Michelle Obama charms Nancy Reagan

Posted: Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:28 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Republicans

From NBC’s Andrea Mitchell

People close to Nancy Reagan say Michelle Obama hit all the right grace notes at yesterday’s White House lunch for the former first lady.

Most notably, Michelle brought out the Reagan china, which Nancy loved seeing, and made sure to decorate the table with her favorite flowers, peonies.

Mrs. Reagan told friends at a dinner in the Capitol last night that she was wowed by both President and Mrs. Obama and their hospitality.

She was toasted by a bipartisan group, including Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Republican leaders Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan.

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Comments

Did Michelle share with Nancy why she was never proud of America (her country) during President Regana's terms or any others terms....? Did she explain why only in recent months she feels proud of her country?

Proud of America? (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:33 AM)

Yes, I'm sure Michelle Obama had a lot to do with setting the table and putting out flowers.

Dems were once screaming about the price of that china (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:35 AM)

the warmth and graciousness of michelle obama is inspiring. americans should be proud of this first lady.

sbvpav, creswell, oregon (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:37 AM)

Yup, lets keep up with the soft stories, and the Middle East speeches, and ignore that another 532,000 people lost their jobs last month. And because we as a country are in such dire straits financially, lets throw a carbon tax on everything, and require people to buy health care insurance even if they don't want it. That can only help, help make another 500,000 people unemployed.

That Sinking Feeling (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:38 AM)

"People close to Nancy Reagan say Michelle Obama hit all the right grace notes at yesterday’s White House lunch for the former first lady."
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I'm sorry, Andrea, but I must have missed the memo that stated this lunch was a "test" of our First Lady's hospitality skills. Mrs. Obama is a warm, intelligent, and gracious woman. Are you surprised (disappointed?) that the meeting went smoothly?

Some actual "news" would be appreciated here, thanks.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:39 AM)

the warmth and graciousness of michelle obama is inspiring. americans should be proud of this first lady.
sbvpav, creswell, oregon

Really? What has she inspired people to do? Other then to wear $500 tennis shoes to homeless shelters that is.

Ike Walton, MI (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:40 AM)

Proud of America?

Get over it!

Tom Kaye (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:40 AM)

americans should be proud of this first lady.

Is there some reason we shouldn't be proud of all of our First Ladies?

Hillary C (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:42 AM)

The pettiness of some of you is unbelievable. Michelle Obama is an intelligent, compassionate, and gracious first lady. She's devoted to her children and her husband and seems to impress everyone she meets. But some of you just can't seem to stand that and continue with your pathetic and childish insults. You are really showing how stupid you are; you are an embarrassment!

La Mesa, CA (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:47 AM)

Michelle Obama continues be the kind of First Lady that the nation needs at a time of political polarization. Women can be proud of Nancy and Michelle as they inspire the best in us.

Michaele, Chandler,AZ (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:48 AM)

I agree with La Mesa from CA,---some of the pettiness is unbelievable and probably says a lot about the type of person you are.

Lewis, Cincinnati, Ohio (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:55 AM)

This is in response to the un-educated idiot (PROUD OF AMERICA.

It is so sad to see the hate that is written about the first lady and the president. Do you hate him that much? Do you people have anything constructive to say other than the teleprompter, first time proud of america.) Those comments are realy getting OLD. Come up with some new lines. Is that all you have? Why should she be proud of america when people like you make mean and hateful comments. It is so ignorant of you.

Faith, Gaithersburg, MD (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:55 AM)

Mrs Obama, like her husband, is an extremely charming and gracious individual. Of course they will do all to help a guest feel welcome, that's the way well mannered people do things. One could read this Andrea, that you are a little surprised Mrs Reagan was so well treated. That's so disappointing coming from you.

La Mesa: I agree with you, the petty and rude people that post are an embarrasment.

Good manners comes down to a very simple cavaet, consideration of others.

Gingerbread Mamma, Jupiter, Fl. (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:02 AM)

Really? What has she inspired people to do? Other then to wear $500 tennis shoes to homeless shelters that is.
Ike Walton, MI (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:40 AM)
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So a millionaire on the world stage should wear $2.89 tennies from Wal-Mart? Get real.

Mrs. Obama is a gracious lady that cares about her children, her husband and her country. Even if she disagrees with someone as she might with Nancy Reagan she still does what is correct as a good hostess and focus on things they have in common and those things her guest likes.

It was a great day for the Obamas with his wonderful speech and her lovely hosting of former First Lady Nancy Reagan. May they have many more.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:02 AM)

Michelle Obama great hosting. I didn't expect anny less. She does have class... and training...who do you think trained the others? News please...

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:06 AM)

Hardee - NH (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:08 AM)

americans should be proud of this first lady.

Is there some reason we shouldn't be proud of all of our First Ladies?
Hillary C

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That Ladybird kind of got on everyones nerves.

Johnson J., Texas (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:09 AM)

Love Michelle Obama...and for everything the Right had to say about her before she became First Lady, I look back at the Elections, and it seems like a Millenium ago I spoke with reasoned people at my own office who were afraid Michelle Obama could not "pull it off" in the White House. I am very pleased with her as First Lady.

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:13 AM)

To Proud of America. Please if we are to use our constitutional rights to criticize our public figures, atleast get the quote right! What the first lady said was this was the first time she was REALLY proud of her country. Let not quote portions of what someone said, lets begin to quote entireties not just what we want to be told. As an American citizen I think she has a right to speak how she truely feels.

shaneuqa, washington de (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:16 AM)

JC I can't believe I'm addressing this at this point in time. She said "What we've learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback and let me tell you something, for the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment. I've seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, and it's made me proud."

Toatally misunderstood but honestly we've seen our country go from being viewed as one of the greatest on the world, in fact the leader of the free world to being rued by almost every other nation.

She didn't even address the issues of race that have plagued this country since the beginning but I will. Until you are discriminated against because of your skin color - then who are you to judge how proud a person should be of their country. And no I wouldn't rather live anywhere else, but its difficult to handle at times. Especially seeing the way people speak about the Obamas knowing they wouldn't say SOME of these hateful things if they weren't AA.

CB, Brooklyn, NY (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:18 AM)

Poor Nancy.

Poor Nancy ................ (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:19 AM)

Really? What has she inspired people to do? Other then to wear $500 tennis shoes to homeless shelters that is.
Ike Walton, MI (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:40 AM)
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You must have her confused with your little buddy John McCain... he was the one in the $500 loafer bought and paid for my his heiress wife!

So you were saying...??

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:19 AM)

The First Lady was raised like a lot of us were in a loving home. She was taught manners and how to treat others. I really feel for some of you hateful, spiteful, envious, people. I know your parents did not raise you to act as you do, OR DID THEY. My only hope is that you are not parents.

Tough Lafy, NC (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:25 AM)

Mrs. Obama is a gracious lady that cares about her children, her husband and her country

I agree. I also think that each of our first ladies cared as well about her children, her husband and her country. Wouldn't that describe most American women? She's not any different than any other first lady, for that reason deserves neither our criticism nor our untoward praise.

Virginian (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:25 AM)

No, Redhead, Ike doesn't have her confused. She did wear those $500 shoes to a homeless shelter. Probably not the wisest thing to do.

Besides, they were ugly.

Go with Keds next time, Mrs. O (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:36 AM)

You must have her confused with your little buddy John McCain... he was the one in the $500 loafer bought and paid for my his heiress wife!

So you were saying...??
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Didn't know John McCain was the first lady.

Learn Something Knew Everyday (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:39 AM)

It never ceases to amaze me how a lie just can't be stopped. This constant reference to a statement never made by the First Lady Michelle Obama continues to rear its ugly head; mostly by people who are very angry that this nation elected a African American President and that the first lady is a woman of color. Will it ever end. But then, a lie is only a lie if you can get somebody to believe it; and some people will believe anything that is convenient.

Khrish Hill, Richmond, VA (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:48 AM)

Why all the venom from the Obama critics? Andrea's point was that the Obama's both went out of their way to honor Mrs. Reagan and her late husband and that Mrs. Reagan appreciated it. Isn't that a good thing?
I was touched by scene of the President escorting the frail Mrs. Reagan and am glad that Mrs. Obama was so thoughtful to her as well. You have the right to disagree with the Obamas but can't you acknowledge that they are kind decent people who are trying to do what they believe is the best thing for their country?

Steeler Fan Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:51 AM)

as one who also is the caregiver for a father suffering with alzheimer's, not unlike nancy or maria, i remember most heartbreakingly what nancy said at a talk in santa barbara just before president reagan passed away, "ronnie has gone to a place where even i can not reach him."

let us all hope the new research in stem cell will bring a cure for this terrible disease that robs one of one's life and loved ones while still alive.

sbvpav, creswell, oregon (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:59 AM)

She's not any different than any other first lady, for that reason deserves neither our criticism nor our untoward praise.
Virginian
* * *
Oh, go ahead and give her praise for a job well done. It costs you nothing and speaks well for your humanity. Besides, praise for Michelle does not automatically denigrate any former First Ladies.

As a side note, the difference between Michelle and most other women is the size of the audience for the example she sets.

Richard, Seattle (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 12:03 PM)

Andrea, I never expect to read something from you like this. What did you expect that the First Lady would put our paper plates, plastic cups cover the table with a plastic table cloth and serve corn dogs or somthing. It amazes me the things that you all say about the Obama's as if they are some unlearned wild test experiment in the White House.

Use the Presidents speech today and the one on race in our own country to educate yourselves on others. You might find that people of color and other cultures are more like you then you think.

You almost sound like Bill O'Reilly with the "they had silverware and napkins". We sit at a table for dinner with our families, place napkins in our lap and use the proper utensils and say please and thank you also. You almost sound like Pat Buchanan on this one.

Karin, Indiana (Sent Thursday, June 04, 2009 12:12 PM)

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