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USA TODAY's Rich Wolf discusses the service for George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral, featuring a gathering of all living presidents. USA TODAY

President Donald Trump shakes hands as former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former first lady Hillary Clinton, and former President Jimmy Carter sit before the funeral service for former US President George H. W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington on Dec. 5, 2018.(Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump stared straight ahead. Former President Bill Clinton scanned the program. Former President Jimmy Carter checked his watch.

The atmosphere at therare meeting of the president with his predecessors atthe funeral of George H.W. Bush on Wednesdaywas chilly.Trump shook hands with former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, did not engage with Bill or Hillary Clintonand promptly took his seat at the end of the row.

As Trump arrived, Hillary Clinton his 2016 opponentand the subject of the president's taunts did not glance his way.

The funeral at the Washington National Cathedral brought togetherthe current and all former living presidents. All but former President George W. Bushsat with their spousestogetherin a front row. Before Trump's arrival, theychatted amicably.

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Bush, who sat with family members at his father's funeral,broke the solemnity, offering gregarious handshakes to Trump and all of the former presidents and their spouses. He handed what appeared to be a piece of candy to Michelle Obama, in what has become a tradition between the two.

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The Obamas laughed in response.

Bush gave the former first lady a mint this year at the funeral of Sen. John McCain, a moment Obama described warmly.

"He is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather, Obama told NBC. So were together all the time, and I love him to death. Hes a wonderful man."

Former presidents have come together only occasionally over the past several decades, typically for a funeralor to celebrate the opening of a president's library at the end of his term. Historians saidthe imagery of the presidents club has significance for the nation, symbolizing a unity in times of division.

Douglas Brinkley, a historian at Rice University, said the tradition dates back to Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who rekindled a friendship through letters they made public after the bitterly contested1800 election drove them apart.

"George H.W. Bush epitomizes the presidentscluband the idea that you try, once you leave office, to be nice to the people who come after you,"Brinkley said.

Trump has had anacrimonious relationship with the Bush family, criticizingGeorge H.W. Bush and his sons. The Bush family invited Trump to attend the funeral, but he did not speak. George W. Bush eulogized his father.

The funeral was the first time that Hillary Clinton and Trump were together since his inauguration last year after their antagonistic presidential campaign.Trump continuesto call for an investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server when she was secretary of state.

During the campaign, Trump derided his opponent as "Crooked Hillary" and a "nasty woman." Crowdsat his political rallies beforethis year's midterm election chanted "lock her up" at the mention of her name.

Throughout U.S. history, presidents have often been at odds with each other.Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman didn't speak for years. Historians saidno previous chief executive has spoken as publicly and as harshly about predecessors as Trump has.

"Not even close," said Mark Updegrove, who has written books on Lyndon Johnson and the Bush family.

Trump "entered the White House on a trail of scorched earth," Updegrove said. "I don'tthink he respects the institutions the way other presidents have."

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