unprecedented charismatic leader who reshaped the Republican Party and successfully fought Soviet communism abroad, died Saturday at age 93, after losing a decade long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, his family and other officials confirmed Sunday, June 6.
Party comrade and current President George W. Bush learned of his death in France where he arrived to commemorate the 60th anniversary of D-Day, when allied forces began the battle to free Europe of Nazi rule on the beaches of Normandy.
Reagan, he said, "leaves behind a nation he restored and a world he helped save." He called Reagan’s death "a sad hour in the life of America." A black hearse carried a flag-draped coffin from the Reagan home to a Santa Monica mortuary handling arrangements, where it remained overnight, The Associated Press (AP) news agency reported.
During his final moments, Reagan’s children from his marriage to Nancy, Patti Davis and Ron Jr. were reportedly at his bed side in the Reagan home in the Bel-Air area of Los Angeles, according to family friend, Joanne Drake. Son Michael arrived a short time later, AP quoted her as saying.
Reagan’s body was expected to be taken to his presidential library and museum in Simi Valley and then flown to Washington to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. His funeral was expected to be at the National Cathedral. The body was to be returned to California for a sunset burial at his library.
White House officials had been informed that "the health of the former president had changed significantly in the past several days," a person familiar with Reagan’s condition reportedly said.
A SURVIVOR
At 93 Reagan has lived longer than any other president. He had not been seen in public for more than a decade since disclosing he had the memory-sapping Alzheimer’s disease. Reagan celebrated his birthday February 6 in seclusion at his Los Angeles home. The nation’s 40th chief executive, who broke his hip in a fall at his home in 2001, has rarely been seen in public since he announced his disease a decade ago.
Reagan had been a survivor. He was shot in 1981 as he left a Washington hotel, but recovered of those injuries to be re-elected in 1984. In 1987 he signed a historic agreement with than Soviet leader Michail Gorbachev to eliminate medium range nuclear missiles.
Gorbachev on Sunday, June 6, recalled Reagan as a great president and said he was distraught by news of his death, the Interfax news agency reported. His famed "Star Wars" program drew the Soviets into a costly arms race it couldn’t afford. His 1987 declaration to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at the Berlin Wall "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" was the ultimate challenge of the Cold War, AP observed.
REAGAN THE STATESMAN
"Reagan was a statesman who, despite all disagreements that existed between our countries at the time, displayed foresight and determination to meet our proposals halfway and change our relations for the better, stop the nuclear race, start scrapping nuclear weapons, and arrange normal relations between our countries," Gorbachev said.
"I do not know how other statesmen would have acted at that moment, because the situation was too difficult. Reagan, whom many considered extremely rightist, dared to make these steps, and this is his most important deed," the former Soviet leader was quoted as saying.
In the United Kingdom, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher seemed to agree, saying that "Ronald Reagan had a higher claim than any other leader to have won the Cold War for liberty and he did it without a shot being fired."
BELIEVER IN CHRIST
After he ended his 8-year long presidency, he and his wife returned to California where she cared for him during his illness which she described as "the long goodbye." Christian leaders believe that Reagan’s death is a "home coming" for the former President who regarded Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord.
In January 1984 President Reagan reportedly reminded the participants of a National Religious Broadcasters not to forget the hope they have in Christ. "He promised there will never be a dark night that does not end," Reagan said of Christ. "And by dying for us, Jesus showed how far our love should be ready to go: all the way."
He also reflected on his faith in a note on November 5, 1994 about his disease. "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead," Reagan wrote.
"LONG GOODBYE"
Former first lady Nancy Reagan, at a fund-raiser last month for human embryonic research, also described the toll that Alzheimer’s has taken on her husband. "Ronnie’s long journey has finally taken him to a distant place where I can no longer reach him," AP quoted her as saying.
Across the nation, people took pause upon learning of Reagan’s passing. The U.S. flag over the White House was lowered to half-staff within an hour and there were moments of silence at ballparks and at the Belmont States, AP reported.
