Sam Donaldson told the hair and makeup people his toupee needed extra reinforcement. He heard there were 45mph wind gusts on the roof. Cokie Roberts' assistant, schlepping a purple box of Stuart Weitzman shoes plus garment bag, asked where Cokie could change and was politely directed to a stairwell.
Nancy's attention to detail included — that day when Reagan's body was moved to the mortuary — her black coat modeled after what the Duchess of Windsor wore to the Duke's farewell. She even planned the menu for the Air Force One trip home.
At the Reagan Library John Kerry's advancers put in place a banana and a bag of Chitos, with: "It's what he likes to eat." When Kerry didn't snack, a Nancy staffer said: "One of us should take it. It could turn out to be presidential memorabilia."
Here is the zinger to end all zingers from New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd on the manner of George W. Bush in regard to Reagan's death:
"Finally, there's a flag-draped coffin and military funeral that President Bush wants us to see."