Nancy Reagan Not Sure Husband Recognizes Her

Reuters ^ | September 24, 2002

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former first lady Nancy Reagan says in a interview to be broadcast Wednesday on CBS that she is no longer sure that her husband, ex-President Ronald Reagan, recognizes her because of the deterioration he has suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

In an interview with Mike Wallace to be shown CBS's "60 Minutes II," Mrs. Reagan says that life with the 91-year-old former president has become sad and lonely but that she and her sometimes estranged daughter Patti have reconciled and that her husband may sense that.

"The golden years are when you can sit back, hopefully, and exchange memories and that's the worst part about this disease: there's nobody to exchange memories with and ... we had a lot of memories," Mrs. Reagan said.

Mrs. Reagan said that her husband did not know they recently had their 50th wedding anniversary and Mrs. Reagan told Wallace, "I'd love to talk to him about it and there were times when I had to catch myself because I'd reach out and start to say, 'Honey remember when?"' Asked if he still recognized her, she said, "I don't know."

But she said she thinks her daughter might be right when she says that the former president senses that mother and daughter patched up their differences. "(Patti) thinks he has gotten a feeling of the two of us together and, as she says, his soul doesn't have Alzheimer's."

Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, revealed in 1994 that he had Alzheimer's. The disease caused him to fail to recognize old friends or even recall that he was president but for a while his physical robustness remained and he exercised by playing golf.

But he became more and more frail as time went by and had difficulty moving about in his home in the exclusive Bel-Air district of Los Angeles, where his second wife, Nancy, became his primary care giver.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

May God bless Nancy and Ronnie both.

[deport]

I watched an aunt slowly regress to where she never knew a single family member at the end. It's sad

[nicmarlo]

"The golden years are when you can sit back, hopefully, and exchange memories and that's the worst part about this disease: there's nobody to exchange memories with and ... we had a lot of memories," Mrs. Reagan said.

This is truly very sad. President Reagon deeply loved his wife. How heartbreaking to be in the presence of someone who once loved you so much and, now, he doesn't even know who you are. Prayers of comfort to both. May God continue to bless President Reagan, the only man I have admired since my teens.

[Pistolshot]

Reagan should be on Mt Rushmore.

[Textide]

Well, for better or worse, she's there with him now and that counts for something. I can't imagine the day-to-day of it all....

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Maureen is dead, Patti has reconciled, thats good.I think Michael says his dad does not recognize him, and now Nancy.Well God Bless you guys!Will keep you in prayers.Hey what about Ron Reagan? don't hear anything about him in last few years.

[TAP ONLINE]

you are a heartless ba/*-tard. I only hope that you never live the hell Mrs Reagan is experiencing. You have no right to be so flippant. I pity you and those around you who you judge

[Becki]

Reagan should be on Mt Rushmore.

I still have my "Put Ron on the Rock" sticker. It is a thing of beauty.

[weikel]

I expected that.

[adaven]

Reagan should be on Mt Rushmore.

YES! I agree. Okay, how do we start? May God bless Nancy and give her & her family the continued strength she needs to get past these times. It is so very sad. :(

[mombonn]

How hateful. I will enjoy every flame against you.

[weikel]

I probably will too I sure enjoyed the last one.

[Cicero]

It's difficult and sad, all right. But God will bring them to a happy life together in the next world through their suffering in this one. They have my prayers.

In reference to the unfeeling comment above, Nancy Reagan was sometimes sharp in the face of an insufferable liberal press, which constantly attacked her and sought to trip her up. Any social sins she may have committed then have more than been made up for since. Not even Reuters is snide any longer.

I greatly admire her conduct.

[Joe Boucher]

A couple of years ago my grandfather passed away after haveing this for about 5 years. May GOD bless Nancy for takig care of the big guy. And may GOD bless the big guy and take him to heaven where he belongs.

[copycat]

Ronald Reagan was a great AMERICAN.

[muir_redwoods]

He may have lost a lot and Nancy may have had to give a lot but Ronnie faces his end with a clear conscience. That's more, way more, than some ex-presidents will ever be able to say

[kayak]

I was taught that there is a time and a place for everything ...... and this thread is not the most appropriate place for talking about the WOD.

If you find that the subject has a tie-in to your pet subject, you can always link this thread to a WOD thread and do your celebrating there with others of like mind who find joy in the misfortunes of a much revered hero to the majority of FReepers.

[Libertina]

Poor lady...

[weikel]

I feel bad for Reagan I do NOT feel bad for Nancy.