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Reagan's final moments

Davis for People magazine Keith Olbermann Anchor, 'Countdown'

There is now an account of the last moments of Ronald Reagan. In an essay, collected and published in next week‘s edition of “People” magazine, his daughter Patti Davis recounts, in detail, her father‘s death. KEITH OLBERMANN, HOST: This is somewhat atypical, I would suggest, the account of the passing of the leading public figure by a family member.

PATRICK ROGERS, SENIOR EDITOR, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: Well, Patti told us that the family knew that the end was coming ...... Finally on Saturday afternoon, they knew that the time had come. Just after 1 p.m., as Nancy Reagan held his hand, Ronald Reagan opened his eyes, he hadn‘t opened them in five days, opened them and looked right at his wife of 52 years. Then he closed his eyes and that was his last breath. OLBERMANN: The exact quote from Ms, Davis, was “At the last moment when his breathing told us this was it, he opened his eyes and looked straight at my mother. Eyes that hadn‘t opened for days, did. And they weren‘t chalky or vague. They were clear, and blue, and full of love. If a death can be lovely, his was.” ROGERS: ... There was relief and there was release for this family. And also, these are people of faith, there‘s a certainty, on their part, that President Reagan, his last earthly look is at his wife, his next look is at the face of God. This is what Michael Reagan told us. So, there‘s consolation there. ...