# Lying in state **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lying-in-state/249358 "2004-06-08T23:18:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lying-in-state/249358/1 "2004-06-08T23:18:00Z")
In one of the articles about Ronald Reagan’s funeral, it was said that only nine presidents prior to him have lain in state below the Capitol Rotunda. In other words, it’s a rare honor. Is it an honor that was granted to anyone other than a late president? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lying-in-state/249358/2 "2004-06-08T23:20:39Z")
Sorry to answer my own question, but I searched after posting and found [this web page](http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/lain_in_state.htm) that lists everyone granted this honor. It’s from the website of the Architect of the Capitol. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lying-in-state/249358/3 "2004-06-09T05:08:25Z")
Lying in state, and the big state funeral, are available to any former president, in practice. It’s up to the family, and most don’t choose to do it. Yes, I read the cite. President Nixon lay in state in his presidential library, and so did President L. B. Johnson. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lying-in-state/249358/4 "2004-06-09T06:33:15Z")
Related Trivia: Which US President did not have a US flag draped on their coffin? (answer tomorrow) ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lying-in-state/249358/5 "2004-06-09T06:52:30Z")
John Tyler would be my guess since he had been named to the Confederate Congress before he died. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lying-in-state/249358/6 "2004-06-09T10:11:44Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Is it an honor that was granted to anyone other than a late president? Yes, senators, congressmen, Supreme court justices and the two capitol policeman who were killed on duty have all lain in state in the Rotunda. [Those Who Have Lain in State or in Honor in the Capitol Rotunda](http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/lain_in_state.htm) ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lying-in-state/249358/7 "2004-06-10T03:05:02Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > John Tyler would be my guess since he had been named to the Confederate Congress before he died. DING DING DING! The winner! ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lying-in-state/249358/8 "2004-06-10T08:01:43Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Is it an honor that was granted to anyone other than a late president? They tried it with some of the living presidents, but they all clawed their way out of their coffins.