I was watching Ronald Reagan’s funeral this morning. I came in during Margaret Thatcher’s eulogy and watched through George W. Bush’s eulogy. Watching the various camera shots of the attendees, I saw George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton in the pews. But I never saw Gerald Ford or Jimmy Carter.
Were they not in attendance, or did I just not see them?
According to the Post, they were both in attendance.
What’s Margaret Thatcher’s health problem? She seems to be next on the list to die. Unfortunately, I can’t revise my Celebrity Death Pool 2004 list (and I could really use the points).
The Carters were in the second or third row, behind George and Barbara Bush and a few to the left of them. I think the Fords were farther down in the same row.
Honest, everyone who could be there was. No one snubbed the Reagan funeral.
I saw them both, they were there. I think they were pretty close together on the right. Right being the camera’s right when you are facing the people in the pews.
I didn’t see Dan Quayle though.
Did I also see Mikhail Gorbachev in the audience, sitting next to Margaret Thatcher?
Ayup.
On the left side of the church sat the Reagans (looking from the alter). On the right were the Presidents. In the front row from the left sat W, Mrs W, Cheney,Mrs Cheney, Bill and Hillary. In the second row from the left sat George H W, Babara, Jimmy , Rosalind, Gerald and Betty. They were seated in the order they served.
She’s had several strokes.
I saw Dan Quayle after the service was over and before the crowd left the cathedral. He appeared in the doorway and looked to be first in line to exit the service (after the family, military, etc.).
http://www.startribune.com/images/hl/4823829_79409.html
So much for that.
During the processional, I saw Gorbachev lean over to Thatcher and point to the program apparently to ask where they were in it or what music was playing. Brian Mulroney leaned over to put in his two cents.
I saw the Fords and the Carters and they were all seated toward the front in the “heads of state” or “former heads of state” section.
It looks to me like the UK was represented by Baroness Thatcher, Prince Charles, and PM Blair.
Except, of course, Chirac.
How would the French situation be any different from the Russian one? France sent former President Valerie Giscard d’Estaing. Representing Russia was Gorbachev.
Where was Jacque Chirac???
He went home.
Join the boycott of French products!
Where was Jacque Chirac??? (sp?)
He went home straight from G8 in GA. No class!
Join the boycott of French products!
I agree that it was rude for Chirac to run right home from G8; he could easily have stayed. The fact that he sent an ex to represent the country is not sufficient, IMHO.
Were the people at the G8 summit invited?
Why would you expect Chirac to have been there? Isn’t it generally the duty of a Vice President, or some other minor governmental figure to attend funerals of foreign leaders, so as to spare the actual Head of State the bother?
Well, I’m not privy to the guest list, if there is one. I don’t know if protocol suggests that a person needs a specific invite to a funeral. Do you think that Chirac was specifically NOT invited?
An invitation to a funeral?
“You’re invited to the funeral of Ronald Reagan. Dress is business casual.”
But, with a President, and with limited seating, I’m guessing that there probably some sort of list of who could come in and who could stay. Dunno why Chirac wouldn’t be on the list. Dunno why he would be, either.