I've read that Jane Wyman became very religious after her marriage post-Reagan failed. Maybe there was some influence there that made a difference (although Michael indicated in his eulogy he came by his religious faith through his dad). It's kind of interesting the children from Reagan's failed marriage seemed to turn out as such solid citizens (despite early failed marriages) than the children of his long-term happy marriage. Go figure.
I heard somewhere that Nancy OK'd Buckley taking Ron to task -- the end of Novak's column seems to confirm this. Interesting. I wasn't clear if Novak was quoting a personal exchange Buckley had with Ron or a column by Buckley (I couldn't find such a column by Buckley in a Google News search).
Although she approves of stem cell research -- despite what seems to me clear evidence her husband would never have approved same (William Casey wrote a great column on that) -- I wonder how she feels about Ron appearing at the Democratic Convention on this issue, after his slams of the President in his eulogy and on CNN.
William Casey is dead and has been for many years. You're thinking of another guy that was, I believe, a member of the Kitchen Cabinet and whose name escapes me (darn it) at this moment. He also held some major position in one of the Reagan's admin.