WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush joined tens of thousands of people who filed silently by Ronald Reagan's body at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday as Americans paused to honor their 40th president.

At least 2,000 people an hour filed slowly past the coffin in the Capitol Rotunda, some of them after waiting seven hours, recalling his optimism and kindness with little if any mention of the divisive aspects of his presidency.

Bush and first lady Laura Bush returned to Washington from a Group of Eight summit in Georgia and went immediately to the Capitol to pay their respects.

They walked in holding hands, stood next to the casket and bowed their heads. The president touched the flag-draped casket with both hands. Bush then went to Blair House, the presidential guest quarters, to visit with members of the Reagan family.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, formally representing Russia, came to the Capitol on Thursday afternoon to pay his respects. Gorbachev crossed swords with Reagan at tense summits in the 1980s and then allowed the Cold War to end peacefully months after Reagan left office.

After the pomp and circumstance of Wednesday's stately procession, when Reagan's body slowly made its way through Washington on a horse-drawn military carriage, it was a day for ordinary Americans to show their respects.

Many past and present world leaders and veterans of the Cold War struggle against Communism that Reagan helped to end were arriving in Washington for a funeral service on Friday at Washington's National Cathedral.

In addition to Gorbachev, they included former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a staunch Reagan ally.

Ordinary Americans came in the thousands, with ridership on the city's underground Metro system hitting a record 850,636 trips on Wednesday alone.

'AN INCREDIBLE PRESIDENT'

Rick Hamilton, a Denver realtor, flew to Washington to pay his respects and did so after waiting in line under a hot sun for hours.

"It was worth it," Hamilton said. "Reagan was an incredible president and a man of honor. I liked all of his principles. Lower taxes, belief in the people, limited government."

Many stopped to sign condolence books that will be sent to the Reagan family. One entry read: "We're a better world for having had you in it. Deeke Dollak, Alexandria, Virginia."

Another read: "You were my first and best vote. Larry Perkins. Manassas, Virginia."

Reagan died on Saturday after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He bade farewell to the American people in a moving letter 10 years ago and had since lived in seclusion, cared for by his wife, Nancy.

Since his death, the U.S. media have provided blanket coverage and glowing assessments of the historical legacy and sunny personality of a man rated by some as one of the most significant U.S. presidents of the 20th century.

Little mention has been made of the fact that Reagan was often seen as a sharply divisive figure during his eight years in office between 1981 and 1989.

Former Republican Sen. Bob Dole, a sometime party rival who visited the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday, said Reagan understood the meaning of political compromise.

WELCOME BREAK

Robert Thompson, popular culture professor at Syracuse University, said the collective mourning provided a welcome break from a string of unpleasant news from Iraq.

Leslie Gelb, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, said while the public "disagreed with a lot of his policies they liked him as a person.

"They liked his sense of humor and his directness. He really was the lone cowboy that the present president, George W. Bush, aspires to be."

After the funeral, Reagan's body will be flown back to California one last time for a sunset burial on Friday on the grounds of his presidential library overlooking desert hills just north of Los Angeles.

Close Reagan friend and aide Michael Deaver said people were flocking to pay tribute to the former Hollywood actor because of his ability to relate to people no matter who they were.

"He respected people and treated everyone the same whether you were a king or a plumber," Deaver said.