Former President Bill Clinton will speak at Ed Koch’s funeral Monday, said the one-time mayor’s close friend and spokesman George Arzt.
Clinton will deliver his speech on behalf of President Obama, who will not attend the service at Temple Emanu-el on East 65th Street in Manhattan.
“President Clinton is in Japan. He’s cutting his trip short to come back,” said Arzt.
Koch had a very good relationship with both Bill and Hillary Clinton.
“They talked on a lot of issues and the mayor was very helpful during her [Hillary Clinton’s] campaign for senate,” Arzt said.
Koch also supported Hillary in her presidential run, his spokesman added.
Mayor Bloomberg will also speak, along with friends, family and dignitaries, including Ido Aharoni, the Israeli consul general in New York.
Koch, the city’s 105th mayor, died on Friday. He was 88.