By Thomas McKinless

“He placed great value on a good joke,” former President George W. Bush said of his father, former President George H.W. Bush, whose state funeral was held at the Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday. The younger Bush and former Sen. Alan Simpson gave heartfelt tributes filled with zingers about the 41st president’s life. And Speaker Paul D. Ryan entertained musings at the lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree about the pronunciation of the word Oregon, where this year’s fir is from. Thumbnail photo: The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree stands in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. The annual treelighting was postponed from Wednesday until Thursday due to the funeral of President George H.W. Bush (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call).