George W. Bush, former Wyoming Sen. Alan K. Simpson and presidential historian and Bush biographer Jon Meacham delivered eulogies Wednesday at the state funeral of former President George H.W. Bush. Here are summaries of what they said: ‘THE BRIGHTEST OF 1,000 POINTS OF LIGHT’

Bush evoked laughter and tears — his own and that of mourners listening to him in the National Cathedral — with a 12-minute tribute to his father. Bush described his father as a genuinely optimistic and selfless man who“valued character over pedigree,” looked for the good in everyone, and shared credit in victory while shouldering blame in defeat.

“To us, his was the brightest of 1,000 points of light,”Bush said, invoking a phrase that the elder Bush used.

He recalled the 41st president’s many active hobbies — fishing, driving his speedboat, playing“speed golf ” — and said he had been “born with just two settings: full throttle, then sleep.”And Bush noted with a laugh some of his father’s imperfections, including his poor dancing skills and hatred of vegetables.

“He showed me what it means to be a president who serves with integrity, leads with courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country,” Bush added, concluding his eulogy on a personal note.

“Through our tears, let us know the blessings of knowing and loving you — a great and noble man, the best father a son or daughter can have — and in our grief, let us smile knowing that Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom’s hand again,” Bush said, becoming tearful as he referred to the late Barbara Bush and their daughter, who died at the age of 3. ‘YOU WOULD HAVE WANTED HIM ON YOUR SIDE’

Simpson began his remarks by recalling how Bush insisted that he keep his eulogy brief.

“Relax, George told me I only had 10 minutes,” he said.

“He was very direct about it, it wasn’t even funny.”

The crowd laughed throughout his speech, as Simpson regaled the audience with stories of their long friendship: a weekend at Camp David, their joking analysis of a vase at the Kennedy Center and their renditions of“Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical“Evita.”

And even as he laughed about Bush’s inability to remember the punch lines, Simpson gave his so-called punch line to the 41st president’s life.

“You would have wanted him on your side,” he said. “He never lost his sense of humor. Humor is the universal solvent against the abrasive elements of life.” ‘AMERICA’S LAST GREAT SOLDIER-STATESMAN’

Meacham delivered the first eulogy for the 41st president, calling him “America’s last great soldierstatesman.”

He recounted the day Bush’s plane was shot down in the Pacific during World War II and some of the more amusing moments of Bush’s political career, including comedian Dana Carvey’s impression of him on “Saturday Night Live” and the time he accidentally shook the hand of a store mannequin while greeting voters on the campaign trail.

Meacham also alluded to Bush’s bipartisan efforts and foreign policy work, including the fact that under his administration,“a wall fell in Berlin, a dictator’s aggression did not stand.”

“The rest of his life was a perennial effort to prove himself worthy of his salvation,” Mr. Meacham concluded.“A lion who not only led us, but who loved us. That’s why he was spared.”