“The Greatest” boxer in history, Muhammad Ali, was laid to rest in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky on Friday. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a long-time admirer of the boxing entertainer and philanthropist, attended the service along with other notable names such as Billy Crystal, Will Smith, Dave Chappelle and President Bill Clinton.
"It was great to see my friend, President Clinton, who gave a fantastic eulogy of Muhammad Ali at a beautiful memorial,” said Schwarzenegger. “It reminded all of us that Ali's greatest gift was bringing people together."
Schwarzenegger, being a Republican, has no problem being seen with the Democratic ex President.
"This needs to be said: you can be friends with people from different political parties, and I believe you should be,” says Schwarzenegger. "My hero Ronald Reagan would have political battles like you wouldn't believe with the Democratic Speaker, Tip O'Neill, all day long. But both of them said "we're all friends after six.”
According to Schwarzenegger, the two spent a lot of time together in the 1970s.
"He was promoting his fights in the '70s, and I was promoting Pumping Iron and bodybuilding, so we all hung out in the same TV studios," he recalled. "We were going around the country promoting and then always having a great time and great laugh. Then we promoted some charities together. So I just love the guy. I think he was fantastic!”
"He was an idol of mine," Schwarzenegger told ET. "People ask me, 'Who are some of your idols?' He's one of the five people that I always mention, because of his generosity and because of his great skills, being a great athlete and giving back to the community. ”
