Barack Obama's Eulogy for John McCain

Former President Barack Obama delivered a eulogy Saturday morning honoring the life of John McCain, who died last week after a decades-long career in the Senate. In a pair of surprise requests last spring, the Arizona lawmaker had asked Obama and former President George W. Bush, both of whom had defeated him in national campaigns, to give the eulogies at his memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington.

Below, the full text of Obama’s remarks as delivered.

To John's beloved family, Mrs. McCain, to Cindy and the McCain children, President and Mrs. Bush, President and Secretary Clinton, Vice President and Mrs. Biden, Vice President and Mrs. Cheney, Vice President Gore, and, as John would say, my friends: We come to celebrate an extraordinary man, a warrior, a statesman, a patriot who embodied so much that is best in America. President Bush and I are among the fortunate few who competed against John at the highest levels of politics. He made us better presidents, just as he made the Senate better, just as he made this country better. So, for someone like John to ask you while he is still alive to stand and speak of him when he is gone is