Posted on 06/06/2004 4:33:59 PM PDT by ambrose
Widow 'feels sense of relief'
From Marc Lavine in Los Angeles
07jun04
FORMER US first lady Nancy Reagan felt a "sense of relief" when 93-year-old Ronald Reagan died after a tough 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, a family spokeswoman said today.
"While it is an extremely sad time for Mrs Reagan, there is definitely a sense of relief that he is no longer suffering and that he has gone to another place," said his chief of staff Joanne Drake.
Mr Reagan, who announced in November 1994 that he was suffering from the irreversible and debilitating brain disease that robbed him of his memory, did not recognise his wife or family members in the last years of his life.
His daughter Patti revealed in December that he could no longer talk, walk or feed himself and that he was confined to a hospital bed, with the 82-year-old Nancy almost constantly by his side.
"It's been a really hard for her for 10 years," Ms Drake said after reading out a brief statement from the former first lady.
"Mrs Reagan and her family are deeply touched by the outpouring of sympathy from across the country and around the world.
"As you can understand, the family is in deep mourning over the loss of a husband, a father, a grandfather and their hero."
Nancy Reagan and her two children Ron and Patti were at Mr Reagan's bedside when he died in his Los Angeles mansion yesterday after suffering pneumonia.
But his son, Michael, who was adopted by Mr Reagan and his first wife Jane Wyman, just missed his father's death after being caught in Los Angeles' notorious traffic, Ms Drake said.
She addressed media outside the mortuary in the Santa Monica district of Los Angeles, where Mr Reagan is being prepared to lie in state.
Ms Drake said the family had been besieged by "thousands" of telephone calls from dignitaries and movie stars offering their condolences and sympathy.
Hollywood movie star Charlton Heston, who last year revealed that he too is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was among those to call his close friend Nancy Reagan, who is also a former film actress.
President George W. Bush called twice after failing to reach Nancy Reagan on his first attempt, and offered her his full support and that of First Lady Laura Bush.
Mr Bush's father, ex-president George Bush, who was Reagan's vice-president also phoned as did former first lady Lady Bird Johnson and her daughter Lucy, the family of late president Richard Nixon, Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and the Reverend Billy Graham.
"The phone has been ringing to the point that it's hard to keep up with it," Ms Drake said.
"I'm not surprised. I have worked for him for 20 years, and I think he is one of the best presidents this country has ever had," she said choking back tears.
Ms Drake said she believed that her former boss was largely responsible for the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in Europe.
Watched that on C-Span today. (Didn't know Charleton Heston has Alzheimer's.)
"(Didn't know Charleton Heston has Alzheimer's.)"
I believe that was the last time the loony left got all excited. George Clooney couldn't resist and said that if anyone deserved Alzheimer's it was Heston.
My husband brought up a troubling thought today... We were attacked on 9-11. The train in Spain was attacked on 3-11. Ronald Reagan's funeral will be held in DC on 6-11.
We need to pray that our beloved president's funeral not be marred in any way.
Clooney the Looney.
Oh no. Yes, I'll pray.
Nancy and Ronaldus deserved each other...both class acts. Nancy has suffered more than Ron these past years, I wish her peace.
I also thought about the possibility of an attack next week (although I didn't realize the 6-11 connection until I saw your post). We've already been told that Al Qaeda is 90% ready to launch a major attack in the U.S. this summer. The public events scheduled for the coming week might prove too tempting for them to pass up. I pray that the Great Man can be laid to rest without incident.
Clooney is still young. We'll see if he has the opportunity to reflect on the concept of karma in the years to come.
My reply up there sounds like a John Kerry statement.
Sorry about that.
I mean, that is a scary thought and my prayers will be sent for a peaceful funeral.
the discussion of the 6-11 date was on the table long before Reagan's funeral was. if something does happen on that day, it will have no linkage to the funeral.
Not to worry, Texasflower. I understood your intent. And I agree with you. We're praying as well. President Reagan was so much the gentleman, so much the statesman, that he deserves total respect from a grateful nation. I just wish I could be there to honor him - threat or no threat.
Amen!
That's no excuse for showing one's ignorance. He's old enough to think for himself before he opens his mouth.
Nancy Reagan has earned the respect of us all, again. She will always be with her man, and God Bless them both and their children. God Bless America.
Thanks. I hope there is something here in Texas we can attend.
Have you heard anything yet?
(Didn't know Charleton Heston has Alzheimer's.)
He does and why he stepped down from heading the N.R.A..
"That's no excuse for showing one's ignorance. He's old enough to think for himself before he opens his mouth."
I think his point was that Clooney is still young and could potentially face Alzheimers in his later years, so he shouldn't be wishing it on another human being.
Oh, I agree with you. He's plenty old enough to know better. I was thinking more along the lines of his health - he's young enough not to have had any personal brushes with debilitating disease and may still harbor a bit of the "it'll never happen to me" mentality.
He may well have a chance to reflect upon his flippant and disrespectful comments regarding Mr. Heston in the years to come when he deals with medical problems of his own.
Clooney is young? At 43? Compared to what? Millions of young men and women have done more than he has at half his age.
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