Washington pays respects to Bush as he lies in state at Capitol

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington's political elite paid tribute to former U.S. President George H.W. Bush as his body lay in state in the Capitol on Monday, evoking a bygone era of bipartisan civility in American politics.

Before a grieving Bush family and with hands on hearts, members of Bush's Cabinet, lawmakers, the vice president and Supreme Court justices honoured the 41st president as his flag-draped casket entered the soaring Capitol Rotunda for the first official ceremony.