Posted on 06/06/2004 10:38:10 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
Thatcher's taped eulogy at Reagan funeral
By Alec Russell in Washington and Andrew Sparrow, Political Correspondent
(Filed: 07/06/2004)
Lady Thatcher will deliver a eulogy at Ronald Reagan's funeral, it emerged yesterday, as America mourned the death of one of the most influential and colourful presidents of the 20th century.
Long before he died on Saturday night after a decade-long battle against Alzheimer, Mr Reagan asked his old friend and ideological ally if she would pay tribute at the service.
|
|
|
|
Her 10-minute address will be one of the highlights of the state funeral on Friday in the National Cathedral in Washington.
It is expected to be the most emotional state occasion in Washington since the funeral of John F Kennedy in 1963 and is being compared in political significance with the funeral in 1944 of Franklin D Roosevelt, the last president to have engineered a similar revolution in US politics.
Lady Thatcher, who has had to give up formal public speaking on the advice of her doctors, recorded her remarks before Mr Reagan's death. Her speech will be broadcast during the service, which she will attend. It is believed to be the first time a non-American has been invited to deliver a eulogy at a US president's funeral.
 |
|
|
|
Flags flew at half-mast across America and shrines of flowers formed outside the many public buildings bearing the Reagan name to honour the former president, who died, aged 93, at his Los Angeles home with his wife, Nancy, at his side.
Today his coffin starts a five-day journey, allowing Americans the opportunity to mourn in person the passing of the "Great Communicator".
His body will travel to the Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, California, where it will lie in state for two days. It will then be flown to Washington to lie in state in the Capitol on Wednesday night and Thursday.
 |
|
|
|
The funeral takes place on Friday, when hundreds of thousands of people are expected to throng the capital. The body will be carried on a gun carriage from the Capitol to the White House. From there a hearse will carry it to the cathedral.
There will then be a private sunset burial on Friday in his beloved California where he began his journey from Hollywood to the White House.
President George W Bush led America in tributes, hailing Mr Reagan at the D-Day 60th anniversary commemorations as a "gallant leader in the cause of freedom".
His life spanned all the great events of the 20th century and his death caused a wave of nostalgia for a leader whose easy-going charm did so much to soften the hostility that his politics sometimes provoked.
Present and former world leaders, including Mikhail Gorbachev and the Pope, saluted Mr Reagan, in particular for helping to end the Cold War and for his fight against Alzheimer's.
 |
|
|
|
Lady Thatcher said: "President Reagan was one of my closest political and dearest personal friends. He will be missed not only by those who knew him and not only by the nation that he served so proudly and loved so deeply but also by millions of men and women who live in freedom today because of the policies he pursued.
"Ronald Reagan had a higher claim than any other leader to have won the Cold War for liberty and he did it without a shot being fired."
Tony Blair said: "President Reagan will be remembered as a good friend of Britain."
Thank you so much for that link. The one with Michael Jackson cracked me up!
A "Thanks for that link" BUMP!
I could see Nancy being a bit jealous, Maggie seemed to have a crush on the President, aside from the great respect they had for each other.
God, I miss Maggie too. There are so few giants in the world. Tony Blair has been a good and faithful friend, but boy do I wish he were a conservative.
Does anyone know where I can find the transcript to Margaret Thatcher's address at Ronald Reagan's funeral? It was so well articulated and carried with such noble eloquence that one "listening" isn't enough. Thanks!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.