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US presidents travel together to Mandela funeral US presidents travel together to Mandela funeral
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Air Force One arrived in South Africa for Nelson Mandela's funeral carrying not only President Barack Obama and the first lady, Michelle, but also a former president, George Bush, and his wife Laura and a possible future president, Hillary Clinton. Air Force One arrived in South Africa for Nelson Mandela's funeral carrying not only President Barack Obama and the first lady, Michelle, but also a former president, George W Bush, his wife, Laura, and a possible future president, Hillary Clinton.
With American presidents accustomed to having the plane to themselves, etiquette was tricky. Officials said that for the long flight from Washington, Obama kept his usual quarters in the front of the plane, while the medical unit cabin was transformed into the Bushes' quarters. Hillary Clinton stayed in the senior staff cabin. With American presidents accustomed to having the plane to themselves, etiquette was tricky. Officials said that for the long flight from Washington, Obama kept his usual quarters in the front of the plane, while the medical unit cabin was transformed into the Bushes' quarters. Clinton stayed in the senior staff cabin.
Obama spoke on Tuesday at the memorial service in the 80,000-seat soccer stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, where more than 70 leaders from around the world gathered to commemorate the life of Mandela, who died on Thursday at age 95. The large delegation from the US was a designed as a high-profile display of American respect for the man who vanquished white-minority rule in South Africa. Obama spoke on Tuesday at the memorial service in the 80,000-seat soccer stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, where more than 70 leaders from around the world gathered to commemorate the life of Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95. The large delegation from the US was a designed as a high-profile display of American respect for the man who vanquished white minority rule in South Africa.
After getting stuck in traffic, the Obamas were finally seated nearly two hours after the ceremony began. The fact that both Democrat and Republican leaders joined together for the South Africa trip underscored the importance of Mandela's life and legacy, said Martha Joynt Kumar, a political scientist at Towson University in Maryland who studies the presidency. After getting stuck in traffic, the Obamas were finally seated nearly two hours after the ceremony began. The fact that Democratic and Republican leaders joined together for the South Africa trip underscored the importance of Mandela's life and legacy, said Martha Joynt Kumar, a political scientist at Towson University in Maryland who studies the presidency.
"It puts a ... stamp on the importance that the United States thought of Mandela, his importance as a world leader," Kumar said. "It puts a … stamp on the importance that the United States thought of Mandela, his importance as a world leader," Kumar said.
Air Force One stopped in Senegal's capital Dakar to refuel on its way to South Africa. On the flight, the three families sat in a conference room towards the front of the plane, chatting to each other at a large round table. Air Force One stopped in Senegal's capital, Dakar, to refuel on its way to South Africa. On the flight, the three families sat in a conference room towards the front of the plane, chatting to each other at a large round table.
It was Bush's first flight on Air Force One since handing over power to Obama in 2009 and it was the most time he had spent in close proximity to Obama since returning to Dallas after he left the White House. It was Bush's first flight on Air Force One since handing power to Obama in 2009 and it was the most time he had spent in close proximity to Obama since returning to Dallas after he left the White House.
Former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton made their own way to South Africa. Logistical issues prevented them from flying together.Former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton made their own way to South Africa. Logistical issues prevented them from flying together.
Presidential travel usually requires weeks of preparation. Preliminary work probably started a while ago as authorities would have recognised the gravity of Mandela's illness, said Ralph Basham, former Secret Service director.Presidential travel usually requires weeks of preparation. Preliminary work probably started a while ago as authorities would have recognised the gravity of Mandela's illness, said Ralph Basham, former Secret Service director.
When Pope John Paul II passed away in 2005, President George Bush, Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr attended the funeral. When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr attended the funeral.
"Where it's really challenging is when a death and a funeral is unexpected," Basham said. When Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981, the Secret Service decided it was too dangerous for the president and vice president to attend the funeral, so former presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Carter went instead, he said. "Where it's really challenging is when a death and a funeral is unexpected," Basham said. When President Anwar Sadat of Egypt was assassinated in 1981, the Secret Service decided it was too dangerous for the president and vice-president to attend the funeral, so former presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Carter went instead, he said.
"That was a real challenge because of the unusual situation there and not knowing who you could trust," said Basham, who was lead Secret Service agent for Sadat's funeral."That was a real challenge because of the unusual situation there and not knowing who you could trust," said Basham, who was lead Secret Service agent for Sadat's funeral.
But the situation in South Africa is different. "You're dealing with a sophisticated group of people in South Africa who have excellent law enforcement and military capabilities," said Basham.But the situation in South Africa is different. "You're dealing with a sophisticated group of people in South Africa who have excellent law enforcement and military capabilities," said Basham.
"They recognise that it would be an international catastrophe if something were to happen during these events," he said. "They recognise that it would be an international catastrophe if something were to happen during these events."
A Secret Service spokesman declined to comment on specific security measures for the South Africa trip.A Secret Service spokesman declined to comment on specific security measures for the South Africa trip.
In June, Obama took his family to see the Robben Island prison cell where Mandela had been held, a "powerful experience" that Obama reflected upon as he crafted his remarks for the memorial service, said Ben Rhodes, deputy White House national security adviser.In June, Obama took his family to see the Robben Island prison cell where Mandela had been held, a "powerful experience" that Obama reflected upon as he crafted his remarks for the memorial service, said Ben Rhodes, deputy White House national security adviser.
Obama likely will meet informally with South African President Jacob Zuma at the memorial, aides said, and will try to meet Mandela's widow, Graça Machel, and some family members to pay respects, if time allows. Obama will probably meet informally with the South African president, Jacob Zuma, at the memorial, aides said, and will try to meet Mandela's widow, Graça Machel, and some family members to pay his respects, if time allows.
The United States also plansto send a delegation to Mandela's burial on Sunday in Qunu, his ancestral home. The US also plans to send a delegation to Mandela's burial on Sunday in Qunu, his ancestral home.
In Washington, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, signed a book of condolence on behalf of the American people at the South African embassy. Biden wrote: "Mandela's head and heart lifted a nation to freedom. We will continue to keep his spirit alive and strive to live by his example." In Washington, the vice-president, Joe Biden, and his wife, Jill, signed a book of condolence on behalf of the American people at the South African embassy. Biden wrote: "Mandela's head and heart lifted a nation to freedom. We will continue to keep his spirit alive and strive to live by his example."
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