Ronald Reagan, dead at 93- Page 3

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 9:50am

And something else: it chafes me when the newscasters say that Reagan died from Alzheimer's.

Uh, no, he didn't. He died from old age. He was 93. The tragic thing about a good number of those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease is that their bodies are very healthy, physically speaking -- it's the disintegration of their minds that is the death nail. The brain shuts down, and it effects the body.

And I did notice that Nancy had time to get to the hairdresser before making her first appearance at the Simi Valley locale. And Patti needs to wear hose and a skirt. Good Lord.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 10:05am

rlbgbc - I'm not sure this is what you intended, but the impression I just got from the last part of your post is that you're chiding Nancy for taking time to be concerned with her personal appearance, but at the same time excoriating Patti for not doing that very thing. If that's not what you meant, then I appologize, but that's just how it seemed when I read it.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 10:09am

Yep, that's pretty much it. A dichotomy, isn't it? Kinda like Reagan himself. Updated On: 6/8/04 at 10:09 AM

[orion59]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 10:33am

I wouldn't fault Nancy too much for having a crew of hairdressers and make up people rush in to make her look her best. This is a woman who is used to carefully maintaining her public image, much of which I think was patterned after Jackie Kennedy Onassis during her term as First Lady.

Jackie pulled herself together to help orchestrate a funeral that would be remembered forever and provide images that would become part of history. The image of John junior saluting his father's coffin was something she practiced with him. The riderless horse leadng the funeral procession was also her idea. The black veil over her face was as much for dramatic effect as it was to hide her worn out appearance.

I don't know how much Nancy is involved with the funeral preparations but, much of what is going to happen is reminiscent of JFK's funeral right down to the riderless horse. Someone is craeting a funeral that will have many provide many opportunities for historical photos, the first of which seems to be Nancy laying her cheek on the coffin.

Public image has been so much a daily part of her life that during a time of grief, when people turn to what is familiar in order to maintaan some sense of normality, it's not surprising that her attention turns toward her appearance.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 11:01am

the riderless horse is a military tradition that has been used in presidential funerals as far back as lincoln and the practice dates back to roman times. it was not, in fact, jackie's idea and it did not lead the procession, but trailed the caisson which bore jack's body which was drawn by six white horses as is the formal military tradition and which has been the practice of presidential funeral since long before pinky tuscadero taught little jackie to salute.

http://www.jfkin61.com/assassination/assassination_main.html

the>http://www.jfkin61.com/assassination/assassination_main.html>http://www.jfkin61.com/assassination/assassination_main.html

the center photgraph shows clearly the procession with the riderless horse as tradition dictates, trailing the caisson (which coincidentally was build in 1918 to carry ammunition).

[orion59]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 11:09am

I didn't mean she had invented the idea. I had read somewhere in the vast number of Jackie stories that she had insisted on this and that itw as something that awas not used as part of presidential funerals in this country for a number of years. Maybe what I read was inaccurate or I'm not remembering properly.

Updated On: 6/8/04 at 11:09 AM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 11:34am

well the most recent one before jack's was fdr in '45 and he had it. perhaps it was just the fact that there had not been a presidential funeral in 18 years. even had he not been president she could have requested it as part of a full honors military funeral as he was a 2nd lieutenant.

[orion59]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 3:32pm

I was told by a co-worker that the postal service will be closed on Friday. I hope this is a stupid rumor. They are acting like this guy was Martin Luther King Jr or someone.

Then they'll be dragging his body back and forth across the country like a bad touring company of Cats

I guess I never realized just how beloved this guy was. I always thought of him as just another elderly, closed minded bigot who stumbled into the presidency, slept through most of his term and retired.

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 3:33pm

The Federal government is closed on Friday. This includes the post office.

[orion59]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 3:51pm

I hadn't heard this until now. I guess that means my Netflix movies will be delayed. Damn! I was really looking forward to seeing Bonzo Goes To College this weekend.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 4:02pm

Nancy has had years to prepare every detail of this circus. Just as the media has had the "Regan Dies" packets all ready and collecting dust for a decade.

Jackie only had days.

[orion59]

Posted: 6/8/04 at 4:09pm

And yet Jackie managed it with the grace, dignity and strength that she was always known for. In planning for JFK's funeral she did manage to embed images in the minds of the American people that were never forgotten. It was perfect (at elast from footage I've seen)from her insistence on wearing the blood soaked dress on the flight home from Dallas so that Amercia could see what was done to her husband, right down to her final moments at the grave site.