[captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] good morning. paying respects. police officers salute the hearse carrying former first lady nancy reagan from her home. a funeral being planned for later this week at the reagan presidential library, where she'll be laid to rest next to her husband. a woman being remembered as a devoted wife and a political force who redefined the role of first lady. we look back at nancy reagan's extraordinary wife and talk exclusively to her son ron today, monday, march 7th, 2016.

this is a special edition of "today," remembering nancy reagan, with matt lauer and savannah guthrie, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. still digesting the sad news of nancy reagan's passing, but what an incredible life she lived. legendary woman, iconic first lady and part of one of the greatest love stories of our time. >> i was reflecting on that this morning. so many people are finding comfort in the thought these two will be reunited once again. nancy reagan, a picture of el elegance and strength. >> nancy reagan died in her home at the age of 94. she was equally passionate about her husband and the many causes she championed. we'll talk to her son ron coming

reagan presidential library in simi valley, california. good morning to you. >> inside the air force one hangar here at the reagan presidential library, where many are remembering nancy reagan so fondly. she redefined the role of first lady, bringing style, substance and sensitivity. >> reporter: late sunday, the hearse carrying the former first lady's body left her home in los angeles, where the 94-year-old died of congestive heart failure sunday. her daughter, patti davis, releasing a blog post overnight. i got the call around 8:30 this morning that my mother passed away in her sleep. it's the way she wanted to go. her spokesperson saying, mrs. reagan will be buried at the ronald reagan presidential library at simi valley, california, next to her husband, ronald wilson reagan.

be an opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects at the library. tributes are pouring in, remembering nancy reagan as a woman of grace and grandeur. she was honored by a moment of silence on the debate stage. hillary clinton praising her predecessor. nancy's strength of character was legendary, and her advocacy, especially forral al tiem zheimer's research, was tireless. also, accolades for her husband. >> she loved her husband, loved her country, and at least with me, she was always very fair and decent. >> reporter: president obama and first lady obama releasing a statement saying, our former first lady redefined the role in her time here, and we remain grateful for nancy reagan's life. thankful for her guidance and prayerful that she and her beloved husband are together again.

her, barbara bush, writing, nancy reagan was totally devoted to president reagan, and we take comfort that they will be reunited once more. and former president george w. bush saying, her influence on the white house was complete and lasting. as a woman who expanded the role of first lady, her influence was felt far beyond washington. michael j. fox tweeting, i will always be grateful to nancy reagan for her leadership on stem cells, class, grace and guts. rest in peace. arnold schwarzenegger, from hollywood to the governor's mansion, praised the former first lady. >> she was one of the greatest first ladies. extraordinary human being. such a wonderful partner to her husband, to president reagan. i know -- [ applause ] -- she will join him now in

between the two of them will start all over again. >> and it is that love affair that will be part of nancy reagan's enduring legacy. coming up in our next half hour, we'll take a look back at their long life and love together, as they became known as nancy and ronnie to most of us. back to you. >> natalie, 52 years of marriage. that's nice. >> one of nancy reagan's many roles was as her husband's trusted adviser, guiding him through decisions throughout his presidency. andrea mitchell covered the reagan administration. good morning to you. >> good morning, savannah. she was one of the most consequential first ladies in modern american history. ronald reagan's life partner, chief protector and political adviser. a story right out of the movies. that's, in fact, where it all started. >> reporter: she always dreamed of being an actress and, in a way, she became one, on a world stage. born in 1921 in new york city,

hollywood, landing small roles in films for mgm. it was there she met ronald reagan. the chemistry was instantaneous. they married in 1952. appearing in 11 films, the young actress starred alongside her husband in a film. >> you knew better. >> how could i know? did you give me a post dated check? >> my wife, nancy. >> reporter: soon, she devoted her life to him and his budding political career. her influence quickly extending beyond the home and into politics. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: becoming first lady of california in 1966, and then of the nation in 1981. at first, she was criticized for wearing designing gowns during a recession. then lauded for her anti-drug, just say no campaign. >> when it comes to drugs and

>> reporter: but it was the 1981 assassination attempt that nearly took his life that overshadowed his entire presidency. nancy reagan became fiercely protective, even consulting an astrologer before scheduling his trips. an embarrassment exposed by his chief of staff, who had been fired largely at her behest, after the iran-contra scandal. >> she was ronald reagan's closest adviser. she also was among other things his constant protector. >> reporter: during her eight years as first lady, nancy reagan changed world history. encouraging her husband to negotiate with what he had called the evil empire, the soviet union, and its new leader, gorbachev. >> he knew he could do a deal with gorbachev, he just needed to be allowed to do it. she ran that interference for him. >> reporter: after leaving the white house, nancy reagan became an advocate for stem cell research for alzheimer's after

heart-breaking letter to the nation, disclosing he was suffering from the disease. >> he made the decision to write a letter to the american people, and the people responded. >> reporter: his caregiver until his death in 2004, she remained devoted to him for all her days. carrying the torch for her husband's legacy and her own. >> for all of the glamour and success they experienced on the world stage, those who knew them best say their favorite moments were alone, upstairs in the white house, eating dinner on tray tables, watching a movie or tv. best friends in life. now, together again. >> andrea, thank you. please stand by. moment. >> the image of her kissing his flag draped coffin -- >> unforgettable. >> yeah, it breaks me up. last night, we had the reagan son, ron. >> you and i spoke after your dad died, and i asked you a very

let me just ask the same question. tell me about nancy reagan. who was she? >> well, nancy reagan was the woman who was totally dedicated to her husband, and i know that that sounds, you know, anti-feminist. i don't mean it in that way. she loved her husband, more than anything in the world. i think that you can make the case that the ronald reagan that we all came to know as president would not have existed without nancy reagan. >> she was seen as this devoted woman. some feminists actually gave her a hard time, working women gave her a hard time, and she said just about everything i did in that first year was misunderstood. >> yeah, well, i think it was tough for her in the white house because there was a lot of anger that could have been directed at my father, but my father was a

to dislike as a human being. she was a little more, let's say, complicated a personality than he was. she made an easier target, i think. >> complicated, how so, ron? >> my mother was more aware of, i think, the dark corners of life. and the darker aspects of human nature. her view was more, i'm going to watch, and if i think you're good for my husband, then you've got a friend for life. but if i think you're bad for my husband or you're hurting him in some way, oh, you know, you better watch out because now you have an enemy and it's not an enemy you want. >> the assassination attempt on your father, i don't think anybody knew until years after he left the white house how close he came to dying. but your mom knew. >> yes, yes. >> how did that change her perception of his life in the white house and the bubble?

had another day during his presidency where there wasn't some fear involved. particularly, of course, when he went out in public and all. he meant everything to her. seeing her spouse gunned down in the street and having him almost die is, to say the least, tra traumatic traumatic. i don't think she was ever without anxiety and fear from then on. >> can you tell me how your dad's passing changed her as a woman, ron? >> she was lonely without him. and said as much. she missed him terribly. i can say this, i suppose, she didn't have to worry anymore about whether any of her opinions would necessarily clash with any of his. >> last two questions. if someone were to ask you to describe the love story of ronald and nancy reagan, how would you describe it? >> once they had bonded

i mean, it sounds cliche. i don't think that they ever spent a day apart where they didn't call, speak on the phone. he wrote her letters all her life. all his life. they were in love. they stayed in love for, you know, 52 some odd years. >> i would say anybody watching this and learning of this news, who is perhaps under the age of 25, doesn't really know an awful lot about your mom and your dad. >> yeah. >> so for the people in that age group and below, what's the most important thing they should know about nancy reagan? >> i think that she knew how to love somebody. that would be, you know -- and you can do a lot worse than that in life. that's what i think of when i think of my mother. i think of her relationship with her husband. >> that's a wonderful place to leave it. ron, thank you so much. again, my sincere condolences to you and your family.

>> nbc news special correspondent tom brokaw first met the reagans in los angeles and grew to know them well over the years. also, let's bring back andrea mitchell, as well. tom, tell me about the early years of knowing them. >> well, when i first met them, he was running for governor of california, obviously. she was, from the very beginning, an important counsel for him. everybody said, you have to clear it with nancy. or nancy believes we ought to be doing this or not this. she was always kind of on gourd uard. i remember when he was running for a second term, i was in a room with a lot of their friends. including jimmy stewart's wife. she was kissing everybody around the room and got to me and went like this. i said, mrs. reagan, whatever i have, it's not catching. she laughed and leaned over and kissed me. that was the beginning of a personal relationship, as well. >> you mentioned over the years,

personal friends, and spoke with her rather recently. >> on february 6th, the birthday i shared with the president. we talked every year, exchanged notes. i saw her last summer for tea. she was not as responsive as i hoped she'd be. by february 6th, she was responsive. this is a sad passing for everyone because i always thought that most symbolically and from a substance point of view, she was always the first lady. she never gave up that title, and people responded to it. >> andrea, let's talk about her power behind the door of the white house. not only in terms of her husband's view of policy, but she was also very good at understanding who he should trust. >> absolutely. one of the things about that, there were three advisers who came from -- well, two from california and, of course, jim baker brought into the circle. she did have a huge impact on changing white house staff. before that, the campaign staff.

out. i think that ron reagan eluded to that. she understood the people who were not there to serve ronald reagan. he did not. he was so genial and liked everyone. he didn't have that political antenna, but she did and she protected him. she was the chief protector, and she reached out, as well, to democrats, to others, to come in and talk to him so he would not be isolated in the white house. she was responsible, also, of course, for the exit of donald, who was charged for a lot of things, like letting the iran-contra affair happen under his nose. >> tom, don't you think nancy's reputation and the way this country felt about her changed over the years? in the early years, people were tough on her. >> they were tough on her because she brought her hollywood elegance and the whole

white house. i felt she knew what her role was. other people had ideas of the first ladies. when they first got elected, i said some things in the press that she thought were far too critical about -- not his childhood, but when he was a young man, he made good money right away and he was one of the highest paid people in hollywood. i was told by the white house staff, stay away from her. she's angry. you'll be invited to a state dinner so you have to figure out what you're going to say in the receiving line. i'm walking up, and meredith is with me, saying, what are you going to say? i hadn't figured it out. i said, nancy, back to square one. she laughed. this was the moment in which she said to me, tom, back to square one. this picture arrived the next day in my office, autographed by her, tom, back to square one. that's how good and nimble she was and how political she could

this is something i keep. >> the most surprising part of the story is you had a moment you didn't know what you were going to say. >> but it wasn't -- let's be clear, i knew i would say something. >> thank you, thank you so much. andrea, thank you. the presidential candidates are paying tribute to nancy reagan, including the moment of silence during the democratic debate. two contests were held on sunday. marco rubio won puerto rico's republican primary, and bernie sanders topped hillary clinton in maine. the news is not all good for his campaign. nbc's kristen welker has the latest on both races this morning. good morning to you. >> savannah, good moshing to ing morning to you. the candidates have one more day before the michigan primary. sanders picked up wins over the weekend, in addition to maine, kansas and nebraska. but it was secretary clinton who expanded her delegate lead by winning the state of louisiana.

fiery debate on sunday. >> reporter: it was one of the most ruckus democratic debates yet. >> excuse me, i'm talking. >> if we're going to argue about the '90s, let's get the facts straight. >> reporter: sanders attacking clinton for supporting nafta, which many in michigan oppose, and mocking her for reverse reversals on the issue. >> secretary clinton discovered religion on this issue. but it's a little bit too late. >> reporter: clinton firing back. citing sanders' opposition to the 2009 auto bailout. >> if everybody voted the way he did, i believe the auto industry would have collapsed. >> if you are talking about the wall street bailout, where some of your friends destroyed this economy -- >> if you're going to talk, tell the whole story, senator sanders. >> let me tell my story, and you tell yours. >> i will. >> reporter: there was disagreements, both s disa greemt disagreement

flint to resign. and both vowing to beat trump in a general election. the gop front runner made a memorable entrance at the golf championship at his own course in florida. over the weekend, called for marco rubio to end his campaign. >> i think it's time he drops out. >> reporter: "saturday night live" finding new humor in the hotly contested race. >> everybody loves me. races, ugly racists, people who didn't know they were racists. >> ted cruz had a very strong weekend. he won kansas and maine. take a look at the delegate count now. ted cruz just 87 delegates behind donald trump. meanwhile, our latest nbc news/wall street journal poll shows trump and clinton ahead in michigan. >> thank you. let's get a check of the weather from mr. roker.

>> we have some severe weather for the midsection of the country with potential flooding rains, as well. we have this slow moving upper level low coming out of the west, and a high pressure ridge that isn't going to let this thing move east very far. we're going to have a setup where we see from san antonio to dallas, the risk of severe weather. 16 million at risk for damaging winds, isolated tornado, large hail. tomorrow, even worse. from corpus christi to dallas, we have an enhanced risk. 26 million people at risk. tornadoes. rainfall, upwards of 7 inches from houston to little rock. some places could see 10 to 12 inches of rain. texas, arkansas and louisiana. that's what's going on. we're going to look at your why are all these people so asleep, yet i' m so awake? did you know your brain has two systems? one helps keep you awake- the other helps you sleep. science suggests when you have insomnia, the wake system in your brain may be too strong

remain too active as you try to sleep, which could be leading to your insomnia. ohh...maybe that' s what' s preventing me from getting the sleep i need! talk to your doctor about ways to manage your insomnia. amy: good morning, central florida, i am amy sweezey. another day filled with sunshine. most of us climb into the upper 70' s this afternoon, ju >> that's your latest weather. matt? >> al, thank you. coming up, much more on the remarkable life of nancy reagan. her influence on the white

just ahead, love and devotion. nancy and ronald reagan's relationship captured in the heartfelt letters he sent to her over the years. we'll take a look back at we wonerere. and here. and here. here. and here. uh, here. also in here. back there. even next to these guys, here. independent study, verizon number one network for the fifth time in a row, here. they're the best, remember: there's only one, number one. and now we'll pay up to $650 to

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many that work and live downtown are searching for a new route this morning. garland avenue is closing as part of the i-4 ultimate project. the section of road from west colonial drive to marks street will shut down for more than a year. if you're headed in that area -- you're going to want to use orange avenue or magnolia avenue instead. orange county deputies are looking for a shooter, who opened fire at them outside a busy local restaurant over the weekend. deputies were responding to a trespassing call at mr. gyro's in pine hills. no one was hurt. in our next half hour.. rubio...rallying in central

we're back at 7:30. it's monday morning, the 7th of march, 2016. flags are flying at half-staff across the country as the nation remembering nancy reagan this morning. just ahead, more on how she reshaped the role of first lady, her partnership with her husband and why he may not have become president without her influence. >> we'll get to that in a second minutes. other stories making headlines on a monday morning. two contests held in the presidential race on sunday. florida senator marco rubio won the primary in puerto rico,

victory over hillary clinton in maine's democratic kau sus s caucuses. clinton took louisiana. ted cruz and donald trump each won two states over the weekends. >> sanders and clinton were facing off in a debate in flint, michigan, last night. during one exchange, they sparred over government bailouts. >> he voted against the money that ended up saving the auto industry. i think that is a pretty big difference. >> if you are talking about the wall street bailout, where some of your friends destroyed this economy -- >> you know -- >> excuse me. i'm talking. >> michigan holds its primary tomorrow, along with mississippi. republican contests in idaho and hawaii, as well. peyton manning is calling it a career after 18 seasons. he scheduled an afternoon news conference to announce his retirement.

game as a two-time super bowl champion with different teams, and the league's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. how many athletes ever get to call it quits while they're on top? >> exactly. really on top. the super bowl ring to match. more on the sad passing of nancy reagan, who died in her los angeles home sunday at the age of 94. peter alexander is in washington, d.c. for us. peter, good morning. >> hi, savannah. good morning. nancy reagan was almost an equal part of her husband's political career, supportive wife and advocate. publicly, she launched a high profile effort to fight youth drug and alcohol abuse. >> reporter: for a certain generation, nancy reagan may be best remembered for these three words. >> just say no. >> reporter: her signature cause, anti-drug campaign, helped turn the first lady into a pop culture icon, appearing as

>> i'm concerned about drug abuse, especially among the young. i was very impressed by the way you spoke out. >> reporter: a message hand delivered to millions. >> if someone offers you drugs, what will you do? >> just say no! >> reporter: even celebrities joined the cause. >> what would i do if someone offered me these drugs? i'd tell them to take a hike. >> reporter: despite calls from critics who labeled it simplistic, by the end of her husband's administration, 1, 2,000 clubs had been formed worldwide. she was fiercely protective of her husband, especially after the 1981 assassination attempt that nearly took his life. >> every time he went out and talked to, you know, thousands of people, my heart stopped. >> reporter: accused of overmanaging her husband, she was a force behind the scenes, with enormous influence on who

what policies he pursued. most notably, encouraging president reagan to negotiate with the soviet union, which helped end the cold war. her advocacy never waned. >> ronnie's journey has finally taken him to a distant place, where i can no longer reach him. >> reporter: with alzheimer's disease robbing her husband's memory, mrs. reagan had a new cause. a champion of stem cell research, an effort that went for the party of reagan. >> i don't think they understand that it's not taking a life, it's trying to save countless lives. >> she did have an impact on so many lives. the reagan library says there will be an opportunity for members of the public tapeh their -- to pay their respects before the funeral services. she'll be buried on the spot she kissed her husband good-bye for

>> peter alexander, thank you. let's bring in presidential historians, doris and michael. good morning to both of you. >> good morning, matt. >> doris, i'll start with you. how was she different as a first lady? how did she evolve the role, as compared to those who came before her and even after her? >> i think more than anything, as people have been saying, that passionate love affair that she had with her husband gave him a foundation of confidence and sense of self and joy during the presidency. the presidency is hard for a lot of people. i think being with her allowed him to enjoy it, which is really important. when i read his diary, i've never seen those authentic words offered before. i miss her after six months, you know. i'm not whole without her. when she's on a trip, i want to look and see her face. this is not just words. that foundation gave him a protected harbor at the very beginning of his life, when he came from an actor to a president, and then nearing the end, when she was so

inner circle and actually making him apologize for iran-contra, which helped him out of the slump, and the hard liners for the russians. it's an extraordinary love story that became a political foundation. >> one of the top aides said, without nancy, there wouldn't have been a governor reagan, wouldn't have been a president reagan. she seemed to relish that role as image maker. keeper of the legacy. >> she did it well, but she always claimed she wasn't doing it. i would talk to her in later years, try to get her to talk about this. she'd say, no, it was all ronnie. i had very little to do with it. but i think now we'll find out a lot more. ronald reagan came from this very emotionally injured childhood. so did she. after world war ii, his film career was over. they got married. she helped him dust himself off, got him a career as a tv star. helped him to rise in politics. the same was true of her as --

at the time in the '80s shows you how much things have changed. she was criticized for being a partner and collaborator in her husband's career. i think nowadays, a spouse would be criticized for not doing so. >> doris, she once said everything she did in the first year as first lady was either misunderstood or misrepresented. expand on that. >> i think what that meant is that she wanted to redecorate the white house. she brought in a sense of glamour, beautiful gowns, spent money on china, and it was a time of recession. the timing was off. jackie kennedy did the very same thing during her era. mary lincoln was criticized for bringing redecoration to the white house during the civil war. she understood humor. there was a postcard that said, fancy nancy as a queen because she seemed regal. she went before a dinner and said, i would never wear a crown. it would mess my hair. she was able to soften that and

i think that sense of glamour that she brought since remained there, she just understood it had to be softened. >> two complete experts on the subject. michael and doris, thank you to both of you. >> welcome. let's get a check of the weather from mr. roker. >> we're talking about some warmth that is much welcomed. we are going to see these temperatures really start to soar starting today in the mid second of the country. 25 to 30 degrees above normal. atlanta, 70. washington, d.c., high of 65 degrees. tomorrow, philly, up to 71. wednesday, record highs from the ohio river valley to the northeast. new york city, 27 degrees above average. cleveland, 66. little rock, 73. green bay, a high of 53, 15 degrees above average. it continues right on into thursday. that's what's going os

florida, i am amy sweezey. another day filled with sunshine. most of us climb into the upper 70' s this afternoon, ju savannah? >> al, thank you. we talked about it a lot this morning. up next, this love story stretching across the decades, from hollywood to the white house. a look inside nancy and ronald reagan's long-lasting romance. >> ronnie is a very sentimental man, very romantic man. on my birthday, he would send flowers to my mother, thanking her for having me. we asked a group of young people when they thought they should

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freshpet a try. dexter: there's real chunks of vegetables and chicken in it. raul: and, if the food is in the fridge, you know it has to be fresh. patrick: he's a happy guy when he has his freshpet. pack back at 7:44 as we remember nancy reagan. >> she and ronald reagan shared what has been called the greatest love affair in the history of the american presidency. natalie is at the reagan presidential library in california. good morning again. >> good morning once again. we've been talking about it all morning long. nancy reagan was her husband's most loyal supporter. his fiercest protector. the romance started not far from here in hollywood 67 years ago. >> reporter: it was a real life storybook marriage that began in

>> that booth was the one ronnie and i always sat in. always. it's a booth where he proposed to me. >> reporter: from a shiny red leathermajesty of the white house, they're was a real-life love affair. >> i was the happiest girl in the world. >> reporter: they met over dinner in 1949. she was nancy davis, a contract actor for mgm. he was a leading man during the golden age of film. it was love from the very start. >> oh, he was unlike any actor i had ever met. never talked about himself. >> reporter: they were married march 4th, 1952, at the little california. and would go on to court each other for more than half a century. much of which was memorialized in love letters penned by the former president. >> ronnie is a very sentimental man, very romantic man. >> my darling, i love you very

and i don't even mind that life made me wait so long to find you. the waiting only made the finding sweeter. i love you. ronnie. >> reporter: over the years, their relationship was laced with these nuggets of love. >> 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 a year from now. all my love, your husband. >> reporter: throughout his political career, from his governorship of california to his ascension to the white house, she was always there, loving and protecting. >> i think i'm aware of people who are trying to take advantage of my husband. >> reporter: their relationship played out in front of all to see. seen in their public hand holding. her adoring stare. or a whispered prompt.

>> reporter: it sustained them in more difficult years, even as alzheimer's began to rob him of their memories. >> just four years ago, ronnie stood before you and spoke for what he said might be his last speech. at a republican convention. sadly, his words were too prophetic. >> reporter: on june 5th, 2004, she said good-bye to the love of her life, but not to the memories of the life they shared. >> i was very blessed to find him. >> reporter: it was a love that lasted a lifetime and then some. >> nancy reagan once said upon first meeting heron knee ronnie, she didn't know if it was necessarily love at first sight, but she said it was pretty close. she'll be buried next to him at the presidential library at simi valley. i think we love to see and hear

it's a romance that will endure and last beyond their lifetime. >> boy, they make you feel inadequate. we have to up our game. >> seriously. >> a text, hey, how's it going? not the same. >> natalie, thank you. coming up, nancy reagan's many and memorable appearances here on "today". we have katie couric joining us with her thoughts. mom: hm, how about...? dad: hey haley, break a leg, huh? girl: that's rude. that means you're going to do fantastic. oh! well, thank you. are you nervous, honey? a little. buena suerte, mi hija. i'm gonna rock this thing! vo: now that's the good stuff. the sonoma collection. only at kohl's. (burke) at farmers, we've seen almost everything, so we know how to cover almost anything. even a stag pool party.

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it's 8:00 on "today". coming up, remembering nancy reagan. we'll take a look back at the life and legacy of a woman who redefined the role of first lady. from her sense of style to her moments on "today". >> you have said in the past that your life began when you met ronald reagan. >> it did. everybody made fun of me, but -- >> why did they make fun of you? guess. >> we're live at the reagan presidential library in simi valley.

talk health, hollywood and her role as a singer/songwriter. you make me feel field of dreams. >> i'm sorry. tight quarters. i like your glasses. >> sally field joins us with a preview of her new coming of age film. today, monday, march 7th, 2016. come on and dance with me feel the music >> we're georgia peaches. >> all the way from pittsburgh. >> memphis in the house. >> good morning, kentucky. >> we're celebrating her 21st birthday! we're back now on this monday morning. little unusual, we're opening up inside studio 1a. we'll get out there in a little while and say hi to the nice

we have a lot of stars to get to in our next hour. we have sally field here. she always makes me smile. i don't know why. rita wilson and steve harvey are here live, as well. >> carson daly joined the table. >> always makes me smile. >> star power there. we want to begin this half hour as we've been doing, remembering the life of nancy reagan. she reshaped what it meant to be first lady. the driving force behind one of the nation's most popular presidents. let's go back to natalie at the reagan presidential library this morning. she has more on nancy reagan's life and legacy. good morning again. >> good morning once again. tributes are flooding in from all over the world honoring nancy reagan. many remembering her, of course, for her utter devotion to ronald reagan, her husband of 52 2 52 years. >> reporter: late sunday, the hearse carrying the former first lady's body left her home in los angeles. according to a spokesperson,

the ronald reagan presidential library in simi valley, california, next to her husband, ronald wilson reagan. the 94-year-old died of congestive heart failure. her daughter releasing a blog overnight. my mother died peacefully in her sleep. it's how she wanted to go. nancy reagan is being remembered this morning as a formidable first lady, who was a 5'4" towering figure behind ronald reagan. president and mrs. obama said lady. former president and laura bush called her influence on the white house complete and lasting. from both sides of the political divide, donald trump called her an amazing woman. hillary and former president clinton, an extraordinary woman. ordinary people are streaming to the reagan library with flowers and memories. >> she always seemed so kind and sweet and proper, and the way

>> reporter: beneath that sweet and proper exterior was a soul of steel. hardened following the assassination attempt against the president just 69 days into his first term, that changed everything. former reagan chief of staff james baker remembers how nancy reagan's number one priority became protecting ronnie. >> she was very, very much his protector. she could be tough. >> i began to think maybe you were playing the circus. >> you knew better. >> reporter: her role as mrs. ronald reagan began in hollywood, where the two actors met and fell in love. arnold schwarzenegger, another actor turned california governor, took time to praise the former first lady. >> she was one of the greatest first ladies. extraordinary human being. such a wonderful partner to her husband, to president reagan. >> reporter: he led the tributes

reagan served as first lady with such power, elegance and grace. she's also remembered as fondness for the twilight of her love story with this president e president. he developed alzheimer's and nancy took on her role as protector and soul mate for what she called the long good-bye. the reagan's son, ron, spoke to matt by phone. >> they had gone through a lot together. they had looked forward to, you know, what they used to refer to as their golden years, where they could sit back and reminisce and all of that. she was very saddened that their golden years would be few. >> the public will have their opportunity to come here to the presidential library and say their good-byes over the next few days. guys, back to you. >> natalie, thank you. coming up, katie couric is here. she'll join us to remember nancy reagan and her many appearances here on the show. first, tamron has the other top stories of the morning.

one day until the michigan primaries, democrats bernie sanders and hillary clinton are striking a more combative tone. in flint, michigan, the two clashed repeatedly over their records on the economy. clinton criticized her opponent for supporting a bill to protect gun makers from lawsuits. >> if that is the case, essentially, your position is there should not be any guns in america, period. >> that is like the nra's position, no. >> can i finish, please? >> although senator sanders won maine, kansas and nebraska, clinton increased her delegate lead by taking louisiana. marco rubio easily won the republican primary in puerto rico sunday but trails donald trump and ted cruz. trump picked up two more states this weekend, winning louisiana and kentucky. cruz claimed victories in kansas and maine, adding to his

trump called for rubio to drop out so him and cruz could go head to head. former president jimmy carter no longer needs cancer treatment. he told his sunday school class the drug has been successful. the 91-year-old former president announced last summer he had melanoma in his liver and brain. in december, he said the cancer was gone but kept up the treatment two more months. for the first time ever, the duke and duchess of cambridge and their two children took a vacation together as a family of four. these photos were released this morning. william, kate, prince george and princess charlotte spent time in the alps last weekend for a break on the ski slopes. no word on who got to the bottom of the mountain first. for the snowball fight, kate was the winner in the parent showdown. >> as we were saying earlier, her ski jacket has now sold out in scores stores all around the world.

family will take a good picture. >> i know, right? nancy reagan was a frequent and favorite guest of ours here on "today". full of grace and charm, whether appearing by herself or by her husband's side. >> good morning and welcome, mrs. reagan. >> reporter: she was a force in her husband's shadow. >> when it is suggested, as it often is, that you are the power behind the throne -- >> i am not the power behind the tloen throne, but i think i can say it so often and people will keep saying it. nothing i can do about it, but it's not true. >> reporter: from one of her earlier interviews on "today" in 1980, nancy reagan at her husband's side and on his side. >> an ironic marriage here, of a candidate in the background with a ston constituency you might -- >> do you know anything about his background? >> yes, indeed. >> i see you lighting up. >> oh, yes.

judgment or statement. >> reporter: the role she adopted throughout his presidency. >> i think he's been a very good president. i know that'll come as a surprise to you. >> reporter: during her time in the white house, her biggest challenge remained living under a microscope. >> i've been the first lady of california for eight years. i thought, well, surely, you know, i've seen it. it can't get any worse than this. but it did. and it does. i mean, you're really, really in a fishbowl. worse. assassination. >> i almost lost him, and people didn't know that. >> reporter: to her husband's battle with alzheimer's. >> how is your husband doing? >> well, he's doing as well as can be expected. i guess that's the only way you can put it. you know, it's a progressive disease.

>> reporter: always devoting herself to her husband's legacy, willingly. >> where do you find your strength every day? >> i don't know, katie. you just do what you have to do. >> reporter: nancy reagan was a strong political and influential figure in her own right, with a title not many of us will ever hold, first lady. >> it can be tough, can't it? >> oh, yes, it can. yes, it can. and i have great empathy for them. it's a very small little sisterhood, you know. >> reporter: the relationship between ronald and nancy reagan played out like a love story. documented by hundreds of love letters. >> ronnie wrote beautiful letters. beautiful. >> reporter: test tomt ament to a marriage that lasted 52 years. >> you have said in the past that your life began when you met ronald reagan. >> it did. everybody made fun of me, but -- >> why did they make fun of you? >> sounds kind of square, i guess.

y? >> yeah. >> i think it's sweet. >> katie joins us now, the global anchor for yahoo! news and she is nice enough to come back in the studio. >> hi, guys. >> nice to see you. >> so moving to watch those interviews. >> you interviewed her a lot of times, it seems, when she let her guard down. you got to see a soft side of her. what do you remember most? >> i think because i met nancy reagan right after jay died in 1998, a few months afterwards, when i got a tour of the reagan library and i think, as a result, she felt protective of me. she was always so caring and kind and tweet. that began a several year friendship. we'd see each other, and she'd write me notes. you know, i just think she -- people thought of her as icy and overly protective of her husband. i think she was protective of

at the risk of her own reputation. but she was really fun and nice and fun to be with. she loved to dish. she was like a girlfriend. she liked to know what was going on with everybody. she loved to gossip. >> did she even give you dating advice at one point? >> i think after jay passed away, she was interested in who i was seeing and if the person was appropriate or not. i saw her in 2011. i did an event at the reagan library. i had told her that -- a relationship had recently ended with someone who was considerably younger than i was. she said, well, dear, sometimes you have to talk. i thought that was so funny. she just gave good advice throughout our friendship, at least. >> the letters she shared with the world from ronald to her, and you shared here on this show, sometimes it was so personal and so moving, you almost felt like we shouldn't be hearing them or reading them. >> right. they were intimate.

i think one of the things i remember she told me is, you know, some people questioned ronald reagan's intelligence and his ability to really lead the country. i think this was part of ensuring his image and his legacy after he left the white house. they were so well written, so clever. i remember saying to her, only someone very intelligent could have written the letters. dear st. valentine. they were so dear and sweet, and so well done. and i told her, every husband in america -- or every wife was thinking, why doesn't my husband write me letters like this? >> i might have said that to my husband last night as we were falling asleep. >> she said it inspired people to write love letters again. >> you two? >> between us? never going to happen. >> to your respective spouses. >> she liked to dish, keep up on

to stay relative on current events. they hosted a debate last year at the reagan presidential library. >> i think the library was an important platform for her to stay engaged. at the dinner, we talked about the 2012 presidential campaign. she did tell me this incredible story of when her husband, the assassination attempt happened and he was shot and in the hospital, she was very worried about the lack of civility in washington. what was going on vees is-a-vis the political discourse. even back then. she said when o'neil went to see her husband in the hospital, he kissed him and said, i love you, then got on his knees and recited the lord's prayer. ronald reagan came close to dying. she said that president reagan and tip o'neil recited the lord's prayer together. she was just saying how unusual that was and how much affection

she was bemoaning the lack of that in this day and age. >> makes you long for it. >> even more so. >> sad events bring you back, but it's nice to see you. >> nice to be able to talk about nancy reagan. up next, we'll talk about nancy reagan's iconic sense of style. even some of the criticism she faced over her fashion we wonerere. and here. and here. here. and here. uh, here. also in here. back there. behind here. even next to these guys, here. in the nation's largest, independent study, rootmetrics just named verizon number one network for the fifth time in a row, here. so when the other guys claim they're the best, remember: there's only one, number one. and now we'll pay up to $650 to switch to the best network. this one right here. jane likes to mix things up. that' s why she loves new light & fit greek non-fat yogurt mousse.

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people choosing to share pictures. this one from nasa. the former first lady with the space shuttle. in 1982, "tv guide" putting out iconic covers. the white house posting this. rest in peace, nancy reagan. just a small sampling of the amount of love we've seen this morning on social media. >> carson, thank you very much. al, you have a check of the weather? >> that's right. we're watching this area of severe weather that'll be developing from san antonio to dallas later today. we're talking about a wide swath somewhere around the range of 16 million people at risk. damaging winds, isolated tornadoes. tomorrow, stronger risk between corpus christi to the north. we're likely going to see tornadoes and torrential downpours. upwards of 7 inches in eid astern

10 to 12 inches in amy: good morning, central florida, i am amy sweezey. another day filled with sunshine. most of us climb into the upper 70' s this afternoon, ju >> that's your latest weather. >> al, thank you. nancy reagan is being remembered for many things. one that cannot be overlooked, her keen sense of style. >> reporter: nancy reagan changed the face and the fashion of the first lady. she brought hollywood glamour to the white house. starting at president reagan's first inaugural ball, where she stunned in a beaded one shoulder white gown.

inspired first lady michelle obama. jimmy, as she calls him, would dress mrs. reagan throughout her husband's presidency. describing her style as simple and elegant. other fashion favorites of the former first lady. oscar de la renta, a name little known on pennsylvania avenue. mrs. reagan was known for high collars, feminine ruffles and bows and her signature color, reagan red. as comfortable with designers as dignitaries, every occasion was a chance for her to sport high fashion looks. her expense ive taste earned her the nickname, queen nancy, which she responded to with humor. >> that's silly because i'd never wear a crown. it messes up your hair. >> reporter: from her days as a hollywood starlet to recent public appearances, mrs. reagan's style and love of

a true american icon in the fashion world and well beyond. >> award winning journalist, editor and author tina brown is the founder and ceo of tina brown live media. she profiled the reagans several times. good to see you. >> morning. >> the style of nancy reagan is substantive. she had this reputation for being steely and crisp and a lot had to do with how she dressed. >> she set the tone immediately at the inauguration, when she wore the long jimmy gown, the white, long tube with elbow length glove. it was so elegant. immediately said, grooming, grooming, grooming. traditional but with a california twist. that's the style she brought to the white house. >> she didn't shy away from that aspect of being first lady, of presenting yourself and presenting this image to the world. >> she didn't. it also extended to her social

i feel that since nancy reagan, we have not really had an unapologetic social energy and what it can create for a presidency. she understood how to create the social iconic moments. for instance, when she -- when princess diana came to the white house, she really made that an iconic moment. what she did that evening was to actually go and tap travolta on the shoulder and say to him, at midnight, i'm going to come and say to you to go and ask princess diana to dance. she was setting up that moment like hollywood. everybody would watch it for the rest of the time. >> all this time, we thought it was a happy coincidence. >> it was not. >> it was the hand of nancy reagan. >> choreographed the whole thing. of course, they did this dance together, which everybody remembers. it became kind of a statement about optimism, glamour, hollywood, young meets old. it was just wonderful. she understood exactly what she was doing. >> you were with "vanity fair"

with the reagans one or two times. >> twice. >> what were your interactions like? >> we went the first time with harry benson, the great photographer who has done many shoots. we did it right before a state dinner for the president of argentina. we were told they'd set it up before the dinner, in their evening clothes and take a picture. we set it up. harry benson brought with him a boom box and a cassette in those days of frank sinatra singing nancy with a laughing face. he said it'd put them in a good mood. the reagans were already laughing and talking, always interacting. you could hear a joke he was telling her and her laughing. her social tinkling laugh. they come in and immediately hear the music. she says, ronnie, my favorite song. let's dance. he says, nancy, we can't keep the president of argentina waiting. it was a classic b movie. she grabbed him by his big

him, oh, ronnie, let him wait. and they danced together. we called it the reagan stop. on the cover, you see her with her leg kicked up, wearing this beaded gown and he's in a tux. she understood, again, this is going to be a moment. >> she the bigger the burrito, the bigger the fun. dunkin's new grandde burrito -- a breakfast burrito packed with big southwest flavor. go grande with veggie or sausage today.

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the bells are ringing i have to get ready to go over there. >> 8:30 now, monday, march 7th, 2016. we just aren't getting in the camera shot. i didn't know it was coming our way. good morning, everybody.

by the way, one week from today, get excited, coldplay will be here where we are standing in concert, live. >> goodness. >> you do not want to miss this one. if you are able to be here, if you're in the area, be sure to get here early. >> it's going to be tough. if you're looking for a place to stand, call the switchboard and ask for mr. daly. he can hook you up. no question. >> right, right. right by the soundboard. >> coming up, we couldn't pack more stars into the next half hour if we tried. rita wilson is here to talk about hollywood and health and we'll also hear a song from her new album. also, two-time oscar winner sally field. looking as amazing as ever and starring in a new movie. has a lot of people talking. it'll make you think, too. little performer, big talent. steve harvey opens up about his new nbc show before he co-hosts our next hour. >> fun.

questions our viewers sent? >> so exciting. by the way, a cause i was a part of over the weekend in florida, part of the miami project to cure paralysis. they marked the occasion with a star-studded event. there was a fashion show, fashions over the decades, and pitbull was there. we want to thank them for hosting us. great, great cause. check it out. before we do the weather, we want you to check out this gorgeous scene from our friends at smith mountain lake in virginia. they're marking their 50th anniversary as the jewel of the blue ridge, as the locals call it. easy to see why. celebration will last all season long. congratulations to you guys. let's check out your weather for the week ahead. we've got some mixed precipitation to the north, also in the pacific northwest, northern california, very wet. the midweek period, severe weather through the lower and

rain in the pacific northwest. latter part of the week, strong storms mid mississippi river and ohio river valleys. temperatures way above normal for the eastern 2/3 of the u.s. below normal out west. midweek, everybody is staying warm for the most part, with the exception of southern texas. pretty much the same as we end the week. that's what's going on around the amy: good morning, central florida, i am amy sweezey. another day filled with sunshine. most of us climb into the upper 70' s this afternoon, ju

think, savannah, we're beginning to see the start of the rolling spring break. >> get excited for that. the weather will be good, too. rita wilson has been entertaining the world more than 40 years. from her rolls in "run away bride" and television shows like "the good life," she also has a passion for music. her album out this friday marks her songwriting debut. it's an honest look into her world, one including surviving breast cancer after her diagnosis a year ago. good morning. >> great to be here. >> you look good. you sound good. i heard the rehearsal for your song. how do you feel? >> fantastic. what could be better? i'm living the life of a rock star. >> you are. you're like music lady now. >> it's so much fun. it's really great. i feel healthy, 100%. that's the most important thing. >> i want to talk about the new record, but i also want to mention, when you went through the breast cancer battle, one of the things you said and are

get a second opinion. trust your gut. >> it's not just getting a second opinion from another doctor, which i think is important, but in my case, i got a second opinion on my pathology pathology. the pathology had come in that it was negative. >> you want to believe that. >> just had the gut. a girlfriend of mine who had breast cancer twice suggested getting a pathology second opinion. that made all the difference. >> makes it more remarkable you were able to produce this record. you wrote the songs on it. i know you had collaborators. i read a hilarious quote from you. you said it was like musical romance and out pops a musical baby. or strip yourself bare and -- >> you meet a complete stranger, fall madly in love, make musical intercourse and give birth to a song baby. >> did you feel like you were baring your soul? >> you have to be completely exposed and you can't really go into a writing session and sort of fake it. that's one of the things i find

also, the other songwriters i'm working and collaborating with, they're like that, too. i feel humbled by the people i've been able to work with because they're extraordinarily talented. at the same time, i wouldn't want to change anything. i love doing music so much. it's been a complete blast. >> are you going to go on tour? >> i am starting march 28th. >> on a bus? >> across the country on wheels. i'll be the crazy person that pulls up to your town on a bus, let's party! >> are the hotel rooms going to be trashed? >> you won't believe the netflix and things on the carpet. >> chardonnay. now, your hubby, i know he's supportive. is he into this music thing? did you write a song about him? >> yes, i did. >> i'd like to add some notes. >> he's coming on part of the tour with me, which is going to

he's completely supportive and loves it. he likes the songs i write about him. >> now, i mentioned in the beginning that you've got your start in 1972, is that right? >> "the brady bunch." >> i believe i have a tape, if we can roll it. >> pat conway. >> ready, gang? hit it! one, two, tell me, who are you? three, four, tell me, who is going to score? the bears. five, six, who has the kicks? seven, eight, tell me, who is really great? >> look at the love marsha is giving you. >> cold shoulder, yeah. >> is it fun to look back at that? >> i love that. it's surprising how many people have seen that show. that's how i got my screen actor's card. without that, i wouldn't have

>> the rest is history. we'll hear you sing in a few moments. you'll be back to perform in a little bit. first, another talented woman. the great sally field is here. we'll talk to ms. sally field in a moment. first, this is "today" on nbc. >> just waiting here. (vo) making the most out of every mile. that's why i got a subaru impreza. love. it's what makes a subaru,

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8:39. back now with two-time oscar winner sally field. she stars in a new coming of age movie "hello my name is doris," playing the title character who develops an infatuation with a welcome. ow. sorry. >> oh, no. i'm so sorry. >> it's okay. i'm so sorry. i'm so sorry. >> no. doris, stop it. stop. >> okay. >> you did that on purpose, >> no.

>> no, no, i didn't. >> you're a liar. >> i'm not. >> okay. >> it's a good place to freeze it. sally field, good morning. how you doing? >> good, good. >> little awkward? i mean, first of all, i'll mention, it's a daydream scene. >> right. >> but you still had to shoot it. >> we did. >> with a guy who is old enough to be your son? >> yeah, one of my -- definitely. >> was it strange to shoot? >> well, you know, you sort of plow right through anything and dive? >> yeah? >> yeah, it was only a moment. i guess for one moment, because we knew what the journey was going to be, max and i, and he's so divine, i said, first of all, i apologize. in any way you have age issues because, you know -- anyway -- >> he said, no, i'm all in. >> just i'm ready for ya. i did. we were just fine.

>> yes. >> coming up age. >> it's her coming of age in her age. >> in her 60s? >> way late 60s. >> when i say she's excentric, she is borderline hoarder. >> yeah. >> the director of the movie doesn't like that term because it has a negative connotation, so she has a strong connection >> yes. that's a good way of saying it. she has a lot of borderline personality issues. she really lives in her own fantasy world. like you say, that kind of a fancy with -- the audience doesn't know that. but she lives in her own little bubble until she doesn't live in that bubble anymore. everything changes. >> but coming of age because she kind of decides at her age that, you know what? still take risks. >> well, life does these things to you where it rips everything out from under you. that's your choice in life. you either have to -- you stay permanently where you are for

move on. you move to the next chapter of your life, whatever it might be. >> are you a risk taker in real life? >> it depends. not like -- i'm not going to hang off a mountain or jump out of an airplane, but you know, moving into -- >> what's the biggest risk you ever today? >> today, doing this. >> it can't be that big a risk. >> a moment? you know what? i don't know. what is the biggest risk? i'm sure it would have had to be a marriage or something. i don't know. we won't go into that. we'll stop that right there. >> let's end on a really uplifting -- >> what is uplifting? >> what makes you happiest these days? >> wine. >> and then you take the risks wine. >> then jump out of an airplane. >> the movie is great. it's fun to have you back. i said when we were doing one of the promos about you, i said, you always make me smile. >> oh, how nice. >> still do. >> thank you.

"hello my name is doris" hits theaters on friday. up next, steve harvey introduces us to america's talented kids. first on a monday morning, this

we're back at 8:45. we have a man of many talents here, mr. steve harvey. he's already an emmy-winning talk show host, radio personality, comedian and best-selling author. now on his show "little big shots," he's on the mission to find the biggest talent in the smallest performer. >> this is so high. >> ready? are you lined up where you need to be? >> yeah. >> all right. oh! >> come on!

>> every time, he can do that? >> well, not every time, but more times than we can. i didn't get one in, and i'm an adult. >> so this is like a talent show, but not a talent competition. >> no competition. you know, everybody wins. i think it would be a mistake to pick a winner. all of these kids are really, really fantastic kids. they do incredible stuff. i thought it would be -- it was ellen's idea. she came up with the idea. >> you and ellen are the producers of the show. >> exactly. i thought, that's what it was going to be originally. i thought she wanted me to partner in a business venture. >> she's like, how about you host the show, because you don't have enough shows. >> i said, i don't have enough time. who is going to host? she said, i think you can. i said, how much? i signed. >> you're a man of principle. but you are perfect for this because you do these interviews with the kids. you talk to them.

it's so adorable. >> i really am because i love talking to kids because they're pure. >> yeah. >> see, their pr person can't prep them. so they're pure. they're just clean and it makes for a lot of fun, man. >> what are some of the acts that you saw that really impressed you? >> this kid with the basketball was amazing to me. man, they've got -- we've got kids from all around the world. >> not just american kids. >> no. there's a little boy from japan who speaks no english, and they brought an interpreter with him. we talked on the sofa, actually 25 minutes, and i never said a word to the interpreter. >> really? >> it was me and him. >> you found some common way of communicating? >> i found one japanese word that i thought i could pronounce. and i rolled it out. every time, he just leaned back, put his feet in there. he was hollering laughing. the most talented kid, man. when you see what he does, it's going to be great.

>> yeah. >> i know you endorsed hillary clinton. on your radio show, you talk politics sometimes. are you watching the campaign closely? >> real close. i love donald trump. i can't wait to hear what he'll say next because it's crazy. >> full employment for a radio show host. >> comedian. i mean, he is the total package. it's amazing. >> by the way, you and i both just found out, maybe at the same time, that you're hosting next hour. >> yeah, i just found that out. prepared. >> nor have i received a check. >> oh, my gosh. you want me to negotiate for you? >> anything. >> hey, nbc, higher. we look forward toit. it. you can catch the series premiere of "little big shots" sunday at 8:00 p.m. on nbc. coming up, a live performance from rita wilson. first, this is "today" on nbc.

the citi concert series on "today" is proudly presented by citi. >> we got to chat with her earlier. now, rita wilson is back to sing for us. >> performing "along for the

rita wilson. doesn't matter where we're going hands in the air and let the music

whoa, whoa, along for the ride bring a little sunshine, just having fun is a state of mind you know you'll go insane if you don't get a little crazy doesn't really matter where we're going half the fun is rolling oh, oh, put your hands in the air and let the music blare whoa, come along for the

oh, roll the windows down, let your hair go in the air and let the music play come along for the ride roll the windows down, let your hair blow in the air and let the music blare whoa, if you don't then we won't fly

whoa, whoa come along for the ride come along for the ride [ applause ] >> rita wilson, the album comes out friday. the tour launches later this month. >> we are back with much more of

news.and i'm jazmin walker. time now is 8:56 after winning yesterday's republican primary in puerto rico, florida senator marco rubio is beginning the most important week of his presidential campaign. he

florida today. he will hold a rally in sanford just before

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makers of zyrtec . >> it's "live! with kelly & michael." today, academy award-winner octavia spencer. max greenfield. plus, a performance from singer/songwriter nathan sykes. also, put on your dancing shoes. we're kicking off "live"'s happy dance travel trivia. all next on "live." [captioning made possible by disney-abc domestic television] >> and now, here are your emmy-award winning co-hosts, kelly ripa and michael strahan.