Community Chat

[terrier3]

---

@fthunt wrote:

His natural daughter Maureen died shortly after the President was declared terminally ill - he never knew she had died.  Michael, his adopted son with first wife - Jane Wyman (spelling) may still have a radio show in Cal.  Nancy never treated him well - at the President's funeral she had Michael & family sit in the back of the room against the wall.

---

Michael didn't even attend the funeral today...he said that he had to travel for business.

Yeah. Right.

[Frosted Cake]

I do want to say that in that era, politicians were friends with people from both parties.   They talked about Nancy's friendship with Joan Rivers and with Warren Beatty.    The political lines weren't so complicated and harsh.

Nancy did a lot for Alzheimer's patients when she spoke up about stem cell research, etc.    It's not always about political sides.   She used her voice to help others because of her own experiences.

Back then, a strong first lady was probably not treated that well.  She might have been opinionated and active in her husband's political life, but it's good to see a woman with a voice no matter how you felt about her personally.

I applaud Patty for sharing her story and being so candid in her eulogy.  It takes courage and heart to reveal that in a vulnerable time.  Death does bring out our hidden feelings in retrospect of our loved ones.

[Puzzle Piece]

@goldensrbest Actually, the Reagans had money but not nearly as much as their friends who paid for things when they were in the White House.  The Reagans had something about them, people who knew them or not, wanted to pick up their tabs and do things for them.  They were special. 

[Sooner]

---

@blackhole99 wrote:

I know NR was a first lady and I'm trying not to be judgemental, but for anyone to spend that kind of money to put someone in the ground is beyond me. It just goes to show you how different the rich are from the rest us or at the very least, me.

---

It is expected that a first lady will get a proper burial that will allow people who respected her  to feel a part of the service. It is long because there are more things to say.

Being rich doesn't keep loved ones from hurting, but they have to do it in front of cameras.  It doesn't make them miss their loved one more or less.  You can't put a price on human feelings, grief, love or loss.  They treat all of us without respect to who we are or what we have.  

[Sooner]

---

@Jacie wrote:

I am amazed  that people would pick apart a funeral.

RIP Nancy Reagan.

---

I think funerals are for the people left, and the arrangements should be up to them, unless it is discussed and decided before.  Let them do whatever they want and go through the grief and the service in a way that is best for them.

Tell them to do whatever they feel like doing.  

[Karnerblue]

@Jacie I am also, but then again not really

I also am with @Perkup and her comments.

[Irshgrl31201]

I actually wasn't planning on watching this but I DVR'd a show and when I went to watch it, the funeral was on. It picked up on Ron Reagan speaking so I didn't hear all of what he said but what I did catch, I have to say was so very lovely.

He was talking about his parents relationship and said “Both possessed great individual talents but as a couple, they were more than the sum of their parts,” Ron said. “It would be a mistake to consider her somehow subordinate to him. They were coequals, they complemented one another.”

He also talked about her absolute belief in him. I loved that. I also really loved it when Ron was talking about how particular his mom could be. He said she could be difficult, demanding and obsessive but only so his dad didn't have to be. 

No matter what you think of them, they definitely had a beautiful relationship with each other and were very much in love and very loyal to each other. That is hard to come by. I know how very difficult Alzheimer's disease is for the family. Watching a person you have known to be mentally and physically strong throughout your whole life deteriorating right before your eyes and forgetting little by little, all the special moments you have shared together throughout your long history together until they eventually forget even you. I know how horribly difficult that could be for any type of relationship you may have had with someone. I then think of how incredibly devastating that must be for a couple who has shared such an unusually close and intimate relationship that they did together. 

I think that what their family went through in terms of their completely different views is fairly common but also completely refreshing. It goes to show that Ronald and Nancy Reagan taught their children to fight for what they believed in. Common family disagreements, arguments and fighting would be so difficult with the eyes of the world watching you. I know it is something I could never handle. 

[sligo]

I believe his daughter Maureen died several years ago. Have no idea about Michael.

[jubilant]

From all I have read about the Reagan's...... I thought some might like to know that, eventually, Nancy Reagan and President Reagan's children from his previous marriage, became close and were probably closer to her than her own children.  I find that comforting.