Clinton's performance at the Nixon funeral was for me the highlight of his presidency. He conducted himself with great class and dignity. WJC and RMN had at least a cordial and friendly relationship. WJC actively seeked out RMN's counsel on foreign policy in the months before he assumed office. RMN's last book was in preparations for publishing at the time he died. In it RMN made known his first criticisms of WJC's foreign policy. RMN made sure WJC received galleys ahead of time so that there would be no surprises.
WJC was not merely magnanimous, he was truly generous in both spirit and word for RMN. I have little doubt he would do so for Ronaldus Magnus.
WJC trashed the "Reagan years"...and everything he stood for. Why in the name of God should he be allowed to turn this moment into a political boost for his book?!
I think WJC would give RR at least as respectful an oration as he gave RMN. He emulated Pres. Reagan in certain ways. However, Barbara Walters on ABC on Sat. made it clear that Mrs. Reagan would have Pres. Bush speak, and maybe Pres. Ford, but that certain former Presidents would not be speaking. That made clear, Clinton's "anger" that neither he nor President Carter had been asked to speak "as of yet" shows his complete lack of regard for the bereaved widow, and his belief that he can still shame her into changing her mind. I doubt that either the Clintons or Carters can count themselves among Nancy's 3,000 closest friends. Yet she was gracious enough to invite them anyway. More class on her part than either of them deserved.