Posted on 06/08/2004 8:54:12 AM PDT by lainie
Edited on 06/08/2004 11:18:28 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Controversy develops over Reagan funeral speakers...
'President Clinton really held out all hope the funeral would be a nonpartisan event, like Nixon's was,' a top Clinton source said on Tuesday morning. 'He's angry and disappointed neither he nor President Carter have been asked to speak, as of yet'...
CLINTON DISAPPOINTMENT: LEFT OFF FUNERAL SPEAKERS LIST
Former President Bill Clinton has privately expressed anger he has apparently been left off the speakers list of Friday's Reagan State Funeral, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
"President Clinton really held out all hope the funeral would be a nonpartisan event, like Nixon's was," a top Clinton source said on Tuesday morning. "He's angry and disappointed neither he nor President Carter have been asked to speak, as of yet."
The top source says Clinton has been critical that both Bush presidents will address the crowd gathered at National Cathedral.
Nixon's vice president Gerald Ford did not speak at Nixon's funeral.
Clinton's inner circle is convinced Nancy Reagan has personally shut out Clinton from any high-profile participation.
"It is a state funeral, using tax dollars," the top Clinton insider explained.
Former President George H.W. Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney will join President Bush in eulogizing Ronald Reagan, Reagan's office announced. Presiding over the service will be former Sen. John Danforth of Missouri, who is an ordained Episcopal priest. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and the Rabbi Harold Kusher will give readings, while Irish tenor Ronan Tynan will sing.
The eulogy is being prepared by President Bush's chief speechwriter, Michael Gerson, who also wrote the president's moving speech for a memorial service in the same cathedral after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Developing...
On Sunday night, Peggy Noonan said this would happen. :) The dems are going crazy. It's all the nice Reagan talk that's driving them insane.
Maybe he'll get the idea that the only way to recapture the limelight is to have his own funeral?!
I agree
LOL....or we should all say....
THERE YOU GO AGAIN....
I sure hope not.
Nothing much more needs to be said than what you wrote.
Not if it's up to Nancy and this was her decision.
Another good one. heheheheh
You mean there was a first time???
Even in a funeral, they demand equal time. Note Ford is not speaking or even reading.
Funerals are about persons special to the eulogized. Even state funerals, where the only exception is the head of state, not the grifting former head of state.
indeed, that is my point. Some banal words from Bubba at this service would diffuse all of that. hard to claim its some right wing political machine that has taken over the Reagan funeral (not that its true of course, its media spin) when Bubba has said a few nice words about the man at the service.
Nah, slash & burn politics have always been part of the deal, *always*.
Clinton was the sitting president at the time of Nixon's death. It was appropriate for him to speak then. He is not the sitting president now.
He wants to SPEAK at President's Funeral????!!!!?!?!
HE'S HURT???? This is a joke right?
Oh, I get it! There will be TV CAMERAS there!!!!
Just like JF'n Kerry announces he wants to 'pay his respects' in CA as well as at the funeral.
I assume you recall the 9/11 show, about eh FDNY, when at the end, they showed pictures of all the firemen killed that day, the background music was Tynan singing "Danny Boy".. I still cry every time I watch it..
While Clinton 'searches for his legacy' it is developing around him.
Kind of like that saying, life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
The lefties would sacrifice the illegal immigrant rather than risk no longer being able to sacrifice children.
I believe the story. I'm not up in arms, just nodding my head to myself that this is the Clinton we've come to know so well. It rings true to me.
Oh Man! That is great! When was that footage taken and what is the context? Looks like the Bush boys were going to kick some pansy ass.
Of course, Gerald Ford served only very briefly with President Nixon as well. President Bush (41) was selected as a running mate by President Reagan, served eight years with President Reagan, campaigned with him, etc. If someone can't distinguish the difference in the situations, that's pretty obtuse.... The reason Clinton spoke at Nixon's funeral was out of the Nixon family's respect for the office of the Presidency, which he then held. Bill Clinton, I guess, cannot possibly imagine that it was his office, rather than his magnetic personality, hypnotic speaking style, rakish personal charm, etc., that led to his role. Of course, respect for the office of the Presidency is such a foreign concept to the Clintons that it is no surprise he can't grasp this issue now.
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