Posted on 06/13/2004 6:06:17 PM PDT by dvan
It was reported earlier this past week that former President Bill Clinton was furious that he had not been invited to speak at the Friday state funeral of former President Ronald Reagan.
Clinton, so the story went, felt that the Reagan rites were being 'politicized' and he preferred the Nixon funeral 10 years ago in which both former Democratic and Republican presidents spoke.
In fact, Newsmax.com's John LeBoutillier has learned, it indeed was Nancy Reagan's adamant wish that Bill Clinton not speak at her late husband's funeral.
LeBoutillier, a former U.S. congressman with friends close to the Reagan White House and Nancy, said Nancy feels that President Clinton stained the image of the Oval Office.
Both Ronald and Nancy Reagan revered the Oval Office.
As President, Ronald Reagan made it a policy always to wear a suit and tie in the Oval Office.
Before taking office in early 1981, Reagan told aides he was stunned to see photos of Jimmy Carter lounging in the Oval Office in blue jeans and no tie. The soon-to-be-inaugurated 40th president then vowed that "things are going to change."
Revelations during the Starr investigation disclosed that President Clinton conducted an illicit affair in the Oval Office with Monica Lewinsky.
A source close to Nancy told LeBoutillier that Mrs. Reagan would have loved to have had the popular Democrat president eulogize her husband - but she did not want the funeral service "sullied" by the man who desecrated one of Ronnie's favorite places: the Oval Office.
Something stinks to high heaven in this barn, and it ain't Reagan's proverbial Pony.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
I'm not sure I understand this part. It contradicts itself.
I applaud that woman's discretion and good taste. Bill Clinton simply isn't acceptable in polite company. Maybe at a convention of pimps, but certainly nowhere else.
Yay, Nancy! What a gal!
I'm sure if Ronnie had seen the White House Dubya found after the Clintons moved out, he would have died right there on the spot.
LeBoutillier, a well-known idiot, who didn't speak to Nancy by this story's own admission, shouldn't be relied upon as a source.
It may well be true, but Newsmax damages its own credibility, if that's possible, by running this story in this fashion. Newsmax likes to throw red meat to a conservative audience, regardless of how well researched the story is.
This may or may not be true. In any case, let's not drag Nancy Reagan into the clinton mudpit. She's a classy lady. If she vetoed clinton, I don't think she intended it to be made public.
If Bill had not been impeached and done other unseemly activities in the Oval Office. In other words, had he had any respect for this country and its people, she would have let him speak. Did not want President Reagan to be eulogized by an admitted liar.
Umm... Someone needs to check their facts. Bill Clinton was the only president to speak at the Nixon funeral. Billy Graham and Pete Wilson spoke, along with others.
I agree. This smacks of absolute nasty gossip. Except for talking jovially with Kerry at the National Cathedral (my newspaper's account, anyway), Clinton's behavior has been ok. I like how he is staying away from saying what should have been done in Iraq. Sure, some will say that that is because he knows he should have done something. Le Boutellier also praised Al Gore when they were both Congressman.
If this is true, more power to Mrs. Reagan!!
I'm sure she didn't want something that resembled a DNC style "funeral" to take place...
It was her husband that was being eulogized and the Reagan family should have said who was and who was not to be allowed to speak!!
LeBoutillier's credibility is equal to Clinton's. It is dirt.
Seems most at newsmax are on that same plane.
Toon is still looking for his legacy and rehab! This he saw as a great opportunity. The media would have eaten it up and granted it. I bet he's had a speech prepared for a number of years.
Was Nixon's funeral before or after Monica?
Do you really believe this story?
Ellen 'ranting' Ratner was on Fox and Friends Saturday morning. She was, surprisingly, somewhat respectful. She did say that she was disappointed that, during the ceremonies, 'the Democrat perspective wasn't given.'
[I didn't realize funerals had a Democrat and Republican perspective. lol.]
Perhaps she should have said . . .
OK, BILLDO,
If you'll let me castrate you with these dull sissors in prime time on CNN, first!
Before. Nixon's funeral was in 1994.
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