What happens when a president dies?

The final time a Democratic president died was in 1973 when Lyndon Baines Johnson handed away on the age of 64, just some years after leaving workplace.

Following the loss of life of Jimmy Carter on Sunday at the age of 100, the nation will now see the primary funeral for a Democratic president in additional than 50 years.

Carter is the longest-living president, who additionally had the longest post-presidency after leaving workplace on the age of 56 in 1980.

There are a variety of traditions and customs that govern the loss of life of a US president, however the needs of the household are additionally closely thought of, that means the proceedings will be fairly completely different from one another.

For the reason that loss of life of Johnson, there have been 4 state funerals for former presidents – Johnson’s in 1973, Ronald Reagan’s in 2004, Gerald Ford’s in 2007 and George HW Bush’s most not too long ago in 2018.

Richard Nixon, who died in 1994, opted for a smaller and extra personal ceremony at his presidential library amid issues that reminiscing about the Watergate scandal could overshadow any larger proceeding. 

The US “conducts state funerals on behalf of all individuals who maintain, or have held, the workplace of president in addition to a president-elect and different individuals designated by the president,” according to the US Army Military District of Washington. 

A state funeral lasts seven to 10 days and consists of three elements – ceremonies within the president’s residence state, ceremonies in Washington DC, and eventually ceremonies within the state the place they select to be buried.

The ceremonies within the capital area might embrace Armed Forces honor guards, navy bands, and models from the Nationwide Guard and the US Armed Forces reserves. Outdoors of the capitol area, providers might also embrace native models.

Vice chairman takes the oath of workplace

If a president dies in workplace, the very first thing that should occur is that the vp takes the oath of workplace to turn into president.

Planning the funeral

One of many first issues a president should do is plan their very own funeral, according to the White House Historical Association. Following the passing of a president, the household coordinates the proceedings.

The then-state funeral planner for public affairs for the Joint Process Drive, Nationwide Capital Area in Washington, Barbara Owens, stated in 2006 following the passing of Mr Ford that “Till the household has had an opportunity to satisfy with our commanding common and go over the occasions of the subsequent days, we is not going to know what that schedule might be.”

“They’ll select to have a easy funeral – they will select to have a full honor funeral. It merely is as much as the household,” she added on the time.

The issuing of a proclamation

When the White Home is made conscious of the loss of life of a former president, the present president declares the loss of life by proclamation earlier than ordering the Division of Protection to prepare a state funeral.

The president additionally orders federal businesses and departments closed to watch a nationwide day of mourning.

Reducing the flags to half-staff

When a president dies, all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels within the US and its territories ought to fly the flags at half-staff for 30 days, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Transporting the casket to the US Capitol and mendacity in state

After mendacity in state on the presidential library of a former president, as was the case for Reagan in California, the casket is then transported to the US Capitol to lie in state there. Throughout transportation, the casket is escorted by the navy and transported utilizing a presidential aircraft.

In 2018, George HW Bush was transported from Houston, Texas to lie in state on the US Capitol for 2 days earlier than he was buried at his presidential library in School Station, Texas.

The mendacity in state permits present and former elected officers and the general public to pay their respects.

Mendacity in state within the White Home has to date solely occurred for presidents who died in office. 

The funeral

The funerals are historically held on the Washington Nationwide Cathedral within the nation’s capital. Events surrounding the funeral usually last for five days and the proceedings rely on every particular person president.

When it comes to seating preparations, the presidential occasion comes first, adopted by international chiefs of state, that are organized alphabetically in keeping with the English spelling of their nation. After that, royalty representing chiefs of state are seated, adopted by heads of presidency, the AP noted in time for Ford’s 2007 funeral. 

US navy salute

When a president is buried, seven honor guards hearth a three-volley salute on the gravesite of the president, and navy installations across the nation fire a 21-gun salute for the former commander-in-chief.

Funeral prepare procession

Prior to now, the caskets of a number of presidents traveled throughout the nation by prepare to permit individuals all around the nation to pay their respects. In 2018, George HW Bush’s household determined also to have his casket crisscross the nation. 

Burial

The president is lastly buried, normally at a spot that holds private significance to them. A number of presidents are buried at their presidential libraries whereas Presidents William H Taft and John F Kennedy are buried at Arlington Nationwide Cemetary.

The Related Press contributed to this report