Reagan's Funeral

Nancy Reagan embracing the flag at the coffin was heartbreaking.

Codell, I agree I was never expecting to watch any of this at all, but it was fascinating and moving all in a very positive way. I really was in awe of it all ~ and I felt a great deal of pride.

 

You don't think Gerry Ford is going to get this type of funeral services?

I wasn't around for Kennedy, either, but I've seen a lot of the footage from his state funeral over the years. Interestingly, though, I don't think I've seen much of anything from the funerals of the other five Presidents who died between Kennedy and Reagan (Hoover, Ike, Truman, LBJ and Nixon).

What I like about all the coverage of Reagan is the general positiveness and optimism surrounding it. Yes, there are sad moments, but the services and everything are more a celebration of his life.

 

That's all it should have been. A funeral. This non-stop, week-long ceremony and coverage was too much.

 

I didn't remember Nixon getting this much run at his funeral.

 

Reagan was a widely beloved figure by many people, including myself, so I do agree that we're not likely to see this kind of sentiment and whatnot surrounding the next several presidential deaths. Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush simply did not engender the same kind of response in people.

 

Thank God for C-SPAN. Watching the cable news guys with all the useless commentary finally took it's toll on me. I was ready to punch somebody if I heard another question like "can you reflect on blah blah blah?"

 

Nixon had a good turn-out, though. Got all the living Presidents (inlcuding Reagan in one of his last public appearances) along with Billy Graham and something like 50,000 well-wishers. Clinton gave a nice speech for Nixon at his funeral, I thought.

But Nixon was not anywhere near as popular a public figure as Reagan. Plus, dying in the summertime when television is all in reruns like Reagan did can't hurt your coverage. Nixon just missed dying during sweeps.

 

From what I've gathered ... Presidents opt into having State funerals. Some do, and some don't. Apparently Nixon didn't want a State funeral, and thus didn't have all the ceremonial stuff.

I kept wondering the same thing this week that Nixon never got such a nice sendoff, so I asked a General at work why that was, and that's what he told me that when the President's term starts, they're asked that when they pass away what kind of service they would like.

I think when Carter passes away, and if he opted for a State funeral, it will be something very similar.

 

I would be surprised if Ford's family accepts a state funeral cause he was never elected president.

 

Seems like no one else is going to ask it. So at the risk of sounding absolutely callous, how many of you think his death has been overblown beyond belief?

As for Nixon, his family requested that he not have a state funeral.

 

Several non-Presidents have had state funerals. At least Ford was President, even if he wasn't elected to the presidency (or the vice presidency). But you're probably right that his family will choose a less public ceremony following his death.

 

I have to say that I don't exactly understand all of the hoopla, but the reaction from the majority of people and politicians in America (and the World) right now, I'd have to say no. I'm too young to really remember anything about Reagan other than he was the guy that liked Jelly Belly jelly beans, but the reaction to his passing is beyond belief. Absolutely amazing that a man could be so loved, especially a politician.

 

What, 24 hour, daily coverage for the last week has been too much for you?

 

Go smoke some dope... you'll feel better! Hey, I have an idea; you could do that instead of watching the coverage.

I didn't watch much of it until this evening. That moment that Codell posted was heart-wrenching. Nancy was drawn to that casket like a magnet and her kids had to tug her away.

I hope someday (well into the future) my wife pats and kisses my casket the way Nancy did President Reagan's.

What an awesome locale.... facing that dusky sunset!

 

I think much of the reason I don't understand is that I'm not into politics. BTW, I didn't watch the funeral, but I'm sure I would've felt bad just as I would have for any wife/human being that had to go through that. I guess my question's purpose is to figure out what did Reagan do to/for you that you felt that tight a connection. I was discussing this at work as well... the only thing I can think of is that I was still pretty much a kid during his tenure, so maybe I don't feel as tight a connect.

Don't get me wrong, I do feel something because he was the President of my youth, but if you had asked me 1 month ago what the reaction to his death would be, I would never have guessed it would be on this huge/wide a scale.

When I think of funerals and coverage like what I'm seeing, I usually associate it them with "mega people" : Gandhi, MLK, JFK, etc. I never would've guessed the reaction to Reagan's death would be what I've seen especially since it was something people knew was coming unlike the 3 mentioned above.

 

I like Codell was locked in for 3+ hours last night. Reagan was such a positive person and so popular I don't know if there will ever be another president to leave office with so much support, especially in today' world where everything is so divided by the parties.

I really worry about Nancy. When I hear people talk about her and Ron co-existing by themselves for the last 10+ years (and even before Alzheimers set in) it makes me pray (and I did pray for her last night) she doesn't pass away from a broken heart shortly. Pertsonally I really hope she gets involved in stem cell research or some other cause to keep her busy and active.

Also is Ron Reagan Jr in politics? Although I liked Michael and patty's speech it for some reason sounded like to me RRII may be very similar to his father.

 

I don't think it is callous and I wanted to ask it myself, but am glad that you asked it, DoD.

Reagan was a great President but I do think his death was overblown. For example, I couldn't understand why the mail was not delivered yesterday. Can someone tell me the last time that happened - the mail not being delivered due to national day of mourning for a former President's death? Wasn't the mail delivered the day after 9-11? If there ever was a time for national mourning, that was the time. It was stuff like that makes me think that his passing was overblown and the coverage of his death to be excessive.

Now some might take this post in a bad way and think that I am a cold and heartless b*stard, but let's look at it like this: the man lived to be 93 years old!! That is an incredibly long time. Plus he had a terrible disease for who knows how long. I am just glad that he doesn't have to suffer anymore. But I get the feeling, with the way his death was covered by the media, that this was a person who died in a car accident or was shot and died way too young. But that wasn't the case - so yes, I think it was overblown.