The death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan took place in 2004. Reagan died on June 5, and his funeral was from June 7 to June 11.

The state funeral was executed by the Military District of Washington (MDW), in accordance to the 138-page document established by the agency.

June 5

When Americans woke up on the morning of Saturday, June 5, 2004, the front-page headlines included the presidential election campaign, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the 60th anniversary of D-Day the following day. President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura had gone to Europe to mark the anniversary. The previous day, he met with the pope and presented him the Medal of Freedom at the Vatican. This day, he went to Rome and met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and later in the day, to Paris and meet with French President Jacques Chirac. With both leaders, Bush would get more support on the war in Iraq. He would also have dinner with Chirac at Elysee Palace.

However, as Americans woke up, initial reports indicated that the health of former president Ronald Reagan had significantly deteriorated, and that his death would likely come in weeks or months. Americans knew he had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for a decade.

However, as the day progressed, it became clear that Reagan would pass away before week's end. Former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, a very close friend of Reagan, called Reagan's wife, Nancy when hearing the initial reports and was told, "Brian, I think the end is near." [1] She would later be right.

At 16:50 ET (20:50 UTC), CNN anchor Fredericka Whitfield said on the air: [2] "This is breaking news...Ronald Reagan...apparently died at the age of 93 today...This being confirmed by our John King (CNN senior White House correspondent)." CNN Special Contributor Frank Sesno took a look back on the life of the president. King, who was traveling with the president in France, came on the air after Sesno's report and said, "We are told by a senior administration official that President Bush was informed within the past hour that the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan had indeed died." Around the world, television networks broke the news to their nations that Reagan had died.

Reagan died at his home in Bel Air from pneumonia at 16:00 ET (20:00 UTC). When he died, his wife, Nancy, and two of his children, Ron and Patti, were at his side. His eldest surviving child, Michael, was with his father the day before.

As the day wore on, Mrs. Reagan released the following statement:

"My family and I would like the world to know that President Ronald Reagan has passed away after 10 years of Alzheimer's Disease at 93 years of age. We appreciate everyone's prayers."

Reagan held three records when he died: oldest elected president (at 69), oldest president to serve (at 77) and longest-lived president (at 93).

The news shocked millions of people around the world and there were many tributes to the former president from many people on the news of his passing in Bel Air. [3] [4] [5] People started to arrive at Reagan's home and set up a makeshift memorial. Bush was in Paris, having just concluded a state visit there when he learned of the former president's death. He had just gone to bed when he was told the news at 22:09 CET and made a statement a couple of hours later before going back to bed at the ambassador's residence there. [6] News of Reagan's death also put the presidential election on hold, since a time for mourning a leader is a time to be together. It also brought political leaders in other countries together because the president of the United States is the most powerful person on earth and is one of the world's best-known figures.

Bush ordered flags at the White House, across the United States, and around the world flown at half-staff for 30 days. There were also tributes from world leaders, including the queen, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Mulroney, and the current Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin. [7] [8]

The situation was:

• It had been 10 years since an American president died. The last one was Richard Nixon in 1994.
• Even though there were reports that Reagan would have a state funeral, it wouldn't be clear until sometime the following day how official Washington would mourn the former president, whether Reagan's body would lie in state on Capitol Hill, which was the expectation.

June 6

On this day, the world marked the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Television networks around the world made note of Reagan's passing the day before several times during the coverage. In Canada, CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge got expert help in the commentary from the two surviving Trudeau sons, Sacha and Justin, as they both recalled what the television networks also noted--Reagan was in Normandy for the 40th anniversary. The Trudeau sons noted this, based on the experiences of their father, the late Pierre Trudeau being in Normandy then when prime minister. They all noted that many of the world leaders in Normandy had looks of sadness and loss towards President George W. Bush, especially the queen, her husband, Prince Philip, and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, all of whom were also there with Reagan and Trudeau for the 40th anniversary. Some world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin were questioned by reporters for their thoughts on Reagan. [9] [10] For Bush, Reagan's death shadowed the anniversary observances. [11]

As people around the world woke up to mark the anniversary, they were also convinced that the world was to share a wave of national mourning that started to sweep across the United States.

The Reagan Presidential Library and all presidential libraries across the country, as well as Reagan's birth home in Tampico, Illinois, as well as the funeral home where Reagan's body was taken to hours after he died became places to mark Reagan's death. People came to these area with messages of condolences and tributes to Reagan. Presidential libraries also opened up books of condolences. Around the world, U.S. embassies and consulates announced that they would have books of condolences for people to sign.

People around the world were told that Reagan might lie in state on Capitol Hill and that the funeral service would be held at the Washington National Cathedral, after which he would be buried at his presidential library.

During the CBC's coverage of the D-Day anniversary, the Trudeau sons told Mansbridge that they hoped that Nancy Reagan and her family would agree to the public honors for her husband because so many other Americans and people around the world wanted to join in. Members of Congress, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert, [12] also agreed with the Trudeau sons on television interviews. As the day progressed, they would be right, especially the Trudeau sons, because they did this for their father in 2000. A Reagan family spokesperson would say that the family agreed to the public honors for the former president.

In the United States, law entitles state funerals to presidents, and they involve lying in state in the Capitol rotunda, where Reagan was inaugurated for his second term as president in 1985 due to freezing cold temperatures. Reagan would have the first full presidential state funeral since Lyndon Johnson in 1973, a president whom Reagan himself paid tribute to, drawing many parallels.

June 7

June 8

This was the second day of the public viewing at the Reagan Presidential Library, where the following day, the body of Ronald Reagan would begin one last journey to Washington, going there for the lying in state and the state funeral. The doors of the Reagan Presidential Library had been open since 15:00 ET the day before. Because of the lines, it was decided that the public viewing continue until 01:00 ET, rather than 21:00 ET. The people in line represented a cross-section of the world, young and old, from different backgrounds and different parts of the world, united in their grief and in their belief in the man.

June 9

On this day, the events spread across the United States as the body of Ronald Reagan made one last journey to Washington.

California

The events of the day began in California with the departure ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Reagan's body was driven by hearse to the Ventura County Naval Base in Point Mugu, Ca., the airfield he flew into and out of when president.

Washington

June 10

June 11

On this day, the events spread across the United States as the body of Ronald Reagan made one last journey through Washington and then home to California.

Washington

California

Republican National Convention Tribute

During the Republican National Convention later in 2004, delegates to the convention paid tribute to Reagan in different ways. Many of the speakers from California and Illinois, like House Speaker Dennis Hastert, mentioned Reagan in their speeches and compared George W. Bush to Reagan, the fact that they both are Republicans.

On the third night of the convention, September 1, Reagan's eldest son, Michael spoke to the delegates and introducted a video, which he dedicated to everyone who helped make his father president of the United States. Scenes from the week of the funeral were shown in the video. [13] [14] [15] He thanked Americans for what they did during the week of ceremonies.

External Links

Sources

"D-Day, 60th" a home video by the CBC