with new car replacement, we'll replace the full value of your car plus depreciation. liberty mutual insurance. >> nancy reagan worked tirelessly during her years as first lady to protect her husband, president ron dal reagan from any harm. the ambition from his advisors and negative publicity. the couple's strong bond was renowned and from the silver screen to the governor's mansion to the white house, her devotion to her husband never waivered w. >> she became the former president's primary care giver. >> each day brings another

reminder of this very long good-bye. >> following his death in 2004, she became an outspoken public advocate for stem cell research, a scientific effort that promised hope for patients of alzheimer's and other illnesses. in this hour, the hollywood love story that would become a political success story. the life of nancy reagan. >> hello, i'm lester holt. welcome to a special presentation, nancy reagan, a life remembered. the president has the most powerful job on earth so a president's wife is automatically a force to be reckoned with. first ladies are often in the news, closely watched, often

controversial and so it was with nancy reagan. one of the most criticized, admired and influential first ladies in recent history. she was a focus of national attention throughout her eight years in the white house. for everything from her clothes to her campaign against drugs to her influence on the president. one thing no one questioned, her absolute devotion to ronald reagan. even those closest to him acknowledge that he might never have made it to the white house or been as successful as president without her. from hollywood in the 50s to the california state house in the 60s and the white house in the 80s, the reagans remained inseparable. during the former president's long descent into alzheimer's disease, nancy reagan was his chief care giver and the keeper of his legacy. >> the ronald reagan presidential library and museum. inside, one of the greatest american love stories of our

time. >> there you are at the ranch. >> in malibu. and you can see the fences haven't been painted here yet. i hadn't gotten to those. i painted all of the white fences. >> by hand? >> by hand. i accused him later of marrying me to get his fences painted. >> nancy davis majored in drama, came to hollywood and married ronald reagan in 1952. >> we met each other out here on the west coast through la roy who i remember every night in my prayers. and i was having a little difficulty because there were other nancy davises and i was getting the mail of one of them and he said he neuronknew ronnye could promise my problem. i certainly knew who he was and

i thought that was a dandy idea. he says he solved my problem by changing my name. >> how would she feel about having her husband be president? >> you have to be, of course, very flattered that anybody would think of him in these terms, but, oh, i've said often and i really mean it that my heart goes out to any man republican or democrat holding that office now. i -- i think it's now so awesome and the responsibility is so tremendous that i just feel terribly sorry for any man holding that office. >> mrs. reagan, someone told me, i don't know how true this is, that you were very frightened of the possibilities which always exist of assassination of a candidate. perhaps more so than the other wives because of robert

kennedy's assassination to take place in california. is this on your mind? >> well, i think it's probably on all wives' minds. i don't see how it could help but be. i don't know whether i'm more frightened than anybody else. unfortunately, it -- it has to be on your mind now, but you -- i was very happy when they assigned secret service to us and i feel much better. but you take all the precautions that you can take, and you go ahead and you live your life. that's all you can do. >> nancy reagan with barbara walters in 1968. california governor ronald reagan was a favorite son, presidential candidate to the gop convention that summer. the nomination went to richard nixon. eight years later reagan fell short again losing the nomination to gerald ford. but 1980 would be his year and his number one campaigner was

nancy reagan. >> well, she's a great campaigner and every place that she's gone because now and then while we're together a great deal now and then they do separate us and send her out to do some on her own and i've tried to talk her into being candidate and i'd stay home. >> is nancy reagan the same person of nancy davis a number of years ago? >> sure. yes. same girl i married. and i'm a very lucky fellow. >> what kind of first lady would you be? >> i'd be me. everybody's different. everybody -- everybody handles a job differently with their personality and characteristics and i'd be me. >> do you -- to ooeteither of y

do you think a first lady should stake out her own turf as it was. is that a proper role as a first lady? >> i guess so. everyone i suppose would do it differently, but you have to remember, what really happens by tradition and custom in this country is that the voters vote for a president, but they actually get two people, one of them free. >> do you ever, ever in a moment's notice at the end of a long day of campaigning think to yourself, oh, why didn't ronny just stay the host of the general electric theater and let me go about being an actress? >> no, i never wanted to continue being an actress after i got married ever. ever. no. i -- i'd seen too many marriages break up, and i didn't want to take that chance. >> there has come to be, i am told, by other political wives something called the nancy

reagan gaze where when your husband is speaking -- i know you're aware of it -- >> yeah. >> and i have seen it even in 1966. when your husband is speaking the expression is nothing less than adoration. >> that's it. if anybody was speaking -- if you were speaking, tom -- >> even me? >> wait a minute. i would be looking at you. i can't -- >> in the same way? >> no. not in the same way. the expression would be different or my marriage would be in big trouble. >> nancy reagan's devotion to ronald reagan would become the stuff of political legend. it sustained him throughout the presidential campaign as it would when that campaign successfully landed them in the white house and him in the hospital after an assassination attempt. all that and more when nancy reagan, a life remembered, continues.

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he's a wonderful man with, as i say, with tremendous integrity and courage and tenderness, and every woman should be as lucky as i am. >> ronald reagan was an unexceptional actor who became a first rate politician, gifted with charm, conviction and a legendary ability to communicate. he first tried for the republican presidential nomination in 1968. 12 years later with nancy by his side as always, he got it, and set out to unseat jimmy carter. rose lynn carter had been controversial occasionally sitting in on cabinet meetings. >> what kind of role do you think the wife of a president ought to have in the white house? >> whatever she wants it to be.

>> and what is in your mind? i mean, you have to be thinking about it. >> i promise you and wow won't believe me, i promise you i'm not. everybody has to take -- do their own -- do it their own way and my way is to take one step at a time. one day at a time. >> i think what you're seeing here is not being coy, but both of us have this a little bit, but i don't have it quite as much as she does, but nancy is very much afraid of tempting fate. she feels that -- in other words, she would never if she were a fighter go in the weigh-in and say i'll knock him out in the third round. >> your life will be much more public than it is now. does that make you think twice about the white house? >> every once in a while you have mixed feelings about it. sure. of course you have mixed feelings. you know, you think, i have pretty wonderful life, and we're giving up a lot, but then i am truly concerned about what's happening in our country.

and if it means giving up something, then i -- that's worth it. >> nancy reagan would be giving up more than she knew. just a couple of weeks later her husband was elected president. the following january, he was sworn in, and nancy reagan set out on an unforgotable eight years as first lady. one of her first interviews was with chris wallace. >> how do you balance your role as first lady with your role as mrs. reagan, his wife? >> my role as mrs. reagan comes first. >> a lot of feminists are worried about you, and the question they ask, they say, is she going to play any role at all in pushing women's issues that betty ford did and that rosa lynn carter did? >> i'm not going to be like anybody else.

i'm going to be nancy reagan so i'll push the things that i'm interested in. >> i've heard stories that you're up at 11:00 at night moving furniture around. is that true? >> yes, my poor husband is looking all over for me. >> and you're in a room trying to redecorate? >> yes, i suddenly get an idea and i get come pulcompulsive ab it and i enjoy it. >> you've been criticized for trying to run the carters out of the white house, for spending too much money on clothes. why are you getting such a bad press? well, chris, maybe you can tell me. i don't know. that's -- and besides, i think that's -- i think that's in the past, and i'm looking forward to the future and what we're doing right now. >> do you regret telling the world that you have a tiny little gun?

well, a tiny little gun disappeared quite a long time ago. i had the tiny little gun when my husband was away a great deal of the time and i was alone, and -- and i was advised to have a tiny little gun. >> the revelation that nancy reagan had once owned a handgun was just one of the minor controversies that swirled around her during her early days as first lady. but all that was instantly swept away by the events of march 30th, 1981. nancy reagan was not with her husband when he was almost killed by a gunman outside a washington hotel, but she rushed to his side at the hospital and helped him through his convalescence. it was a harrowing experience for nancy reagan and it changed her. one year later she looked back with chris wallace. >> mrs. reagan, march 30th marks

an anniversary that i'm sure you won't be celebrating around here, one year from the day that someone took a shot at your husband. what do you remember about that day? >> well, the shock of it, i suppose. actually i remember everything about the day. and i guess it's -- it's something that you -- that you don't forget. i thought maybe it would fade a little. but it doesn't. >> do you and the president talk ability it ever? >> huh-uh. >> just isn't mentioned. >> huh-uh. >> do you think about it? >> oh, yes. oh, yes. every -- every time he -- he leaves the house, particularly to go on a trip, i think -- i

think my heart stops till he gets back. >> really? >> uh-huh. >> and you are thinking about the shooting and the possibility that it might happen again? >> oh, it's just the whole -- the whole memory of it is very -- very fresh, very raw. >> is life and i'm talking now in terms of the question of security and the burdens of the last year, is life not as much fun here in the white house as a result of this? you have called 1981 a lost year. has it taken the joy out of being first lady? >> well, it -- life is always peaks and valleys and that was certainly a valley. it's different. >> how so? >> well, you're just -- i just told you, every time he leaves the house, it's different.

>> let me ask you one last thing. did the experience of the last year change the way you and the president view life? did it give you more of a sense of your mortality? >> oh, yes. oh, yes. you rearrange your priorities very quickly. >> and how so, both you and the president, how have you rearranged your priorities? how has it changed your view of what life is about? >> well, things that used to bother you terribly don't bother you as much anymore in the scheme of things. they -- they take their proper place. and what's really important is at the top of the list. even a stag pool party. (party music) (splashing/destruction) (splashing/destruction)

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> nancy reagan with close friend frank sinatra in 1982. the reagan white house knew how to put on a show. the president's advisors were masters of the political image. the flattering photo op. one of the most famous images featured nancy following the republican convention. >> there's president reagan watching her on the television screen above the podium. now, there is a 1984 electronic

image for you from the national convention. look at that. she's waving to him and he doesn't realize it. you're on camera, mr. president. oh, hi. [ applause ] >> when you spoke for the convention you spoke out and i was wondering if you like campaigning. do you enjoy it? >> there's part of it i like and i like -- i like people.

i like meeting people. i like seeing people. and -- and i like the give and take with people. that -- that much -- that part i like. >> it annoys the president clearly when it's suggested as it often is that you are the power behind the throne. >> not only annoys him, it annoys me. >> you tell us. how much influence do you have? >> i am not the power behind the throne, but i've gotten to the point now where i think i can say it just so often and then if people are going to keep on saying it, there's nothing i can do about it. i'm -- it's not true. >> how much influence do you have? >> well, i have some, of course. but then we've been married, you know, coming up 33 years. that's a long time and he has influence over me, i have influence over him, naturally. >> in fact, nancy reagan had enormous influence as first

lady. she neither had nor sought a policy rule but her utter devotion to ronald reagan as president gave her influence. nancy reagan, a life remembered, returns. my school reunion's coming fast.

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nbc news declaring bernie sanders the winner. and the world is mourning first lady nancy reagan who died today at the age of 94. known as a fierce protector of her husband after the white house years nancy reagan cared for ronald reagan during his battle with alzheimer's. now back to the msnbc special.

welcome back to nancy reagan, a life remembered. america's first ladies hold a mirror up to society. often without meaning to they reflect our feelings about the roles of women, the boundaries of marriage, the proper uses of political power. during her years in the white house nancy reagan was no exception. she got off to a rocky start. there was controversy about her ambition, her taste for high style during hard economic times and she had to endure an attempt on her husband's life. chris wallace took an extended look at nancy reagan in 1985, midway through her white house years. >> i think i'm aware of people who are trying to take advantage of my husband, who are trying to

end run him, lots of times, who are trying to use him. i'm very aware of that. all my little antennas go up. >> they shea she was a major figure in helping push alexander hague and william clark out of the cabinet and helping james baker gain control of the white house staff. they say she generally sided with moderates. more interested in seeing her husband win than an ideaologist. >> yes, it's difficult for me if -- if there is some disciplining that is needed or even some change of personnel. >> it sounds like he does occasionally hope that maybe you'll take that burden off his hands. >> no. >> it -- it's -- it's harder for him. >> i'm a soft touch.

>> while mrs. reagan is deeply involved in personnel, she generally stays out of policy matters, but not always. worried last year about democratic charges, the president might get the u.s. in a war, mrs. reagan pushed her husband to cool his antisoviet rhetoric and to meet with the foreign minister. members of the national security council say she helped make an administration deadlock on soviet policy between hard liners and moderates. >> i didn't think it was fair when i'd pick up the paper and i'd read that he was a war monogor, that he was ready to go to war and so on when i know that that's completely untrue. >> the first lady's push paid big political dif debds when he visited the white house during the full campaign. during the reception that day, mrs. reagan had an encounter of her own with him. >> he turned and looked at me and said, is your husband in favor of peace or war? and i said peace. and he said, you sure?

and i said, i'm sure. and he said, well, then you whisper peace in his ear every night, and i said, i will. i'll also whisper it in your ear. >> but mrs. reagan is far more comfortable dealing with politics and what works best for her husband. >> it will be great. >> i'm going to break a leg. yeah. no, good luck. >> all right. >> last month she sent him off from the white house family quarters to announce his tax reform plan on national television. the political prose around the white house regard the first lady as one of their own. a shrewd judge of how issues and politics are received by the public even if she is always the president's number one cheer leader. >> yeah! >> her reaction to the first debate and the president's fumbling performance. >> the system is still where it was with regard to the -- with

regard to the -- the progress as i've said. >> she was upset and everybody knew it. and rightly so. >> how so? i meeman, what, did she chew people out? >> i'm not going to get into that. you'll have to ask her that. >> i was upset. >> really upset? >> yes, i was upset. >> because? >> because i thuought they'd goe about it all wrong and they had. >> in terms of preparing the president? >> they overloaded him. he knows all those things. they don't have to overload him. >> and were changes made? >> well, the second one was better, wasn't it? >> i will not make age an issue of this campaign. i am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience. >> but the first lady created a

problem herself in the last campaign when she seemed to prompt her husband in public. some cases were minor. at this rally pointing out where the american flag was. but other cases were not. >> anything you can do to get him there? >> doing everything we can. >> and a lot of people were saying that the president was needed to be prompted by his wife who was acting as his ventriloquist. >> to this day she says she was just talking to herself, not prompting the president. >> she doesn't prompt you? >> no. >> how good a politician is mrs. reagan? >> absolutely sensational. don't you think so? >> took the words right out of my mouth. >> i think she's prompting you again. >> it's been suggested that you're -- you're a real motivating force in your involvement in politics as you want people to love him as much as you do. >> uh-huh.

i think they do though. don't you? maybe -- maybe not all of them, but i do. yes. i do. >> from the start, mrs. reagan was certain he was the best man for the job whether the job was governor of california or president of the united states. >> reagan for president, reagan for president. >> one former aide said she watched over mr. reagan like a ti tigeress over her cub. and she was a tough and savvy advisor. as the two of them complete a remarkable career in politics, insiders say mrs. reagan was indispensable. >> i sometimes think that if there weren't a nancy reagan there wouldn't be a president ronald reagan or maybe even been a ghon nor ronald reagan. >> so help me god. >> i congratulate you, sir.

>> do you think you're more self-confident? >> yes. because i think maybe more people like me. >> and it's easier to be a little more -- >> i'm -- if i think people like me, i -- i'm better. >> you're willing to open up? >> yeah. >> back in 1981 it was the press that opened up. hitting mrs. reagan with a barrage of criticism. >> the first lady spent more than $800,000 fixing up the white house. >> the problem was largely one of timing. mrs. reagan started her lavish redecoration just as her husband start d cutting programs for the poor and just as the country started sliding into recession. for many people this contrast made the first lady look frivolous or even worse, insensitive. >> and there was mrs. reagan take for $35,000 designer dresses which caused some of

them to start calling her queen nancy. >> within months she had groan sensitive about even mentioning her clothes. >> the blouse i wore last time. for mrs. thatcher i'm going to wear -- are we still on? >> as she looks back, mrs. reagan shares the blame for her problems with the media. >> i think there was probably fault on either side. i held back, and -- and maybe they -- they went forward a little too quickly. >> we felt, at least i did, that if nancy reagan became better known, the real nancy reagan became better known, she would be much better liked, that she would provide some political leverage and some strong support to the presidency. >> but the president's image makers called the real nancy reagan was unveiled within days at the al smith dinner in new york. >> there's now a picture postcard of me as a queen.

now, that's silly, because i'd never wear a crown. it messes up your hair. >> that comment, chris, was a -- was a turn around for her. namely, she was able to take a charge that i think hurt her, and diffuse it through humor. >> but that was nothing compared to the gridiron dinner the following march. dressed like some bag lady, mrs. reagan sang a version of second hand rose and smashed a china plate on stage. >> she walked on that stage and people were so astonished, they just rose from their seats and started screaming. >> i remember, i was scared to death. >> you could feel the attitude change in that room. >> do you think that what you wanted to accomplish that night, you did? >> well, they applauded. >> how do you explain the fact that -- that people seemed to like and be impressed with nancy

reagan now? >> well, i hope that -- i hope they like and -- like me. but i think it's a -- it's been a process of -- of getting to know me, and -- and that took a long time. owen! hey kevin. hey, fancy seeing you here. uh, i live right over there actually. you've been to my place. no, i wasn't...oh look, you dropped something. it's your resume with a 20 dollar bill taped to it. that's weird. you want to work for ge too. hahaha, what

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you guys realize anyone can use the "name your price" tool for free on progressive.com, right? [ laughing nervously ] ♪ [ pickles whines ] i know, it's like they're always on television. what? >> we have one more surprise for you. it wouldn't be complete to pay a tribute to the first lady of the united states without the real leader of the republican party, president ronald reagan.

>> didn't i though? really kept a secret. >> i've been thinking for several days about what exactly i wanted to say today, how to put nancy's role in my life in perspective for you. but what do you say about someone who gives your life meaning? what do you say about someone who's always there with support and understanding? someone who makes sacrifices so that your life will be easier and more successful. but what you say is that you love that person and treasure her. [ applause ] >> i -- i simply can't imagine the last eight years without nancy. the presidency wouldn't have been the joy it's been for me

without her there beside me and that second floor living quarters in the white house would have seemed a big and lonely spot without her waiting for me every day at the end of the day. she once said that a president has all kinds of advisors and experts who look after his interest when it comes to foreign policy or the economy or whatever, but no one who looks after the -- his needs as a human being. well, nancy has done that for me through recuperations and crises. every president should be so lucky. i think -- [ applause ] >> i think it's all too common in marriages that no matter how much partners love each other, they don't thank each other enough. and i suppose i don't thank

nancy enough for all that she does for me. so nancy, in front of all your friends here today, let me say thank you for all you do. thank you for your love, and thank you for just being you. [ applause ] >> ronald reagan honoring wife nancy at a luncheon in her honor during the republican convention. five months later with the inauguration of george bush, the reagans said good-bye to washington and headed home to california. nancy reagan had looked forward to her husband's retirement and a chance to enjoy the fruits of their decades in public life together. that enjoyment would be cut short. five years after he left office ronald reagan was diagnosed with alzheimer's disease. at the 1996 republican convention nancy reagan paid an

emotional tribute to her absent husband. >> each day brings another reminder of this very long good-bye. but ronny's spirit, his optimism, his never failing belief in the strength and goodness of america is still very strong. if he were able to be here tonight, he would once again remind us of the power of each individual, urging us once again to fly as high as our wings will take us and to never, never give up on america. i can tell you with certainty that he still sees the shining city on the hill, a place full of hope and promise for us all. as you all know, i'm not the speech maker in the family, so let me close with ronny's words, not mine. in that last speech four years ago he said, whatever else

history may say about me when i'm gone, i hope it will record that i appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears. to your con fi den-- confidence rather than your doubts and may you never fail to seek divine guidance and never, never lose your natural god-given optimism. ronny's optimism, like america's, still shines very brightly. may god bless him and from both of us, god bless america. thank you. [ applause ] >> ronald and nancy reagan were married in 1952. and their love for one another has only grown greater with the passage of time. they set out to make a life together and this amazing

partnership helped change the world. now on a difficult journey, we admire nancy reagan's eloquent example of loyalty and love. when it's go, the new choice privileges gets you there faster. and now, stay two times and you can earn a free night. book now at choicehotels.com so we know how to cover almost alanything. thing, even "turkey jerks." [turkey] gobble. [butcher] i'm sorry! (burke) covered march fourth,2014. talk to farmers. we've seen almost everything, so we know how to cover almost anything. ♪ we are farmers. bum-pa-dum, bum-bum-bum-bum ♪

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when you look back on your remarkable life together, 47 years in marriage, all these triumphs and very difficult times along the way as well, what's the one memory that pleases you most? >> that i married ronny. >> nothing beats that. >> nothing beats that. what would have happened to me if i hadn't married ronny? >> oh, i think you probably would have been okay. >> no, because there's never going to be another ronny. this letter was written from the white house on march 4th, 1981. dear first lady, as president of

the united states, it's my honor and privilege to cite you for service above and beyond the call of duty in that you have made one man, me, the most happy man in the world for 29 years. >> that's nancy reagan reading a letter ronald reagan wrote her in 1981 on their 29th wedding anniversary, their first in the white house. she kept that note just as she kept the hundreds of others he wrote her through the years. >> ronald reagan's letter writing campaign to nancy began almost as soon as they met. it was the early 1950s and reagan was busy with his first career making movies. he wrote this letter to nancy while filming a movie in arizona. we asked actor howell len don to read it for us. >> just a quick line from somewhere south of tucson, pronounced tucson. i know why the confederates lost. they were so damn hot in these

uniforms they couldn't fight. there goes the bugle. farewell. wednesday, july 15th, 1953. the dear nancy pants i suppose some people would find it unusual that you and i can span 3,000 miles but in truth, it comes very naturally. man can't live without a heart and you are my heart. i love you. >> nancy davis and ronald reagan were married on march 4th, '119. >> the early years were difficult. reagan frequently traveled, movie roles and tv programs took him on the road. he wrote his new bride from lonely hotel rooms across the country. >> sunday, march 20th, 1955. my darling, it's time to move on to the next town now and every move is a step toward home and you.

i love you very much, and i don't even mind that life made me wait so long to find you. the waiting only made the finding sweeter. when you get this, we will be almost halfway through the lonely stretch. i love you. ronny. >> in 1954 reagan accepted a job as host of the new television drama the general electric theater. in addition to his tv appearances he toured the country as the company's corporate ambassador visiting plants and talking to employees. again, the intense travel schedule kept the newlyweds apart. march 7th, ' march 7th, 1955. dear nancy, going wrong way, but still, it is one day nearer. i love you, ronny. >> in 1957 they costarred in their only film together, held

cats of the navy. >> i began to think you were playing the south circuit. >> you knew better. >> how could i know? did you give me a post dated check? >> darling, us old salts always say welcome aboard and boy, are you ever welcome. i love you. commander abbott. >> holidays were always marked with a special letter or card like this one. he started calling nancy patty after their daughter was born. >> february 14th, 1960. darling mommy poo. february 14th may be the date they observe and call valentine's day, but that is for people of only ordinary luck. i happen to have a valentine's life which started on march 4th, 1952, and will continue as long as i have you. i love you very much. papa.

march 4th, 1963. my darling, this is really just an in between day. it is a day on which i love you 365 days more than i did a year ago and 365 less than i will from a year from now. all my love, your husband. >> much of their time together was spent at the ranch outside santa barbara. ronald reagan was a huge fan of horses and his wife quickly developed the same affection. half a century later the 40th president of the united states in failing health, but his nancy still by his side. this new book, his love letter to her hand picked by her. her love letter back to him. her love still so strong it's too hard for her to read them in front of anyone else, but that 1981 letter, the one he wrote her on their 29th anniversary just after they'd moved into the white house, that one was

special. the only one she can bring herself to read. >> nancy davis then went on to bring him happiness for the next 29 years as nancy davis reagan for which she has received and will continue to receive his undying devotion forever and ever. she's done this in spite of the fact that he still can't find the words to tell her how lost he'd be without her. he sits in the oval office from which he can see his window and feels warm all over knowing she's there. above is the statement of a man who benefitted from her act of heroism. p.s., he, i mean, i love and adore you. >> nancy and ronald reagan were a true political power couple, bound by a romance that played out on a public stage and held

them together during trying times. her devotion helped him tranks form from actor to president and her memories of his love helped her survive his long good-bye. what endures are the contributions they both made and a great love story. i'm lester holt. thanks for joining us.

ronny wrote beautiful letters. >> what do you say about someone who gives your life meeting? >> dear first lady, you have made one man, me, the most happy man in the world. >> same girl i married and i'm a very lucky fellow. love story. the reagan letters. >> hello, everyone. what made ronald reagan special? his optimism, confidence, love of country? to nancy