Imagine years from now Michelle Obama dies and the sitting white president does not show up at the funeral. Think there would be any repercussions?
America mourns Nancy Reagan, but the President stays away: Relatives from TEN White House families attend former first lady's funeral with 1,000 guests while Obama speaks at tech festival
Nearly 1,000 people, including a veritable who's-who of American political life, journalism and Hollywood gathered on Friday in Simi Valley, California, for the funeral of Nancy Reagan.
The dignified and powerful service saw readings and remembrances by Reagan's niece and nephew, as well as former Former White House Chief of Staff James A Baker and journalists Diane Sawyer and Tom Brokaw.
The guests also witnessed Patti Davis describe her turbulent relationship with her mother and their undying love in devastating fashion.
Davis described her parents as 'two halves of a circle', recalling a long-ago memory of seeing the two of them sitting on a Southern California beach at sunset in what she called an impenetrable 'island for two'.
Reagan's son, Ronald Prescott Reagan, also spoke at the funeral, telling guests there likely would not have been a President Ronald Reagan without Nancy Reagan, saying she had an absolute belief in him, as well as provided guidance and a refuge.
Friday's service brought together Democrat and Republican, an unusual tableau at a time of deep division in Washington and the 2016 campaign trail. The biggest stars in entertainment - not only of today, but those of Reagan's time in the White House - are also in attendance.
President Barack Obama did not attend the the services, as he had a prior engagement in Austin, Texas, where he is a keynote speaker at South By Southwest.
The funeral started at 11am on Friday, with a musical prelude beginning at 10.15am by the Santa Susana High School Advanced Women's Choir and Abbe Road A Cappella, and an instrumental prelude by the 1st Marine Division Band, Marine Corps Camp Pendleton.
A love letter from Ronald Reagan to Nancy was also read at the service by former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney as a reminder that their romance was one of the more enduring romances in modern American public life.
NOTABLE FUNERAL GUESTS
Presidential families:
- Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush
- Michelle Obama
- Hillary Clinton
- Rosalynn Carter
- Tricia Nixon Cox
- Steven Ford
- Lynda Bird Johnson Robb
- Luci Baines Johnson
- Caroline Kennedy
Current and former politicians:
- California Gov. Jerry Brown
- Former California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Former California Gov Pete Wilson
- Former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi
- Newt and Callista Gingrich
- Former US Secretary of State George Shultz
Military:
- Capt Christopher Bolt, commanding officer USS Ronald Reagan
Media and celebrities:
- Katie Couric
- Sam Donaldson
- Steve Forbes
- Larry King
- Chris Matthews
- Peggy Noonan
- Diane Sawyer
- Bo Derek
- Mike Love
- Wayne Newton
- Anjelica Huston
- Melissa Rivers
- Former television producer George Schlatter
- Tina Sinatra
- Tom Selleck
- Gary Sinise
- Yakov Smirnoff
- John Stamos
- Mr T
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