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Allow me to tackle the elephant in the room at the outset: The juxtaposition of having an anthem about “no Heaven” and “no religion” performed at the funeral of a man — a former president — whose life was largely defined by his faith was rather jarring. That — nearly half a century ago — its author attended the inauguration of said president, who was still in office when said author was felled by an assassin’s bullet, adds several layers to the story. 

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I understand why some may take issue with the inclusion of “Imagine” at Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Although…Jim Geraghty makes an interesting observation about what the song actually invites us to do:

Regardless, its inclusion prompted me to ponder the improbability of what went on at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday morning. Stay with me on this:

As a former president — one who left office 44 years ago — was eulogized, his five living successors (and most of their vice presidents) sat grouped together despite some bitter feuds and bad blood. 

  • The 40th and 41st presidents are no longer with us. 
  • Number 42 was present, along with his wife, who lost her bid to be Number 45. 
  • Number 43 and his wife were present, and, among others, warmly greeted his father’s (Number 41) vice president and his wife. 
  • Number 44, whose enmity toward Number 45 (and vice versa) has painted a significant portion of our political landscape over the past decade-and-a-half, was present — his wife, conspicuously absent. 
  • His vice president, now Number 46, delivered a eulogy for 39. 
  • He and his wife were seated next to his vice president — who recently lost her bid to become Number 47 — and her husband, but the ice between them was so thick a Polar-class icebreaker might struggle with it.
  • And, of course, Number 45 — soon-to-be Number 47 — was present with his wife and seemed surprisingly chummy with the aforementioned Number 44, though a bit less so with several of the others and his own former vice president. 

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Also present on this august occasion: several Supreme Court justices, including Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Brett M. Kavanaugh, John G. Roberts Jr., and Sonia Sotomayor.

Sotomayor, of course, oversees the Second Circuit — from whence, on Wednesday, came an emergency application to stay the criminal sentencing of Number 45/47, currently set for Friday morning — that sentencing the byproduct of years’ worth of lawfare launched at 45/47 by 46, 44, and wife of 42. 

Sometime later today, those Supreme Court justices (or possibly just Sotomayor) will be issuing a ruling that decides whether or not the president-elect will legally be a “convicted felon” when he’s sworn into office on January 20. 

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And just for good measure, the son of Number 46, prosecuted by his own Department of Justice and found guilty of firearms felonies (and having pled guilty to tax felonies), then recently pardoned by 46, was also in attendance. 

Throw in the soon-to-be resigned Canadian Prime Minister, the Duke of Edinburgh, and dozens of other notables, and it’s rather wild to think of them all there together in one place. 

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You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried. It’s almost too much to…imagine.