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Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Nancy Reagan to appear at White House

Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:21 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: , ,

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell

NBC News has learned that Nancy Reagan will be at the White House this afternoon, when President Obama signs into law the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act.

Interestingly, Mrs. Reagan told Vanity Fair in an interview published this week that she was surprised Obama did not invite her to the White House when he announced his decision to resume stem-cell research, a cause she has long advocated. She even told Vanity Fair that she thought Obama had missed an opportunity to gain some political mileage by having her attend.
 
She's in D.C. for tomorrow's unveiling of the Ronald Reagan Statue in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol.

Video: Bob Colacello talks with NBC's Andrea Mitchell about his Vanity Fair feature on Nancy Reagan, and her candid views on the Bushes, Obamas and living without "Ronnie."

Mrs. Reagan has been recovering from a bad fall last September that caused her to fracture her pelvis, but has been gaining strength and is believed to be in good health.

She turns 88 on July 6.

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Nancy, God bless you and God rest the soul of Ronald Reagan, greatest president of the Twentieth Century.
Mrs reagan, maybe the president did not invite you because of your health and i think he was being very respectful to you by not make this a photo opportunity using you. Now you know how the press is and they would have taken that and ran with it. believe me Ms Reagan, the president is and will always be repsectful of his elders as his grandma taught him. please don't take the no invite the wrong was.  
I wish this woman all the best.  I was not fond of her as First Lady.  The way I remember it was she threw tons and tons of parties, spent tons and tons of money, controlled her husband completely.  I am one who believes if it were not for the Reagunomic era, we wouldn't be where we are now.  He was the king of de-regulation!  I honestly wish her all the best.    
 Maybe Obama can try his seance joke out in person on Nancy Reagan.  
Nothing like Listening is there, great that your team recognized Nancy's still alive & even better that you invited her to the WH for this.

A rare slipup for Obama for not having her there for the stemcell signing.

O well, he's Human !
NBC News has learned that Nancy Reagan will be at the White House this afternoon,

Oh Goodie! Will she be bringing her tarot cards and tea leaves too?  Err.. make that tea bags!
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The Bush administration, after being elected in 2000,
Sandra D., California (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:03 AM)
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Taking liberties again are we??  Bush WASN’T elected!  He was handed he election by the Supreme Court!  He lost the popular vote by over 17 million votes – so it's crystal clear who the country REALLY 'elected' as their leader!  
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WWJBD

does that stand for Who Would Jesus Bomb Daily?
Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:22 AM)
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HA!  Good One Clara!  Streeeike One!
Nothing like Listening is there, great that your team recognized Nancy's still alive & even better that you invited her to the WH for this.

A rare slipup for Obama for not having her there for the stemcell signing.

O well, he's Human !
Rick,Ky (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:40 AM)
_________

I dont believe it was a slip up at all.  I think he recognized that, if he had invited her, it would have taken on the appearance of politicking.  The man is more shrewd that people realize.

And while I was never really a big fan of Mrs Reagan I still respect the position she held as First Lady and certainly am glad to see she has recovered from recent events.  I wish her well.
I didn't like much of where Reagan lead us. His memory issues created a lot of problems. BUT, he was a great leader and I respected him. Nancy also gets my respect. Bush one was ok but it was during his time that the Republicans began their decline into the politics of division. I recall Pat Buchannan speaking at the Republican convention for Bush I's second term. It was a disgrace, the cultural war cry, and the president didn't have the pants to lead in a better direction. The Reagan era is fondly remembered by many because it did not include the trashy talk radio and the rabid right non sense of Fox comentaries. Maybe that is why we fondly remember the Reagan years and some believe they produced much more good than they did. Politics existed and political sides were taken, but I don't recall the rancor and petty stuff that has simply grown in importance while governance has decreased in importance. The Obama detractors will not go away but I think President Obama has brought some civility back to the office and in that way, is similar to Reagan. Hopefully a new generation of voters and politicians can learn civility. It's what Reagan was and Obama is.
She was surprised by not being invited to the White House? She was quite a snob and a bit weird (consulted astrologers) when her husband was President and is a bit frail so why would she be invited?

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Nancy, God bless you and God rest the soul of Ronald Reagan, greatest president of the Twentieth Century.
St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:29 AM)

Many historians would disagree with you on your last statement. Both Roosevelts were better than Reagan by far. But than they weren't gods like your boy Ronnie were they?

These sour-grapie RePUKEs...always complaining at some slight...I'm glad Ms. Reagan has come to a ripe old age, but I think she bombed as US first lady.  Give me MObama any day.  Meanwhile, I hope Nancy understands what's being signed.  
Still aiming for a little lime light old girl? Sweetie you were sick, that is most likely why you weren't invited to the white house sooner.
Nancy, God bless you and God rest the soul of Ronald Reagan, greatest president of the Twentieth Century.
St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:29 AM)

....until you factor in Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, and Truman.
Nancy who?
Nancy, God bless you and God rest the soul of Ronald Reagan, greatest president of the Twentieth Century.
St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:29 AM)

....until you factor in Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, and Truman.
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Hey Historian, did you know that Truman left office with lower approval ratings than Bush had when he left office?  

Amazing how time changes things.
Historian:
Ronald Reagan the greatest president of the twenth century...may have ben yours. Nancy Reagan ran that roost. Ronald Reagan's "voo doo politics". Speak for yourself!
Hey Historian, did you know that Truman left office with lower approval ratings than Bush had when he left office?  

Amazing how time changes things.
Virginian (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:34 AM)


I've read numerous books on Truman and quite familiar with his presidency.  Your contention that Bush will share a similar fate is misguided at best.
Will this statue be of Reagan as a politician or an actor? Maybe there isn't much difference.

Anyway, congrats to Mrs. Reagan for being married to an honorable man.

He left California in good shape. Look at it now.


I think that Mrs. Reagan is wrong with regards to having her appear at the stem cell signing.  I don't think that it would have carried any weight at all.  She would have been rideculed by Limbaugh because he would have seen it as a sell out.  
T.R. was a GREAT president and I can say I sincerely respect Harry Truman. (But NOT F.D.R. or as Archie Bunker called him, America's first creeping Socalist!)

At least Truman was the last and only Democrat who would ever have the guts and fortitude to use atomic weapons to defend America.

Obama would NEVER push the button, no matter what happens to the USA.
Reagan presidency was the biggest stagecraft in the American history. A man of little substance, an uninformed president, a mere actor that had spent his life memorizing lines. His election emboldened extremists to install W junior next by disenfranchising Americans. Reagan thru his ignorance of economic policy allowed unbridled trickle down economy and uncontrolled corporate greed that led to corporate raids, forfeiting of pension funds from millions and income suppression that brought about the current destruction of American wealth for lack of purchasing power by so many.


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