Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan
The
death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan took place in June
2004.
Ronald Reagan was the 40th
President of the United States (1981â€"1989). Reagan died on
June 5 2004 at his home in
Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California. He was 93 years old.
Memorials were held initially near Reagan's home â€" some of them makeshift â€" and at
his presidential library. The casket was then flown to
Washington, D.C. on
June 9 2004 for public viewing and tributes at the
U.S. Capitol. A
state funeral was conducted at the
Washington National Cathedral on
June 11,
2004 (which
President George W. Bush declared a
national day of mourning by proclamation). After the funeral, Reagan's casket was transported back to
California for interment at the
Reagan Presidential Library.
The state funeral was executed by the
Military District of Washington (MDW).
Reagan had been suffering from
Alzheimer's Disease for at least a decade. The morning of his death, there were reports indicating that his health had significantly deteriorated. Reagan died of
pneumonia at his home at 13:00
PDT (20:00
UTC, or 16:00
EDT). At his side were his wife
Nancy, and two of his children,
Ron and
Patti. His eldest surviving child,
Michael, was with his father the day before. Following his death, Nancy Reagan released a statement.
Tributes
President George W. Bush was in
Paris when Reagan died. Some of early international tributes included those of
Queen Elizabeth II, former British prime minister
Margaret Thatcher, the current British prime minister,
Tony Blair, former Canadian prime minister
Brian Mulroney, the current Canadian prime minister,
Paul Martin, and French President
Jacques Chirac.
Flags at the
White House, across the United States, and around the world were ordered flown at
half-staff for 30 days. Bush declared
June 11 a national day of mourning.
[George W. Bush, "Announcing the death of Ronald Reagan". Press release, Office of the Press Secretary, June 6, 2004.]Reagan's casket started off at his presidential library, then was flown to Washington to
lie in state. His funeral service was held at Washington National Cathedral, after which the casket returned to his presidential library to be buried at sunset.
["Reagan observances to span five days". CNN Inside Politics, June 6, 2004.]During the funeral services, each time Nancy Reagan appeared in public, she was escorted by Army Major General
Galen B. Jackman, commanding general of the Military District of Washington (CG/MDW) at that time.
Music
Several songs were played each time the casket was moved to and from a venue, including four
ruffles and flourishes, "
Hail to the Chief," "
My Country 'Tis of Thee," "
The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "
Eternal Father, Strong to Save" (also known as "The Navy Hymn"), "God of Our Fathers," "
Mansions of the Lord," "
God Bless America," and "
America the Beautiful."
Security measures
The state funeral marked the first time that Washington hosted a major event since
September 11, 2001.
The
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated the state funeral a
National Special Security Event (NSSE). However, DHS was handling another NSSE at the same time: the
G-8 summit in
Sea Island, Georgia.
People marked Reagan's passing by leaving tributes and condolences at locales around the country significant to Reagan's life, including his presidential library, his birth home in
Tampico, Illinois, the funeral home where Reagan's body was taken to hours after he died, and U.S. embassies and consulates overseas.
Service at Reagan Presidential Library
|
Nancy Reagan leans her head on her husband's casket at his presidential library. |
On
June 7, Reagan's body was removed from the funeral home and driven by hearse to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in
Simi Valley.
["Thousands pay respect to Reagan in California". CTV News, June 8, 2004.]Reagan's casket was carried by a military honor guard representing all branches of the
United States Armed Forces into the lobby of the library to
lie in repose. There, a brief service was conducted by Rev. Dr. Michael H. Wenning, former pastor of the
Bel Air Presbyterian Church and a close friend of the Reagans. After the family left, the doors of the Reagan Presidential Library opened and people began filing in at the rate of 2,000 an hour throughout the night. In all, about 105,000 visited the Reagan Presidential Library to see the casket.
Departure to Washington
On
June 9, Reagan's casket was removed from the presidential library and driven in a hearse to Naval Base Ventura County, in
Point Mugu, California, the airfield he flew into and out of when president. SAM 28000, one of the two 747-200s, which serves usually as
Air Force One, came to transport the casket to Washington. Thousands of people gathered to witness the plane's departure. Just before she boarded the VC-25A Presidential Aircraft, Nancy Reagan waved to the crowd with her military escort at her side.
In
Washington, D.C., members of
Congress paid tribute to Reagan immediately after his death and continued through his funeral.
Funeral procession
|
Caisson with Reagan's body. |
Events in the capital began when Reagan's casket arrived at
Andrews Air Force Base. It was removed from the plane, driven by hearse in a simple procession through the Maryland and Virginia suburbs and the nation's capital, and onto
Constitution Avenue. However, just before the plane arrived at Andrews, the
Capitol was evacuated. A plane carrying
Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher was off course and entered restricted airspace.
Right by the
Ellipse, and within sight of the
White House, Reagan's body was transferred to the
caisson, drawn by seven black geldings, for the procession to Capitol Hill.
People applauded as the cortege began the journey. Military units escorted the caisson as it made its way to the sounds of muffled drums. Behind the caisson came the
riderless horse, named Sgt. York, with Reagan's boots reversed in the stirrups. The caisson paused at 4th and
Constitution, where 21 Air Force
F-15's flew over in
missing man formation.
Capitol Hill events
On Capitol Hill, Reagan's casket was carried up the west front steps, mainly because Reagan was first inaugurated there and he wanted to face west, toward California. Additionally, construction work was being done on the Capitol Visitors Center on the East side.
Two teams of military body bearers carried the coffin up the steps of the Capitol, straining at the weight of the coffin and the steepness of the steps.
The casket was placed under the rotunda, where it lay in state on
Abraham Lincoln's
catafalque. Rev.
Daniel Coughlin, the
House of Representatives' chaplain, gave the invocation. Eulogies were delivered by
Senate President pro tempore Ted Stevens,
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, and
Vice President Dick Cheney.
["Reagan's Casket Arrives in Washington". CNN Live Event/Special. June 9, 2004.] Normally the service would have been presided over by the president, but Bush was hosting the G-8 Summit in Sea Island, Georgia.
After the eulogies, the eulogists laid a wreath, the Rev.
Barry Black,
Senate chaplain gave the benediction. The dignitaries, which included members of Congress, the
United States Supreme Court, and members of the diplomatic corps and others, paid their respects during the next half hour.
Public viewing
|
People pay their respects to Ronald Reagan |
After the dignitaries paid their respects, the doors of the Capitol were opened to the public, who stood in enormous lines for their turn to pay their respects. People passed by the casket at a rate of about 5,000 an hour. In all, about 106,000 paid their respects when Reagan lay in state.
[Daniel Lak, "Reagan lies in state at Capitol". BBC, June 11, 2004.]After returning to Washington following the
G-8 Summit,
President George W. Bush and
First Lady Laura Bush visited the rotunda to pay their respects. Many world leaders did the same, including interim Iraqi President
Ghazi al-Yawer, former Soviet leader
Mikhail Gorbachev, and former
Polish president
Lech Wałęsa.
After the doors were closed to the public, Nancy Reagan had a moment alone with the casket, and then the casket departed for the funeral service. Crowds lined the route of the cortege as the hearse made its way to the Washington National Cathedral, where the funeral service would be held. As they had done during the previous few days, people waved American flags and applauded as Reagan made one final journey through Washington.
Dignitaries
|
Foreign dignitaries at the state funeral |
About 4,000 people gathered at the cathedral for the service, including President Bush and Laura Bush, his parents, former president
George H.W. and
Barbara Bush, and the other former presidents and their wives--
Gerald and
Betty Ford,
Jimmy and
Rosalynn Carter, and
Bill and New York Democratic Senator
Hillary Clinton, members of Congress, and past and present governors.
["Slideshow: Funeral service". CNN.com.]Foreign dignitaries also attended and came from 165 nations. The dignitaries included 36 past and present heads of state and government. Leading the dignitaries were Gorbachev, Thatcher, Mulroney and his wife, and
Prince Charles (representing
Queen Elizabeth II). Many of the world leaders attending the service, including interim Afghan President
Hamid Karzai, and al-Yawer, had been at the G-8 Summit. Among them were Blair and his wife
Cherie,
German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder,
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and Jordan's
King Abdullah.
Readings and eulogies
Before the funeral, an interfaith service officiated by former
Missouri Senator Rev.
John Danforth, Irish tenor
Dr. Ronan Tynan, a close friend of the
Bushes, sang "
Ave Maria." (He sang "
Amazing Grace" later, during the service.)
Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court justice, whom Reagan appointed, gave a reading, which preceded the eulogies. Delivering eulogies were Thatcher, Mulroney, and both Bushes.
["THE STATE FUNERAL OF RONALD REAGAN". CNN Live Event/Special, June 11, 2004] Thatcher gave hers via video because doctors had advised her not to speak in public after having a series of strokes; her remarks had been pretaped some years prior on the belief that Reagan would precede her in death and the two are intertwined in Cold War history.
Return to California
After the service, the casket was removed from the cathedral and driven by hearse to Andrews Air Force Base for the final journey home, passing crowds along its route. The family and close friends, including former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, boarded the VC 25-A Presidential Aircraft back to California. Nancy Reagan waved farewell to the crowds just before she boarded the plane.
During the flight from Andrews Air Force Base to Naval Base Ventura County, the aircraft descended to a low altitude over
Ronald Reagan's birth place of
Tampico, Illinois, and during that time sent out flares in commemoration. In addition, the plane dipped its wing over
Dixon, Illinois, the boyhood home of the former President.
About five hours after the plane left Andrews Air Force Base, it touched down for the last time at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, CA. There were sailors from the
USS Ronald Reagan on hand to witness the plane's arrival.
Reagan's body was driven by hearse on one final trip though the streets in southern California. As they had done throughout the week, crowds gathered along the motorcade route on its 25-mile journey to Reagan's final resting place, his presidential library in Simi Valley.
Burial service
The service drew 700 people, mostly
Hollywood actors and other celebrities like
Kirk Douglas,
Charlton Heston, Mrs.
Bob Hope,
Merv Griffin,
Tommy Lasorda,
Wayne Gretzky,
Bo Derek,
Tom Selleck,
Pat Sajak,
Wayne Newton, and the
Sinatra family.
["The State Funeral of Ronald Reagan" CNN Live Coverage Transcripts, June 11, 2004.] There were also dignitaries as well: Thatcher, who traveled on the plane from Washington, sat next to
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife
Maria Shriver, and former California Governor
Pete Wilson.
[David Willis, "Private burial for Ronald Reagan". BBC, June 12, 2004.] The three surviving Reagan children gave the final eulogies at the interment ceremony.
["Reagan's children's eulogy remarks". USA Today, June 12, 2004.] |
The family of Ronald Reagan |
Eulogies finished, the Air Force Band of the Golden West played four ruffles and flourishes and the congregation and the U.S. Army Chorus sang the
national anthem. Bagpiper
Eric Rigler played "Amazing Grace" as the casket was moved to its grave site. There, burial rites were given, followed by a last
21-gun salute. Then came the benediction, the firing of three volleys, and the
Taps. Four Navy
F/A-18 fighter jets flew over in
missing man formation before the flag was folded and presented to Nancy Reagan by the commanding officer of the
USS Ronald Reagan at that time, Navy Captain James Symonds.
After Nancy Reagan accepted the flag, she spent several minutes hugging her husband's coffin, and broke down and cried for the first time in public. Crying, she kissed her husband's casket and mouthed "I love you" as the sun set. Her children quickly surrounded her to comfort her, and the band began to play.
Although the majority of media coverage of the event was deferential, Reagan's obituaries also included a few criticisms. Some criticized Reagan's funeral for the extensive media coverage it received and its careful orchestration. Richard Goldstein wrote in
The Village Voice: "Because the networks had so long to plan for this production, and because Nancy Reagan is a master dramaturge, this was the most precisely mounted news event in modern times. Each gesture was minutely choreographed, every tear strategically placed."
[Richard Goldstein, "Das Rongold: Reagan's funeral as a Wagnerian opera. Plus: Eminem as censor". The Village Voice, June 15, 2004. Retrieved May 10, 2005.] Catholic commentator Michael Novak expressed contrary sentiments in
National Review, writing that "[i]t was wonderful to celebrate Ronald Reagan as he deserves to be celebrated. It was wonderful to see the outpouring of love and esteem and gratitude from the people of this country, whom he loved so much."
[Michael Novak, Prayerful Farewell. National Review, June 14, 2004. Retrieved August 30, 2005.]Others complained that the television coverage of the funeral was excessive and preempted coverage of other events. For example,
CBS News anchor Dan Rather was quoted as saying: "Even though everybody is respectful and wants to pay homage to the president, life does go on. There is other news, like the reality of Iraq. It got very short shrift this weekend."
[Gail Shister, "Network anchors see excess in Reagan funeral coverage." The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 8, 2004, page E01. Retrieved May 11, 2005.]Additionally, media outlets were criticized for lionizing Reagan during his funeral without any attention to policy decisions made during his administration that were highly criticized and unpopular with his political opponents and many in the general public. Thomas Kunkel, dean of the
University of Maryland, College Park's journalism college, wrote in
American Journalism Review magazine that the coverage "would have you believe that Reagan was a cross between
Abe Lincoln and
Mother Teresa, with an overlay of
Mister Rogers."
[Thomas Kunkel, "Fade-out". American Journalism Review, August/September 2004. Retrieved August 25, 2005.] Howard Kurtz,
The Washington Post's media columnist, said Reagan was "a far more controversial figure in his time than the largely gushing obits on television would suggest."
[Howard Kurtz, "Reagan: The Retake". The Washington Post, June 7, 2004. Retrieved August 25, 2005.] Still, the vast majority of mainstream media's accounts of the coverage of the death and funeral were complimentary:
National Review's online edition ran a week of stories and columns dedicated to praise of Reagan and his record.
[Weekly article archive. National Review, June 6-10, 2004. Retrieved September 9, 2005.]*
State Funeral of Ronald Reagan-Military District of Washington*
State Funeral of Ronald Reagan-Washington National Cathedral*
CNN Coverage of the Passing of Ronald Reagan*
Coverage in The Washington Post*
MSNBC Coverage of the Passing of Ronald Reagan*
Coverage in USA Today*
Coverage on C-SPAN*
BBC Reagan's Mixed White House Legacy*
CBC In Depth-Ronald Reagan*
CTV Ronald Reagan-A Look Back*
The Burial of a President
