 |
|
The Morning Grind / DayAhead |
Reagan's reach
By John Mercurio
CNN Political Unit
 |  Ronald Reagan sat for this White House photo in 1981. |
|
VIDEO |
 CNN's Ed Henry on plans for Reagan's body to lie in state.
 CNN's Jeff Greenfield looks at Reagan's use of humor.
|
|
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Ronald Reagan had a profound impact on presidential campaigns in the final quarter of the 20th century, even when his name was nowhere near the ballot.
In death, his awesome reach can now be seen on the battle between President Bush and John Kerry, who have both canceled public campaign events for the week and posted tributes on their Web sites.
(Both campaigns will continue to run TV ads, although Bush/Cheney is the only one now running negative spots. Bush, of course, will still dominate the week, as expected, when he gathers on Sea Island, Georgia, to host the G-8 summit meeting).
But the larger question still looms: Will Reagan's death have a lasting impact on the Republican Party that he rebuilt in his image? Will it revive their appreciation for Bush's similar-but-different brand of straight-talk-with-a-swagger conservatism? Or will Bush's skills as a communicator and a statesman only pale by comparison? Stay tuned.
The funeral
The week should look something like this:
At 1 p.m. ET today, Reagan's body is being moved by motorcade and hearse from the Santa Monica mortuary and brought to his presidential library in Simi Valley, where it is to lie in repose until Tuesday evening. The Reagan family will hold a one-hour private ceremony at the library at 2 p.m. before opening the main lobby to the public at 3 p.m. (Main story: Gorbachev to join in Reagan ceremonies)
On a related note, the National Press Club today hosts the Gerald R. Ford Journalism Awards luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington. The keynote speakers will be David Gergen and Dick Cheney, both of whom are expected to speak about Reagan.
Wednesday morning, Reagan's body will be flown to Andrews Air Force Base. (Bush may leave the G-8 summit briefly Wednesday to greet Reagan's body as it arrives. Bush would then fly back to Georgia for the remainder of the summit, through Thursday). A memorial gets underway Wednesday evening with a horse-drawn procession down Constitution Avenue to the Capitol, where Reagan will lie in state through Thursday. The casket will be closed. (Plans for official ceremonies)
The funeral will be Friday morning at Washington National Cathedral, the first presidential funeral to be held in the capital since Lyndon Baines Johnson died in 1973. The federal government will be closed Friday. Afterward, Reagan's body will be flown back to California for a sunset burial on the grounds of his presidential library, beneath oak and magnolia trees on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
For his part, Kerry, whose first major moment in the Senate was leading the investigation into the Reagan administration over Iran-contra, faces a daunting challenge to remain relevant this week. He has canceled all public appearances and will travel to Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday to attend his daughter Alexandra's graduation from the American Film Institute, which could keep him away from the Reagan funeral.
Yesterday, Kerry told reporters that Reagan "always disagreed with a smile, without partisanship.''
