Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
The death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan took place in June 2004. Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the United States (1981–1989). Reagan died on June 5, 2004 at the age of 93 at his home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California.
The mourning period started on June 6, 2004, the day after Reagan's death. Memorials were held initially near Reagan's home and at his presidential library. The casket was then flown to Washington, D.C. on June 9, 2004 for public viewing and tributes at the U.S. Capitol. A state funeral was conducted at the Washington National Cathedral on June 11, 2004. After the funeral, Reagan's casket was transported back to California for interment at the Reagan Presidential Library.
The state funeral was executed by the Military District of Washington (MDW).
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Death and initial tributes
Reagan had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for a decade. The morning of his death, there were reports indicating that his health had significantly deteriorated. Reagan died at his home in Bel Air from pneumonia at 16:00 ET (20:00 UTC). When he died, his wife, Nancy, and two of his children, Ron and Patti, were at his side. His eldest surviving child, Michael, was with his father the day before. Following his death, Mrs. Reagan released the following statement:
- "My family and I would like the world to know that President Ronald Reagan has passed away after 10 years of Alzheimer's Disease at 93 years of age. We appreciate everyone's prayers."
Initial tributes
People started to arrive at Reagan's home and set up a makeshift memorial. Bush had just concluded his state visit to Paris when he learned of the former president's death and made a statement.[1] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_whitehouse_june_5)
Flags at the White House, across the United States, and around the world were ordered flown at half-staff for 30 days.
Early overseas tributes included that of Queen Elizabeth II, who bestowed Reagan honorary knighthood shortly after he left office. Also among the early tributes came former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the current British prime minister, Tony Blair, former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, the current Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin, and French President Jacques Chirac.
Funeral Arrangements
The journey of Reagan's casket was expected to begin at his presidential library, then be flown to Washington to lie in state. The funeral service was scheduled to be held at the Washington National Cathedral, after which he would return to his presidential library to be buried at sunset.[2] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_cnn_june_6_ceremony) Bush declared June 11 the day of the funeral, as a national day of mourning,[3] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_whitehouse_june_6_1) and ordered the federal government closed.[4] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_whitehouse_june_6_2)
During the funeral services, each time Nancy Reagan appeared in public, she was escorted by a military officer, Army Major General Galen Jackman, commanding general of the Military District of Washington (MDW).
Several songs were played at each event of the week, including when the casket was moved into the Library, out of the Library, into and out of the Capitol, into and out of the Washington National Cathedral and finally, at the private interment ceremonies. These songs included four ruffles and flourishes, "Hail to the Chief," "My Country 'Tis of Thee", "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", "God of Our Fathers," "God Bless America," and "America the Beautiful." The casket was draped in the Stars and Stripes throughout its journey.
Memorials at the Reagan Presidential Library
The Reagan Presidential Library, Reagan's birth home in Tampico, Illinois, the funeral home where Reagan's body was taken to hours after he died, and all U.S. embassies and consulates overseas became places to mark Reagan's death. People came to these areas with messages of condolences and tributes to Reagan.
In Santa Monica, Ca., on June 7th, Reagan's body was removed from the funeral home, driven by hearse in a simple procession through the streets and highways of Los Angeles, and on to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.[5] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_ctv_june_8)
Reagan's casket was carried by an honor guard of military men, representing all branches of the United States Armed Forces into the lobby of the library to lie in repose (the deceased can only lie in state in the Capitol rotunda). There, a brief service was conducted by the Rev. Michael Wenning, former pastor of the Bel Air Presbyterian Church and a close friend of the Reagans. Perhaps the most moving part of the service was Nancy Reagan leaning her head against the coffin.
After the family left, the doors of the Reagan Presidential Library opened. People filed by at a rate of 2,000 an hour throughout the night. One of the first to pay their respects was California Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who like Reagan is a movie star-turned governor, and his wife, Maria Shriver, whose father, Sargent Shriver, suffers from Alzheimer's. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, also came to pay his respects. In all, about 105,000 visited the Reagan Presidential Library when Reagan's body lay there.
On June 9, Reagan's body was removed from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. His casket was driven by hearse in a simple procession through southern California to Naval Base Ventura County, in Point Mugu, California, the airfield he flew into and out of when president. Thousands of people gathered to witness the plane's depature. The aircraft was known as SAM 28000, not Air Force One, because it has that designation only when the president is on board. Just before she boarded the plane, Mrs. Reagan waved to the crowd, as she had done many times with her husband, with her military escort at her side.
Tributes on Capitol Hill and funeral preparations
In Washington in the days immediately following Reagan's death, members of Congress, both members of the House and Senate paid tribute to Reagan and would continue to do so in different ways during the days ahead.
Preparations were underway for the state funeral the day after Reagan died, when the mourning period started, as military personnel rehearsed each drill of the funeral. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated the state funeral events a National Special Security Event (NSSE)[6] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_cnn_june_7_security).
Capitol Hill events
The events in Washington began when the casket arrived at Andrews Air Force Base. It was removed from the plane, driven by hearse in a simple procession through the Maryland and Virgina suburbs and the nation's capital, and onto Constitution Avenue.
Funeral Procession
Right by the ellipse, at 16th St. and Constitution and within sight of the White House, Reagan's body was transferred to the caisson, drawn by seven black geldings, for the procession to Capitol Hill.
People applauded as the cortege began the journey to the hill. Many more down Constitution Ave. would do the same. Military units, led by the Army Band, escorted the caisson as it made its way to the hill to the sounds of the muffled drums. Behind the caisson, came the riderless horse, Sgt. York, with Reagan's boots reversed. The caisson paused at 4th and Constitution, where 21 Air Force F-15's flew over in missing-man formation.
On Capitol Hill, two teams of military honor guards carried the coffin up the steps – 116 steps. This was a very heavy coffin and a very steep ascent.
Unlike in past state funerals, Reagan's casket was carried up the west front steps for two reasons. First of all, when Reagan was inaugurated the first time, he was inaugurated on the west front, because he wanted to face west, towards California. Secondly, there was construction work being done on the east front.
Reagan's casket was carried into the rotunda to lie in state. On arrival in the Capitol rotunda, a short memorial service was held. The casket rested on the Lincoln catafalque.
Capitol Hill ceremonies
The Reverend Daniel Coughlin, the House chaplain, gave the invocation, then came the eulogies. Delivering the eulogies were Senate President Pro Tempore Ted Stevens, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, and Vice President Richard Cheney[7] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_note_eulogies). All three presided over the service because President George W. Bush was hosting the G-8 Summit in Sea Island, Georgia. Cheney noted that the rotunda was where Reagan was he was inaugurated for his second term as president in 1985 because of freezing cold temperatures.
After the eulogies, the eulogists laid a wreath. Nancy Reagan then touched the flag on her husband's casket. The Senate chaplain, the Reverend Barry Black, a retired Navy rear admiral, gave the benediction. The dignitaries, which included members of Congress, senators, and members of the diplomatic corps, paid their respects during the next half hour.
Public viewing
After the dignitaries paid their respects, the doors of the Capitol were open to those who were outside when the caisson arrived on the hill. People passed by at a rate of about 5,000 an hour. In all, about 106,000 went to Capitol Hill when Reagan lay in state.[8] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_bbc_lak)
After returning to Washington following the G-8 Summit, President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura visited the rotunda to pay their respects. Many world leaders and dignitaries did the same, including Iraqi Acting President Ghazi al-Yawer, who had been at the G-8 Summit, former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, and former Polish president Lech Walesa, all of whom would represent their respective countries at the funeral.
Nancy Reagan greeted visitors throughout the day at Blair House. Among the visitors included the Bushes, former president George H. W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, Gorbachev, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, and Britain's Prince Charles. Some of them signed the book of condolences at Blair House.
State funeral
The events of June 11th began in Washington. Just after the doors closed, the people came, there for the final, quiet moment on at the Capitol. Inside, Nancy Reagan went into the rotunda to pay her respects. Then the departure ceremony took place.
Crowds lined the route of the cortege as the hearse made its way to the Washington National Cathedral, where the funeral service would be held. As they have done in the past few days, people waved American flags and applauded as Reagan made one final journey through Washington.
Dignitaries at the funeral
About 4,000 people gathered at the cathedral for the service, including President George W. Bush and his wife, his parents, former president George H. W. Bush, and his wife, Barbara, members of the House of Representatives, Senators, one of them being Hillary Clinton of New York and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, past and present governors, the other former presidents and their wives – Gerald Ford and his wife, Betty, and Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. Former vice president Al Gore and his wife, Tipper also attended the event.[9] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_cnn_slideshow_cathedral)
Foreign dignitaries also attended – 218 of them from 165 nations. The dignitaries included 36 past and present heads of state and government (25 current, 11 past). Leading the dignitaries were former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, his wife, Mila, and Britain's Prince Charles, representing Queen Elizabeth II. Many of the current world leaders, including another honorary British knight, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who attended the service had been at the G-8 Summit. Among them where the current British prime minister, Tony Blair, his wife, Cherie, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and Jordan's King Abdullah.
Eulogies and readings at the funeral
Before the funeral, much of which went out as Reagan himself had planned and which former Missouri Republican senator Rev. John Danforth officiated, Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan, a very close friend of the Bushes, sang "Ave Maria."
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court justice, whom Reagan appointed, gave one of the readings. After the readings came the eulogies. Delivering the eulogies were Thatcher, and both Bushes.[10] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_eulogies_at_funeral) Thatcher gave hers via video because doctors had advised her not to speak in public after having a series of strokes. Mulroney paid his second tribute to Reagan in his eulogy; earlier he appeared on "CBC News Morning," the CBC's morning news program, and shared his thoughts about Reagan with one of the program's anchors, the network's senior correspondent, Alison Smith. The elder Bush first spoke, then the younger Bush.
Tynan sang "Amazing Grace."
Interment at the Reagan Presidential Library
After the service, the casket was removed from the cathedral, driven by hearse for the final time through the streets of the country's capital and the Maryland suburbs to Andrews Air Force Base for the final journey home. Crowds lined the route as the hearse made its way to the air base. The family and close friends boarded the plane that would take Reagan's body from Washington to California. Nancy Reagan waved farewell to the crowds just before she boarded the plane.
About five hours after the plane left Andrews Air Force Base, it touched down for the last time at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Ca. There were sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan on hand to witness the plane's arrival.
Reagan's body was driven by hearse on one final trip though the streets in southern California. As they had done throughout the week, crowds gathered along the motorcade route, as it went on its 25-mile journey to Reagan's final resting place, his presidential library in Simi Valley, there the sunset burial service took place.
The service drew 700 people, mostly Hollywood actors and other celebrities like Bo Derek, Tom Selleck, and Wayne Newton. There were also dignitaries as well: former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who traveled on the plane from Washington, sat next to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, and former California governor Pete Wilson.[11] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_bbc_willis09)
The three surviving Reagan children gave the final eulogies at the interment ceremony.[12] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_usatoday_june_12)
Then, the Air Force Band of the Golden West played four ruffles and flourishes and the congregation and the Army chorus sang the national anthem. A bagpier played "Amazing Grace" preceding Reagan's casket as it was moved to the grave site. There, Wenning gave the burial rites, followed the last military honors: the last 21-gun salute for Reagan, followed by the benediction, firing of three volleys, and the Taps. Four Navy F/A-18 fighter jets flew over in missing-man formation before the flag was folded (the band played "America the Beautiful" as the flag was folded) and presented to Mrs. Reagan by Navy Captain James Symonds, commanding officer of the USS Ronald Reagan, at her request.
Perhaps the most moving part of the entire week came after she got the flag: she hugged her husband's coffin, as she had done, but this time, she couldn't let go, kissing it and saying, "I love you," and cried as the sun started to set. The weeping wife was surround by her children, At the same time, the band played and the Army Chorus and the congregation sang together "God Bless America."
Tributes on the day of the funeral
In the United States, there was silence across the country at 11:30 ET (15:30 UTC) to mark the start of the funeral. Many governors asked citizens in their states to observe it at that time. Many governors also declared the day of mourning as a "day of remembrance." Houses of worship heeded a request from Nancy Reagan to toll their bells 40 times at the end of the funeral service. All U.S. Army stations throughout the world fired a 21-gun salute at 12:00 local time and a 50-gun salute at sunset. Many Americans stopped what they were doing and watched the funeral on television. Millions around the world joined Americans in watching the funeral, tuning into 24-hour news networks for live telecasts. Millions more followed it through computers – the White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov/reagan/20040611-funeral-service.v.smil) and many news sites allowed people to follow live webcasts of the funeral.
In some countries, U.S. ambassadors appeared on radio and television and gave interviews, like Paul Cellucci did in Canada. Commentators began their interviews with U.S. ambassadors with messages of condolences, as they noted America's day of mourning, like it was done with Cellucci.[13] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_ctv_june_12)
Some countries also shared America's day of mourning. Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin ordered not just the flag on the Peace Tower, but all flags across Canada flown at half-staff.[14] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_caheritage) German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder did the same for flags across Germany.
One of the largest tributes outside of the United States occurred in Canada. In Ottawa, over 70,000 people came for a moment of silence on Parliament Hill, televised live across Canada. (CBC and CTV broadcast it on their main networks only. Their respective cable networks, CBC Newsworld and CTV Newsnet, broadcast the funeral, like all other 24-hour news networks around the world.)
The events started inside when Defence Staff Chief General Ray Henault and Cellucci, who requested it, led the former prime ministers – Joe Clark, John Turner, Kim Campbell, and Jean Chrétien, and cabinet members into the Hall of Honour to sign the books of condolences. The two sons of Pierre Trudeau were also there, as was Chrétien's wife, Aline. Nearby, former NDP leader Alexa McDonough, an MP, shared her thoughts with the CBC's Julie Van Dusen in the Hall of Honour. Then the main ceremony took place. As the two surviving Trudeau sons, Sacha and Justin, and the former prime ministers gathered near the howitzers, the 21-gun salute began on Parliament Hill. At the same time, the Canadian Forces Central Band played the Canadian and U.S. national anthems.
The band also closed the ceremony by playing "Auld Lang Syne." When the band played, MP's and people in the crowd, which included past MP's and cabinet members, among them former deputy prime minister John Manley, who ran for the Liberal Party leadership in 2003, applauded. A photographer took a picture of Stockwell Day, representing the opposition leader, McDonough, representing the NDP leader, and members of the Cabinet as they were applauding. Manley stood next to two cabinet members – the current deputy prime minister, Anne McLellan, and Pierre Pettigrew.
Criticisms of the funeral coverage
The ceremonies in connection with Reagan's funeral were received critically by a number of commentators. Richard Goldstein wrote in The Village Voice: "Because the networks had so long to plan for this production, and because Nancy Reagan is a master dramaturge, this was the most precisely mounted news event in modern times. Each gesture was minutely choreographed, every tear strategically placed."[15] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_goldstein)
Reagan's family did indeed have the final say in the funeral arrangements.
Others complained that the television coverage of the funeral was excessive and preempted coverage of other events. For example, CBS News anchor Dan Rather was quoted as saying: "Even though everybody is respectful and wants to pay homage to the president, life does go on. There is other news, like the reality of Iraq. It got very short shrift this weekend."[16] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_shister)
Obituaries were not universally full of uncritical praise. Tom Carson's piece in The Village Voice paints Reagan as a "noted fantasist" who "is perhaps best remembered for the eight years he spent believing he ruled an entirely fictional United States."[17] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_carson)
Tribute at the Republican National Convention
Later in 2004, delegates to the Republican National Convention paid tribute to Reagan in different ways. Many of the speakers from California and Illinois, like California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, mentioned Reagan in their speeches and compared George W. Bush to him. Those from Illinois, including Hastert, compared Bush to both Reagan and Abraham Lincoln, another great son of their state.
On the third night of the convention, September 1, Reagan's eldest son, Michael, spoke to the delegates and introducted a video, which he dedicated to everyone who helped make his father president of the United States. Scenes from the funeral were shown in the video. As he spoke, he thanked Americans for what they did during the week of ceremonies.[18] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ronald_Reagan#endnote_washingtonpost_september_1)
References
- ^ George W. Bush, "President's remarks on the passing of President Ronald Reagan" (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040605-7.html). Press release, Office of the Press Secretary, June 5, 2004. (Video (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040605-7.v.smil))
- ^ "Reagan observances to span five days" (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/06/reagan.ceremony/). CNN Inside Politics, June 6, 2004.
- ^ George W. Bush, "Announcing the death of Ronald Reagan" (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040606-1.html). Press release, Office of the Press Secretary, June 6, 2004.
- ^ George W. Bush, "Executive order providing for the closing of government departments and agencies on June 11, 2004 " (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040606-3.html). Office of the Press Secretary, June 6, 2004.
- ^ "Thousands pay respect to Reagan in California" (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1086699964725_3). CTV News, June 8, 2004.
- ^ Jeanne Meserve and Kevin Bohn, "Security high for Reagan funeral" (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/07/reagan.security/). CNN Inside Politics, June 7, 2004.
- ^ "Reagan's Casket Arrives in Washington" (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0406/09/se.03.html). CNN Live Event/Special. June 9, 2004.
- ^ Daniel Lak, "Reagan lies in state at Capitol" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3793065.stm). BBC, June 11, 2004.
- ^ "Slideshow: Funeral service" (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/reagan/interactive/slideshow.cathedral/content.html). CNN.com.
- ^ "THE STATE FUNERAL OF RONALD REAGAN" (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0406/11/se.01.html). CNN Live Event/Special, June 11, 2004
- ^ David Willis, "Private burial for Ronald Reagan" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3800315.stm). BBC, June 12, 2004.
- ^ "Reagan's children's eulogy remarks" (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-06-12-children-eulogies_x.htm). USA Today, June 12, 2004.
- ^ "Ronald Reagan laid to rest in California" (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1086955522343_90). CTV News, June 12, 2004.
- ^ "Half-Masting of the Flag" (http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/berne-halfmasting/2004_e.cfm), Canadian Heritage.
- ^ Richard Goldstein, "Das Rongold: Reagan's funeral as a Wagnerian opera. Plus: Eminem as censor" (http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0424,goldstein,54357,6.html). The Village Voice, June 15, 2004. Retrieved May 10, 2005.
- ^ Gail Shister, "Network anchors see excess in Reagan funeral coverage" (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/8865169.htm). The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 8, 2004. Retrieved May 11, 2005.
- ^ Tom Carson, "Death of a salesman: Ronald Reagan, 1911–2004" (http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0423,carson,54137,1.html). The Village Voice, June 7, 2004. Retrieved May 11, 2005.
- ^ "Text: Remarks by Michael Reagan to the Republican National Convention" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54022-2004Sep1.html). The Washington Post, September 1, 2004.
External links
- State Funeral of Ronald Reagan-Military District of Washington (http://www.mdw.army.mil/reagan/General/index.html)
- State Funeral of Ronald Reagan-Washington National Cathedral (http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/programs/reagan/1.shtml)
- White House-Remembering Ronald Reagan (http://www.whitehouse.gov/reagan)
- Ronald Reagan Memorial (http://www.ronaldreaganmemorial.com)
- CNN Coverage of the Passing of Ronald Reagan (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/reagan)
- Coverage on C-SPAN (http://www.c-span.org/executive/reagan.asp)
- MSNBC Coverage of the Passing of Ronald Reagan (http://reagan.msnbc.com)
- Coverage in USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/reagan-obit.htm)
- BBC Reagan's Mixed White House Legacy (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/213195.stm)
- CBC In Depth-Ronald Reagan (http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/reagan_ronald)
- CTV Ronald Reagan-A Look Back (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1086442923948_115)
