“... the most incredible event I have ever covered.”
– Houston photographer David J. Phillip
For more than a decade, Washington photo editor Jon Elswick has negotiated with the Department of Defense over coverage plans for the funeral of former President George H.W. Bush, while Houston photojournalist David Phillip fostered a relationship with the Bush family and their spokesman to secure AP’s shooting positions for the eventual funeral events.
Those relationships built with the military and with family liaisons were crucial to arranging and executing coverage, paving the way for more than two dozen staffers to parachute in and do their part to tell the story in real time and for the history books.
When we received the news of Bush’s death, the photo operation immediately acted on that advance work. Elswick began corresponding with his DOD contact to confirm all of AP’s previously negotiated designated photo positions in both Washington and Texas. Then Elswick and Phillip worked through complex conversations with AP managers and their contacts to ensure the best access for AP photographers.
Washington photographer Alex Brandon shoots from a vehicle as the funeral motorcade of former President George H.W. Bush passes the White House. Brandon was the pool photographer for the motorcade.
Photo courtesy Yuri Gripas
The hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush passes the White House, transferring the casket from the U.S. Capitol to a state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.
AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
The Bush family walks past the casket of former President George H.W. Bush as he lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Washington. AP received permission to rig an overhead remote camera for this position.
AP Photo / Morry Gash
World War II veteran Emory Crowder, 95, center right, pays his last respects to fellow veteran George H.W. Bush as the former president lies in state at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Dec. 4, 2018.
AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta
Former Sen. Bob Dole salutes the flag-draped casket of fellow WWII veteran George H.W. Bush as the former president lies in state at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Dec. 4, 2018.
P Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta
Sully, George H.W. Bush’s service dog, visits the casket as the former president lies in state at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Dec. 4, 2018.
P Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta
President Donald Trump salutes alongside first lady Melania Trump in front of the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush, lying in state in the U.S. Capitol, Dec. 3, 2018.
AP Photo / Patrick Semansky
From left, President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listen during the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.
AP Photo / Alex Brandon
Former President George W. Bush speaks at the state funeral for his father, former President George H.W. Bush, at the National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.
AP Photo / Alex Brandon
Former President George W. Bush touches the casket of his father, former President George H.W. Bush, during the state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.
AP Photo / Alex Brandon
Former President George Bush touches the flag-draped casket of his father, former President George H.W. Bush, as he prepares to speak during the state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.
AP Photo / Andrew Harnik
A military honor guard carries the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush past former President George W. Bush, President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter, and Rosalynn Carter at the end of a state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.
AP Photo / Carolyn Kaster
A military honor guard carries the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush out of the National Cathedral after a state funeral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.
AP Photo / Andrew Harnik
Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush, left, follow the casket of former President George H.W. Bush as it is carried out following a state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.
AP Photo / Susan Walsh
The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard into St. Martin's Episcopal Church during a funeral for former President George H.W. Bush in Houston, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / Mark Humphrey
The Oak Ridge Boys perform during the funeral for former President George H.W. Bush at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / Mark Humphrey
Houston photographer David Phillip, right, rides aboard the Union Pacific funeral train carrying the casket of President George H.W. Bush to College Station, Texas, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / Kiichiro Sato
Firefighters salute from their truck as the train carrying the casket of former president George H.W. Bush travels through Spring, Texas, en route to Bush's burial at his presidential library in College Station, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / Michael Wyke
People pay their respects as the train carrying the casket of former President George H.W. Bush passes along the route to College Station, Texas, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / David J. Phillip
People pay their respects as the train carrying the casket of former President George H.W. Bush passes through Navasota, Texas, en route to College Station, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / Gerald Herbert
People pay their respects as the train carrying the casket of former President George H.W. Bush passes through Navasota, Texas, en route to College Station, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / Gerald Herbert
People pay their respects as the train carrying the casket of former President George H.W. Bush passes along the route to College Station, Texas, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / David J. Phillip
Phoenix photographer Matt York, right, awaits the arrival of the former president's casket at George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / Chris Carlson
Family members follow the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush for burial at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Thursday In College Station, Texas, Dec. 6, 2018.
AP Photo / Matt York
The sun rises in Houston behind Special Air Mission 41, the plane that would carry the casket of former President George H.W. Bush to Washington, Dec. 3, 2018.
AP Photo / Eric Gay
As funeral plans were announced, the AP team of 26 photographers and photo editors quickly assembled in Washington, Houston and College Station, Texas. Milwaukee photojournalist Morry Gash flew into Washington to rig a remote-controlled camera that captured a stunning bird’s-eye view of the U.S. Capitol rotunda during visitation and services, and Washington photojournalist Alex Brandon was in the funeral motorcade, literally hanging out of the car window to get key shots in Washington.
In Texas, David Phillip worked with the official Bush family photographers every step of the way, from the church floor to the presidential library, and he even negotiated to shoot inside the railroad car carrying the coffin as the funeral train passed through Texas towns. Phillip called it “the most incredible event I have ever covered.”
The rest of photo team did what they do best: produce outstanding images without missing a beat.
Photos streamed on the wire throughout the six-day event as photographers sent files wirelessly from their cameras to Washington photo editors Wayne Partlow and Elswick, who promptly moved the images to the world. Central photo editor Bob Graves in Chicago jumped in to help move photos when some locations experienced poor connectivity. Their efforts paid off with dominating play on front pages, online and in print.
The photo coverage was part of an impressive dayslong cross-format effort by scores of AP staff across the country and globe that included hours of live video and spot and breaking text, video, audio and graphics coverage that explored Bush’s life and presidency from every angle.
For exceptional planning and execution on one of the largest news events of the year, this week’s Best of the States goes to the team of photo staff covering the Bush funeral.