President Bush has declared next Tuesday, January second, a national day of mourning for former President Gerald Ford, who died earlier this week at the age of 93.
Mr. Bush also ordered non-essential federal offices be closed on that day and called on the American people to pay homage to the memory of the 38th president of the United States.
The Nasdaq Stock Market will also close, and the New York Stock Exchange may follow suit.
Five days of memorial services will begin with a private ceremony near Mr. Ford's home in the U.S. state of California on Friday.
On Saturday, Mr. Ford's body will be flown to Washington to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. A state funeral will be held Saturday evening, followed by a funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Mr. Ford's body will be buried at his presidential library in his hometown in the U.S. state of Michigan.
Gerald Ford was the only American to serve as both president and vice president without being elected to either office. President Richard Nixon appointed Mr. Ford vice-president in 1973, and he became the 38th president of the United States when Mr. Nixon resigned under threat of impeachment in 1974.
Mr. Ford served only two-and-a-half years in the White House, but he is credited with helping reassure Americans following the Vietnam war and the Watergate political scandal that forced Mr. Nixon from office.
On Wednesday, President Bush praised Mr. Ford as a man of "complete integrity" who commanded the respect and earned the goodwill of many.
Mr. Bush also ordered non-essential federal offices be closed on that day and called on the American people to pay homage to the memory of the 38th president of the United States.
The Nasdaq Stock Market will also close, and the New York Stock Exchange may follow suit.
Five days of memorial services will begin with a private ceremony near Mr. Ford's home in the U.S. state of California on Friday.
On Saturday, Mr. Ford's body will be flown to Washington to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. A state funeral will be held Saturday evening, followed by a funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Mr. Ford's body will be buried at his presidential library in his hometown in the U.S. state of Michigan.
Gerald Ford was the only American to serve as both president and vice president without being elected to either office. President Richard Nixon appointed Mr. Ford vice-president in 1973, and he became the 38th president of the United States when Mr. Nixon resigned under threat of impeachment in 1974.
Mr. Ford served only two-and-a-half years in the White House, but he is credited with helping reassure Americans following the Vietnam war and the Watergate political scandal that forced Mr. Nixon from office.
On Wednesday, President Bush praised Mr. Ford as a man of "complete integrity" who commanded the respect and earned the goodwill of many.