X to all of you think you for yourself or and tickets for just saying no. My hope is the women of the partiesy saw where the meeting people and i can tell you i never worked harder in my life. Nancy reagan served as a longtime political partner and ultimately as a caretaker for president Ronald Reagan. She was involved in key decisions and making and in campaigning. She made drug use or signature white house issue with her just say no campaign. Good evening and welcome to the season answer is first lady thin with an image. Let me introduce our guess. 80 woodruff is the comanaging editor coanchor of pbss news hour. In her early years to cover the billn white house for nbc cannon is the Washington Bureau chief for real clear. Cowrote a book about the reagan the call the new canon. Were going to start this program a little bit differently. We looked at hundreds of hours of video about the president in the library and decided to start with the closing chapter. Funeraltage from the when she said goodbye your husband of many years and we thought it symbolized his ownership that you have both covered so much. Lets talk more about their relationship. Arent believe it was nearly 10 years ago. As we look at that and work our way through this series many of the first ladies were Political Partners with their husbands. Was this a particularly special Political Partnership . It was from the very beginning. Its heartbreaking. She lost them twice. She passed the coffin you imagine her having shoulder like she did 10 years. Every night it was like losing him again. I think nancy got a rough start in this town. But she want everyone over in the 10 year study of alzheimers. She called it the longest goodbye. Maybe not her words the people around them call the the area was 1994 when he wrote that letter announcing to the world that he had alzheimers and of course no one knew then what it meant. People knew of alzheimers it wasnt nearly as familiar to us as it is today. There was no way of knowing how long you live. He would live another 10 years. Out of public view that she was with him. They were in their home in the closeness was with him right up until the end. Christening of the uss Ronald Reagan happened in 2001. Nancy came out. It was a cold blustery day and there were parties afterward center used anxious of no i have to get that gets agitated when im not in the house. She really was his caretaker. Not just the left and difficult years for the two of them. Something little about what the partnership meant in terms of national politics. What do they each bring to the table to make this a successful white house. We can talk a long time about the is a Remarkable Partnership and the strong marriage they left each other deep the. Its also very much a working partnership. It was clear that Ronald Reagan was interest in politics. And he was hired by ge and 55 and from that moment on the friends they made in los angeles decided he was a great candidate for governor in the receiving amount elected governor 66. Who the person cult of the personnel. She made sure that people around her have you always have his best interest at heart. It was one of the principal want to show reef trip from role of a lifetime where she talks about what she brings to the ownership. I see the first lady to keep them from being isolated. I talked to people they tell me things and if something is about to become a problem im not beyond asking about it. Her a woman who loves husband and i make no apologies for looking out for his wealth there. She said she was the personnel direct her. Political consulting culture that. Its nancy of selfawareness to . Them he was only on the campaign because and spencer only work the reagan asked one person within his client when it was going to come back to the reagan campaign. And that was nancy. It goes way back. Will have lots more time to talk about our program. We do have them until you how you can be involved. If you watch the series you know that the questions make it more interest. If you live in the western timezone california and beyond 20258588 one. Get in line to we can get your comment. Her early days were not easy one. It was not the smoothest childhood. Her mother was an actress her father. She was born in new york the marriage between edith and kenneth did not last for long. She was around to when they divorced area and her mother really wanted her acting career. She wanted to say is for nancy associate her live in the timesheets to until she was a one she remarried with her aunt. Nancy live in a suburban neighborhood. Woman who was described as are different from her mother very outgoing with the life of already in the middle of every conversation. Her aunt was more why it straight. Yourself or to talking the about how she missed her mother and the spoiled when her mother came to visit. It was lucky. Her mothernged . Married a chicago physician. And things picked up. There was money she went to boarding school smith college. He was the parent she had black. Most for life that meant she called her father. Gave her an idea of what a family could be. She wanted to build a family with the family she didnt have. Something she and reagan up, and. She was typecast as the steady woman. Thats what she was. Did nancy reagan and barbara i dontach other . Have the answer to that. You know . There were four years of art. Barbara bush to not graduate she was only there a year to. But thats a good question. We know reagan went to new york to try acting right out of smith. She was there for two years. She had a contract with mgm. Also on twitter one of our viewers Sheldon Cooper is asking about her stepfather influence on politics. Her . Hefluence was a republican. I think it didnt occur. When she made ronald their first day he was discussing politics. He was talking about communism. This is 1949. She wouldve been conditioned to be receptive to his message. Is did they meet . Hollywood in the late 40s when there were communist scare. It was after the end of world war ii. People were named for being somehow associated with the communist already. Nancy davis showed up on a blacklist someone who have had something to do with communist already. Her she that was not wanted to give her name off the saidold by and producer line out Ronald Reagan president of the actors will talk to him. Says i heard that i was and i was very interest. One thing led to another. Dinner e team at that than all Hollywood Roosevelt a doesnt work out amended in the hallway. When did they marry . 1952. s first piece is on to examine the early relation ship the love letters. Two is a moment for site and share with it might not offended it was dirty dark was. Years she kept mementos. All of these artifacts around the leyna museum. One thing that was very symbolic of their intent relationship is a letter president reagan wrote his wife in 19 three. You very charming letter to her. See how creative he was. Lets take a look. This is the page. Expressesent reagan his heartfelt feeling to his wife. This was written in 1953 about a year and they were married. In truth becomes very naturally. Man cant live without our you are my heart. What are the nicest about me so very next day. There be no life without you know what i want. Recently she gave a little box of the treasured keepsake. Back in 1950 she received from dressing room to celebrate that moment he went to a jeweler in Beverly Hills have a special key is an image of the economic front back. Ideahought that was a nice to use later after they were married she had keys made the personal. Theres a little house on the top. On his key right above his initials in her handwriting is our first. What were the early marriage inlike . Like a married gave up she pretty much her movie career. In had been getting roles his career was actually the one is falling. In the ge offer came along. He became homemade. Devoted herself to being his wife. About six years later brown junior. Family was her life. As a great little slug jewels for later. Ge have this all electrical for them which have every imaginable special feature. Kinds of things we wouldnt it much of today but then it was a big deal. Eventually she became much closer to the lives of some of the mandarin torrential. Iraqi children to the marriage. By the time the family came onto the familyl day great became quantity of straight relationship . Listen to ron reagan talking about license of the health risk respect. Thinkwere consciously growing up and i was there really two sets of people. It was my mother and father there was everybody else. While we were all part of the family would description of the was a distinction to be made. Was only be seen and not heard to put was we were ourselves in second place to whatever they were doing. Runabout already here a few years ago and i was there. So theres two kinds of others when he sees the kid playing football mastering the game and the next time goes back to his work. The one whotime was came out and played with the kids. Republican since women to ride. He was very involved. In his own mind to the family man. He was divorced and did not think of them away. Use later tell the story may being very much in tune to. Theres an emotional distance subtle. Itn nancy talks about it took them a long time i think to feel that he could trust. Loven is the guy everybody. Todays hollywood is decidedly liberal. Was ronald and nancys conservatism is some unusual at the time . There clearly where other conservatives in the community. Ultimately the folks who supported reagan and his people who were not in the movie years or say. There were personal friends. In thent say they were extreme that they probably one theresrity area an interesting story. When reagan ran in 1970 against a very popular twoterm governor caps on it would be wise to run against reagan and said he is an act or the way you with a canadian. 60 of voters were in southern cal. They were part of the movie industry. There was a tell on in which they were criticizing reagan being an actor and he stormed off set. It was a feeling of hollywood even if reagan didnt necessarily share it that he was one of us. We will take a few more phone calls. Bill is watching us in north hollywood. High. Library at the reagan is kind of struck by something. The omission we saw maybe one line about jane wyman. Not knowing a lot about the relationship i was wondering what the dynamic was between the reagans and she. I thought it was odd that there or littlettle line else. Of the me know very much about that. We know that she was his first wife and they adopted two childrenand that those were part of the reagan family after they divorced. Discussionever any in all my years of covering him of her. Reagan felt her i would happen in that marriage. She never gave interviews are talked about them. Wellnk should be just as leaving respect a lot of. Of theirot part personal or political story. Keith. Likes hello thank you for taking my call. I heard or read somewhere that the he was really into astrology and things of that sort. Is it true that she helped seances in the white house . That would be married top lincoln. Nancy did consult an astrologer after he was shot. She did so because she was just for anything she didnt have much. Consulted an astrologer. It was a mild embarrass. People sobering enough of most americans thought it was within our rights. I. My grandmother has the same birthday of nancy reagan she was one of my favorite first ladys. Ad mother lived to be almost hundred. Now mother mother lived . She lived to be elderly but i dont know how she was when she died. Will she around for the migration . A do think the colors grandmother was one year older. Im looking it up always sit here. This helps us with the transition. They asked did nancy personally like all to the did she loved him. Is the latter. She didnt love it and she was a bill or it. It was onthejob training. She came to sacramento and 67. The town in the town reciprocated those feelings. Nancy called a fire trap. She took schipperke wouldve see it out in case he was a. E . Nancy decided they were to live there. Died in 1987 so she was alive for most of the reagan president. When i was looking at the recovery of the california and her role of californias first lady ever couple of bullet down and they developed elves use later. Criticized for not wanting to live in the governors mansion. Openly critical from time to time his staff. Criticized for glamorous friends and vincent lifestyle. Those are many of the same things. I also think she developed at the skin. She didnt like the criticism of her has. She talks about the about how when they came sacramento she thought she knew it would be easy but she underestimated how criticalpress politicians everywhere. It have to do with the house inh a live children choices the press in a testy relationship. She in Beverly Hills and sacramento did all caps is like that. Sacramento gets very hot. She hated the critical sacramento newspaper. I think the sacramento years in the way is when he took care of her sing when she took care of him in washington. I think in those years she was a little little. Very harsh story basically made fun of the days. John thought it was funny. She developed that she was picked on in reagan protected her. She treated the Satellite Service is one of their claim. Enthusiastic about the rough that was the. When she learned how to be a local valve. I think thats what help repair her for washington. She also have these causes. I was there when he did it. Her interested in uses early as 1967. She was the one who got reagan interested. The other thing about sacramento is all of these causes the came later in Washington Area drug abuse she said herself at the do with nine children. She saw that. Drug abuse became a bigger issue. Did nancy and causes in california that you expanded as first lady . I duncan. Reagan was a member of the Bohemian Grove. Did nancy ever express feelings do you know the Bohemian Grove is. It to san francisco. On can tell you about that is lady george first schultz is one of the members. Nancy was a close to him. She wouldnt hold up again. Many more conversation between them than we knew area we knew he was in the Bohemian Groves on inferring she didnt mind. Is a long and complicated lyrical story to be told about Ronald Reagan. Role in nancys encouraging Ronald Reagan. There is a group of influential republicans and andy was very close to them simplifying to summit to. Men. Snt just his group of it was people around the entry is updated been she had been such an effective spoke person you remember the very goldwater much commented on each you could argue that the coming out to Ronald Reagan. Disparate forces came together while he was still in the governors off his. When gerald ford was running for in 1976 Ronald Reagan passed on his public is a conservative shesial challenger area trying to encourage him to run for governor. We want a public of the aixa be president. Reagan said Something Like two against one. Thats how involved nancy was. So the challenge ultimately with them except. And they spend the next four years . Organizing. That happened quickly. It wasnt hunting is that it didnt happen quickly. After 76 one reagan showed that he had the kind of substantials board in the Republican Party from then on was a allout efforts to win the nomination in 1980. That doesnt mean he was a shooin. There were other republicans running. Was too conservative warmonger. I remember a cover the order white house. Then say hes the one whos got his finger on the bomb. Theres a lot of this rhetoric when the timearea came together. Is very interesting. You only thing remotely like animal, politics like whats going on right now with the clinton. Not win the nomination and just handed to her. She had the money he has is a word. It was going to be Ronald Reagan already. Will soon realize that. Nancy sure thought was true. In 1980 will have to fastforward. Ultimately was a lens light against the incumbent. 489 or the nine of the sitting president. The of that was colored by iranian hostage situation. That was coming to combination that on inauguration in really unbelievable inauguration in the country and waiting them all and it happened as the iesident was sworn in area was covering jimmy carter area than a very painful final year of his presidency for all the world the hostages have been seen dust taken there are being killed extreme by extremists. Jimmy carter and his administration knew everything. The helicopter went down it was a humiliating episode in the carter president the. No doubt it wasnt the only way this reason he lost but it was a deciding factor. On Inauguration Day reagan came up with the land thats the hostages were being released in this wasleased being done to spike carter. Plan that reagan agreed on. Hat they were called her out it wouldve been the most romantic, but only hostages were released and announce it together. It did not happen. I asked him what did nancy think . He said she was all for it. Wasnt heren but it reagan. John hinckley attempted his life. We have an interview with nancy reagan and 99 to the surround the librarians of just about said im going as a george will get the car. We got to the hospital. He met me at the house and all said human shot. There were police all around. A lot of noise. Room. K me to little small there was one desk and one chair and that was it. I wanted to see ronnie. They kept saying hes all right that you can em. As an abuse all right like it was you . Finally they let me. He was lying there with the ring on his face. To help him breathe. And he said honey i forgot to duck. How did this assassination attempt change a brandnew president . I was part of the festival that they area i will never ever forget. It made a much more protected page is already focused on him and his safety. After this it was her sole focus. The one point she said Something Like when he left to go somewhere i wasnt even able to breathe deeply until he came back. It made her much more she was looking for anything she could to keep them safe. The out around. Growing people around him to make sure you was always doing whatever the safest path thing. It just made her even more determined to see him healthy. Just one,. Generation toheir line the check nancy name after he lost jean tony. His wife came to cm. His face was all better she said what happened to me said honey i forgot. Them that you have not been. I think the same thing is true reagan. That line will order to the press and americans really admired him or a. Reagan endeared himself to the American Public that nancy was difficult. Some folks suggested it was disastrous. 26 resident. What were some of the reason . As in california where she found the governors all. She felt the white house was in disrepair. She felt that there were tears that needed to be done. Renovationa refurbishing of the white house. She raisedupholstery private money to get this done. Some of entertaining about that was a parking in the white house. Its a way to connect with people. She said we did not even have set of china for state dinner. She raised the money to go by. She was very interested in violent fashion area she always cared about her parents. Combined with the efforts to redecorate the white house in the news in china and the publicity with her interest in close was the image of a woman who care more about things that really didnt matter and it did not go over well with Washington Press or. The difference between Jacqueline Kennedy coming in wearing european design loads and reading the white house and nancy reagan doing it not that nancy came ofk that would be a fresh start. She expects washington to be more sophisticated. It is not in her mind. They criticize her for shopping at winning bills. Jackie was a special case. Isnt edgy website called murder. Com. Its mostly about sex but i was on it recently to see how they rank the sexiest first lady. I was surprised nancy reagan ranks very high. Jackie kennedys number one. And they dont feel the need to lean up the fish over picture. Jackie could do things that no one else do. She is sued generic. Camelot is coming up the eisenhower present the. A lot of people were lose an time an that was a lot of americans are excited. The press for was not as willing to just swallow. Call from michael. Caller thank you this is a great show. Position that they sometimes disagreed upon or of the staff disagreed upon . Were there any issues that they did not yet i on . Not that i know of. Staff absolutely. There was open warfare on the. Union nancysoviet had appointed view. She thought she would be strong negotiating. Reagan she thought did not have his agenda are. Their differences in the reagan administration. Theres not a difference of opinion in the reagan family. He was there and 76 campaigning. The call them up to the stage. All that can be our legacy. Against reagan. I think she was moderating and runs. She wanted him to be the best for the the. She felt less like this he legacy of moderation. She wanted no daylight and the two of them in public. There no question she worked very hard bonds means. To make sure the president reagan was listening to those who argue. About age is an issue that is. A there were people in the white house thought she should speak out about it. Nancy was on the set of the people who wanted them to talk about. Montrose you see. Age andhe gave his nancy did not really trust white house would say. She said for a speechwriter. He was running the speeches. He said this is us you want to. The first lady was having trouble with her public image in the press or. There were approaches to help change that. 1982f them came early in with an event in the. Reagan appeared for the Gridiron Club and it was a game changer area will listen there talking about that in 1988 interview. Parity inabout her washington is the issue of her popularity. Was there all the rage. Even my new trenchcoat was for our you bought for . 10 on the dollar. Secondhand downs old handmedowns china is the only thing that there. Even though they tell me im no longer wayne that ronnie have to buy me that new sewing machine. Secondhand clothes close. I sure hope. I guess i came around to thinking well alright try. It cant be worse than it was. So she said originally this thought that i would make fun of the press. Enough to do that. The only way we could do this is if i make fun of myself. Maybe i have a 5050 chance here. As you well know that firstyear was not nobody was easy about me. I dont think i wouldve been crazy about me. I really dont know why forgot your they didnt know me and i never did quite your outline. I didnt know until eroded in her book. They were having meetings about me in the west wing that i was a liability. I guess maybe i was. Shy. Pretty gun itd been. Inclination is to hide in the pullback. Ds of the i do anyway. Its the wrong thing to do. You shouldnt do that. But i did. Shes very selfaware. Her instincts were exactly on with selfdeprecating humor. The pressing it up. Important corner for her. Did inher thing she california into drugs. Became the just say no campaign. How political was this . Lets first ladies are supposed to signature issue in this something jackson cared about the new about in this was a phrase that was in the movement. There always thinking of some High Temperature people she sees on of the. Ite people criticize her for as being simplistic a variant of that was disarming shes had is one child life is worth it. In fact the number suggested that over the course of the eight years in the white house drug use among young people did decline. I wanted was the campaign but she also had other recognitions. The first first lady to speak to the united nations. Also because of this effort was the person you are not by the president in the state of the union address. In 1986 to them set down for Television Cameras to talk about the antidrug effort. We will watch it from that night talk about how they use television. To young people watching and listening i have a simple must. It is a Big Wonderful world of there for you. It belongs to you. Exciting and stimulating and rewarding. Dont cheat yourselves out of his,. Country needs you credit need you to be there i and clear minded. I recently read one teenagers story determined to stay clean. She remembered most clearly was that during the time she was on drug everything was black and gray. After treatment she was able to see colors again. There lifeiends out can be great. But not when you can he is. Open your eyes. That godivid colors gave us is a precious gift use children to enjoy life to was. Life and when it comes to drugs and alcohol just say no. Isthink you can see what she in such a positive and a on all were trying to do area job ahead of us is very clear. Her personal crusade like that of some of the other wonderful should become a national is a. Another Interesting Team throughout husband how white houses use the media. In this case meant to people who have acting as their profession and television as a Political Force. Have they use it . Everyone talks about reagan is an actor area she was an actor to the Comfort Level of the steam on easilyera to use it is as i would pick up the telephone call them. Even the little things. Shes talking it was almost second nature. Moving to the second term and so many issues. Summit and a soviet involved in that. Criticism of her becoming a positive Political Force guest it was different and she was always very difficult with her dealings. She had a presence about her and a poise. She was able to communicate in a way that was helpful to the white house. The second term was very different than the first term, in that way. It was rough. President ial second terms can be rough. Host lucy is watching us. I have a question going back to the Jacqueline Kennedy and nancy reagan episode. Both had interests in changing the white house. Double standard with the press. Press a problem with the shaping the image and i cared a lot about the kennedys. Ony gave them a free pass know ifues and i do not that will ever change. I just wonder if you could address that. I think it was a different time and we talked about that a bit ago. Corpsuntry and the press was more accepting and look at , at we know jack kennedy least part of the time, was doing. He completely did not report on that. Been thelater, we have country that went through watergate and vietnam and many more questions about whether the leaders were telling the truth and there is a much greater reluctance to believe our eyes. I do not mean me. Were criticisms we talked about about style and fashion brought to the white house. They used the white house to politicaland promote agendas, as most president s have through the course of history. We will show you how the Reagan Reagan defends nancy hostile. Reagan knew how important it was for her to dress appropriately and this down was from the second inaugural. There is a matching dress underneath from a designer who designed for her during her white house years. This was reagans lucky dress. Attendedhis when she the Republican National it andion and she loved and it flattering color was one of her favorites. Met with the general reagan wored mrs. This suit to the meeting and it was designed by james. Truly a classic dress she had and colors she had is in this she is quite elegant. I want to ask about the use of the white house for entertaining. They use that strategically and they came from hollywood and social life was important. Nancy reagan talked about this a couple of years ago and said that this is an opportunity to visit a head of state. She said that anybody would calm and from Frank Sinatra to elizabeth taylor, you name it, you are invited to a state dinner and you,. They were very conscious of that and conscious that they could make a splash. They used them. Yes, they were social. Host talk about the relationship with mikael gorbachev. Relationships can have important effects on the outcomes. What was important about these two couples and the relationship . Looks, reagan thought he could do business with mikael gorbachev. Gettingches kept changed in the speech writing shop. He credits nancy for helping reagan to push back a little bit. I dont want to be calling him names. He showed the world the couples and the countries could get along. Host she continued the tradition of live events at the white house and introduced the musicians. Ome of the tradition thata continues at the white house. The obamas posted one. Host it is another connection between the first ladies. Floyd, are you there . Caller how to the reagans interact with Prince Charles and Princess Diana . We saw the video. Do you have any memories . I know that everybody in the world wanted to be at the white house and wanted to be at that state dinner. Host lets move on to the event that is important in the ultimate disposition of the white house. That is the contra investigation. Crisis inreal confidence for the presidency. S role . S nancy reagan she recognize the threat to the presidency and doubled down on negotiations that we were talking about and encourage that because she thought that would be a better way to change my fathersation and is reagans preeminent biographer. He thought the most important contribution was pushing on reagan to apologize on irancontra. He came out and had that funny speech. Host it took him a while. Guest there was an agonizing time span when the president didnt want to ignore this took place. , it happened said and i cannot believe it happened. It was convoluted. Say, in essence, that it is a mistake. That broke the ice with the american people. Were talking about the image and influence of the first lady. Guest she had important contributions. Were were talking earlier about the gridiron dinner and people jokingthat reagan is about the influence and says that she was known to be trying to get rid of them and that they had a lunch the other day and brought tasters. By the second term, the influence is a knowledge to on the staff and policy. She never a knowledge it as much as others did. Was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and had a mastectomy. About it andlked handled it with grace. That drewother event the public to her. She was able to talk about it , by no means, something easy to go through. Talk about it at a time when it was hushhush. I think, furniture reagan they were talking about the reagan inf guarding the white house. This is her talking about her political antenna. Somebody would have their own agenda and not ronnies. I would tell him. He did not always agree. I would tell him. It usually worked out. When did you notice summit he had their own agenda . You just know. You just know. You have the antenna. The antenna were pointed at the white house chief of staff. He left his job over a disagreement with irancontra. He wrote a proposal. Here wanted to get back at and he had a poisonous arrow in the quiver. Whathad different ideas of reagan ought to have been doing. Listen, she was a careful listener. Andtried to get george bush he said, not my job. In 1988, when bush runs thatresident, he promises he will have a kinder and gentler country. Nancy said, kinder and gentler than whom . She was instrumental in the presidency and in the removal of William Clark as a security advisor. She was not the only one. She demonstrated her political antenna and the influence inside the white house. The personnel director and the Human Resources department. Host he turns over the white bush. To george h. W. 15 minutes to talk about a long post presidency. Marked with the announcement of his alzheimers. Before that, in short order,. His memoir came out she had been working on it during the latter part of the white house years. My turn was the name of it. Her turn at what . She talked about some of the es and told her side of the story. Anybook does not have surprising revelations. She talked about supporting the president and supporting reagan. Might say she wants it both ways. She is powerful. If you cost her, you feel it. Was powerful,e she would think you are insulting reagan and pushback on it. Reagan raise money for the library and how do they use it . They went to their friends who gave a lot of money and other foundations to work very with mrs. Reagan and the becameent before he story andl ron reagan maintain his legacy. Still a revered figure, as is nancy. Of telling is part what reagan did as president and what he believed. Seminars and speeches. They host speakers coming and it is a beautiful setting. Host philip is watching us. Wonderful program. I love mrs. Reagan and the first thing i have to say is that i these. Very episode of nancy was not the first first lady who wanted to bring in new china to the white house. There were others who wanted to do that. China, it dide not go on for weeks or month. Media really lambasted her. Was an expert in protocol and the queen of england referred to her for a consultation and nancy had friends like this with poise and grace and it was mentioned that, when you have that much grace, you are going to have some enemies. Closeadministration has a circle of friends and it seems like the reagans had loyal supporters. How do they engender and cultivate all of those people who are so loyal . A size two or a zero. So much timespend on the dress size, keeping the circle of advisers together . It was a little different with reagan and nancy. He was a beloved conservative guy like that comes around once in a while. Nancys situation is a little different. And she washem well never in politics with the way she kept her friends. How many good years did they have until the illness was announced . Later it was five years in 1994 that he announced that he had alzheimers. There were years after that who where he was communicating. He died in 2004. Guest at the 80th birthday of reagan, Margaret Thatcher came spokeagan got up and about thatcher. He said, my life began when i met her and it has been rich and ever since. She talked about alzheimers and the effect on her partner. What have you learned . It is the worst disease you can ever have. You lose contact and you are not able to share. You are not able to share all the wonderful memories. A wonderful life. Can you have a conversation that makes sense . Not now. No. Letter, what were the circumstances in which she wrote the letter . We were sitting at a table and sat down and wrote it. First draft . First draft. He crossed out two words. I dont know what that was. Only ronnie could write a letter like that. Becamence the illness debilitating. Character the caretaker. She would make a public appearance during the bush menstruation. What is her excellent what is decidedanation when she to become public on the issues . It was all about preserving her husbands legacy. Reagan was a man at the center of her life. There was interest in Stem Cell Research and it was all about the connection with alzheimer. In trying to argue that we need to do much more than the United States have been doing. She went against the party and called members of congress. She was a fierce advocate and made speeches. Almost everything she has done since then is something that has to do with what her husband did. Speech at the a Republican Convention in san diego and got involved in the mccain president ial effort by endorsing him. When has she chosen to be part of Republican Party politics and why . Were one of the first couples to come and attend to think of that as another friendship and judy is right that we would not think of her on the right wing of the Republican Party. We would think of her as a moderate. Host were there any other social issues she was interested in . Guest it was mainly stem cells and she was very strategic about this. They would plan ahead on where they could use nancy. She wanted to get this done and was effective. Caller i was wondering what charities or groups nancy reagan was a part of . Guest i can say, and i share , is with susan and carl spoke with mrs. Reagan today and she is every bit as sharp as she has been and was in good spirits. Around as mucht as she used to. Her ability to get out into the public is very limited. Old and not in the public. She still follows what is going on and follows the news. She may be even watching tonight. An avid follower of what is going on in politics. Reagan spokesman had alzheimers. First lady she had a special relationship with . I dont know. Guest she overlapped with barbara bush because they were Vice President and president at the same time. , they were not around during the bush presidency and, before that, they were not in washington. I know that george w. Bush and were focused on the husband while he was alive and on her life. Justin is in indiana. Caller thank you for taking my call. This has been a tremendous series and i have enjoyed it. You talked about Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. What was nancys relationship to the thatchers. President man can you talk about a woman president in this country . Invited know that nancy Margaret Thatcher. Host there was a statement time for a woman president in this country. Guest you may not have to wait that long. Host we would do a series on the first man. What is important to know about next year reagan effect on the reagansbout nancy effect on the role of first lady. Guest the first ladies have , paying the modern era it was nottion and so much that she wanted to be sitting in cabinet meetings. She did not do that. She was aware of the husband and wanted him to be successful. Thatanted to make sure they were serving the best persont and the best there could be. Enormous influence and would move a mountain to make sure the husband was protected. Reagan was a movement politician and a movement politician. How should they use this, in terms of first ladies. Guest she was really the personnel chief. No personnel chief has ever slept with the president. This one did. She has an old and a new influence. She is a pretty modern first lady, in that sense. Son said thats their she did her best to make sure he could do his best. Heights toerred valleys. Sure he could be there and she went with him. She was a height and not a valley in his life. Shelightened the mood and helped block up a country that needed bucking up. Talkedn 1988, reagan about her and that is how we are going to close our program. Let me think both of you for being here tonight to tell the story of the reagan. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] reagan. President reagan what do you say about someone who gives your life meeting meaning . What do you say about someone who is there with understanding and then make sacrifices so your life can be easier and more . Uccessful what you say is that you love that person and you treasure them. I simply cannot imagine the last years without nancy. The presidency would not have without joy it has been her beside me. It would have been paid and lonely without her waiting for me every day at the end of the day. All kinds ofas advisors and experts who look after the interests when it comes to form policy or the economy or whatever. The president has no one who looks after his needs as a human being. Nancy has done this for me and every president should be so lucky. I think it is all too common in marriages that, no matter how much partners love each other, they do not think each other enough. For not thank nancy enough all that she does for me. Thankncy, let me just say you for all that you do, thank you for your love, and thank you for just being you. American history tv features throughout the rest of the year. We look at barbara bush. This is American History tv. And mothers. Wives they dealt with the joys and the trials of motherhood. The pleasure and the chaos of raising small children and the tragedy of loss. First ladies looks at their personal lives of every first lady in American History. It is illuminating and entertaining. It is based on original interviews published by public affairs. Bookstore andrite online bookseller. Discussing licensing from spotify,luding pandora, and youtube. The more educated artists and managers understand how the licenses work. The artists to know how they are going to be paid and how their work will be used and how they will be compensated. Watch. We look back to reagans president ial campaign announcement. He then went on to beat jimmy carter. This is about 25 minutes. Announcer ladies and gentlemen, Ronald Reagan. Good evening. Im here tonight to announce my attention to seek the republican nomination for president of the United States. I am sure that each of us has seen our country from a number of viewpoints depending on where we lived and what we have done