Nancy Reagan Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Widowhood === Following her husband's death, Reagan remained active in politics, particularly relating to [[stem cell]] research. Beginning in 2004, she favored what many consider to be the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party's]] position, and urged President George W. Bush to support federally funded embryonic stem cell research, in the hope that this science could lead to a cure for Alzheimer's disease.<ref>{{cite journal | first = Erika |last=Check | title = Bush pressured as Nancy Reagan pleads for stem-cell research | journal = Nature | year = 2004 | volume = 429 | page = 116| doi = 10.1038/429116a | pmid = 15141173 | issue = 6988| bibcode = 2004Natur.429..116C | doi-access = free }}</ref> Although she failed to change the president's position, she did support his campaign for a second term.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-08-03-nancy-reagan-bush_x.htm|title= Former first lady Nancy Reagan supports Bush's re-election|access-date=October 17, 2007 |newspaper=[[USA Today]]| date = August 4, 2004}}</ref> [[File:President Bush, Laura Bush and Nancy Reagan.jpg|thumb|Reagan dedicates the Air Force One Pavilion at the Reagan Library as President Bush and his wife Laura look on, October 2005]] In 2005, Reagan was honored at a gala dinner at the [[Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center|Ronald Reagan Building]] in Washington, D.C., where guests included [[Dick Cheney]], [[Harry Reid]], and [[Condoleezza Rice]].<ref name="dinner-wapo">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/12/AR2005051200490_pf.html|title=Just Say Yes: Nancy Reagan Welcomed Back at Tribute|date=May 12, 2005|access-date=May 17, 2008|newspaper=The Washington Post|author=Roberts, Roxanne}}</ref> In 2007, she attended the [[Death and state funeral of Gerald Ford|national funeral service for Gerald Ford]] in the [[Washington National Cathedral]]. Reagan hosted [[Republican Party presidential debates and forums, 2008|two 2008 Republican presidential debates]] at the Reagan Presidential Library, the first in May 2007 and the second in January 2008.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 4, 2007|author=Nagourney, Adam|author2=Santora, Marc |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/us/politics/04repubs.html|title= '08 Republicans Differ on Defining Party's Future|work= The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/30/romney-mccain-out-of-step-with-conservative-mainstream/|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=January 30, 2008|access-date=February 1, 2008|title=Romney Blasts McCain over Iraq War Charge|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080201084303/http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/30/romney-mccain-out-of-step-with-conservative-mainstream/ |archive-date = February 1, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/one-word-reagan/ | title=One Word: Reagan | author=Phillips, Kate | work=The New York Times | date=January 31, 2008 | access-date=February 9, 2008}}</ref> On March 25, she formally endorsed Senator [[John McCain]], then the presumptive Republican party nominee for president, but McCain would go on to lose the election to Barack Obama.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03/25/nancy-reagan-to-endorse-mccain/|title=Nancy Reagan gives McCain seal of approval|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=March 25, 2008|access-date=March 25, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080330060245/http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03/25/nancy-reagan-to-endorse-mccain/ |archive-date = March 30, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reagan attended the funeral of [[Lady Bird Johnson]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], Texas, on July 14, 2007,<ref name="Reagan Library Debate">{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18466314|title=Republicans walk tightrope over war in Iraq|access-date= May 3, 2007|first= Alex |last=Johnson|publisher= NBC News | date = May 4, 2007}}</ref> and three days later accepted the highest Polish distinction, the [[Order of the White Eagle (Poland)|Order of the White Eagle]], on behalf of Ronald Reagan at the Reagan Library. The Reagan Library opened the temporary exhibit "Nancy Reagan: A First Lady's Style", which displayed over eighty designer dresses belonging to her.<ref>{{cite news |first= Monica|last= Corcoran|title= The Nancy Years|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/nov/11/image/ig-reaganstyle11|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 8, 2007|access-date=January 20, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Anna |last=Bakalis |title=Style exhibit chronicles Nancy Reagan's life |url=http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/nov/09/nancy-reagan-a-first-ladys-style-at-reagan-her/ |work=The Ventura County Star |date=November 9, 2007 |access-date=January 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305190145/http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/nov/09/nancy-reagan-a-first-ladys-style-at-reagan-her/ |archive-date=March 5, 2009 }}</ref> [[File:2007 07 15 do 18 kaczynski USA 28.jpg|thumb|left|Reagan accepts the [[Order of the White Eagle (Poland)|Order of the White Eagle]] from Polish President [[Lech Kaczyński]] on behalf of Ronald Reagan, July 15, 2007]] Reagan's health and well-being became a prominent concern in 2008. In February, she suffered a fall at her Bel Air home and was taken to [[Saint John's Health Center]] in [[Santa Monica, California]]. Doctors reported that she did not break her hip as feared, and she was released from the hospital two days later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23241883|title=Nancy Reagan Released From Hospital|date=February 19, 2008|access-date=February 19, 2008|publisher=NBC News}}</ref> News commentators noted that Reagan's step had slowed significantly, as the following month she walked in very slow strides with John McCain.<ref name="msnbc fall">{{cite video |people= Williams, Brian (interviewee)|date=October 15, 2008|title=Nancy Reagan suffers broken pelvis|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540|medium=Television production|publisher=NBC News|access-date=December 5, 2008}}</ref> In October 2008, Reagan was admitted to [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center]] after falling at home. Doctors determined that the 87-year-old had fractured her [[human pelvis|pelvis]] and [[sacrum]], and could recuperate at home with a regimen of [[physical therapy]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE49G7S420081017 | work=Reuters | title=Former first lady Nancy Reagan out of hospital | first=Dan | last=Whitcomb | date=October 17, 2008 | access-date=May 14, 2009}}</ref> As a result of her mishap, medical articles were published containing information on how to prevent falls.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/126942.php|title=Physical Therapy Will Play Key Role In Nancy Reagan's Recovery From Recent Fall|access-date=December 6, 2008|newspaper=News Today|date=October 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205201315/http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/126942.php|archive-date=December 5, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 2009, Reagan was said to be "improving every day and starting to get out more and more".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.etonline.com/news/69715_Nancy_Reagan_Health_Update_She_s_Improving_Every_Day/index.html |title=Nancy Reagan Health Update: 'Shes Improving Every Day' |access-date=January 20, 2009 |date=January 15, 2009 |publisher=Entertainment Tonight |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604043010/http://www.etonline.com/news/69715_Nancy_Reagan_Health_Update_She_s_Improving_Every_Day/index.html |archive-date=June 4, 2013 }}</ref> [[File:Nancy Reagan with Michelle Obama cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|Reagan with First Lady [[Michelle Obama]] at a White House luncheon, June 3, 2009]] In March 2009, she praised President [[Barack Obama]] for reversing the ban on federally funded embryonic stem cell research.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19787.html | title=Nancy Reagan praises Obama | first=Craig | last=Gordon | publisher=The Politico | date=March 9, 2009 | access-date=May 14, 2009}}</ref> She traveled to Washington, D.C. in June 2009 to unveil a statue of her late husband in the [[United States Capitol rotunda|Capitol rotunda]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-reagan-statue4-2009jun04,0,2615911.story|title=Reagan returns to Washington, D.C., in bronze|access-date=June 3, 2009|date=June 4, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Simon, Richard}}</ref> She was also on hand as President Obama signed the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act, and lunched privately with Michelle Obama.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/nancy-reagan-and-obama-kiss-and-make-up/?hp|title=Nancy Reagan and Obama Kiss and Make Up|access-date=June 3, 2009|date=June 2, 2009|author=Cooper, Helene|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Reagan revealed in an interview with ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' that Michelle Obama had telephoned her for advice on living and entertaining in the White House.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2009/06/nancy-reagan-speaks-out-about-obamas-the-bushes-and-her-husband.html |title=Nancy Reagan Speaks Out About Obamas, the Bushes, and Her Husband |access-date=June 3, 2009 |date=June 1, 2009 |magazine=Vanity Fair |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603055749/http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2009/06/nancy-reagan-speaks-out-about-obamas-the-bushes-and-her-husband.html |archive-date=June 3, 2009 }}</ref> Following the death of Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] in August 2009, she said she was "terribly saddened ... Given our political differences, people are sometimes surprised how close Ronnie and I have been to the Kennedy family ... I will miss him."<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://thepage.time.com/nancy-reagan-statement-on-ted-kennedys-death/|title=Nancy Reagan Statement on Ted Kennedy's Death|date=August 26, 2009|access-date=March 23, 2010|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> She attended the funeral of [[Betty Ford]] in [[Rancho Mirage, California]], on July 12, 2011.<ref>{{cite news| date = July 14, 2011 | title= After Funeral Service, Betty Ford Buried Next to Husband| publisher= [[NBC News]] | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43755302| access-date =December 20, 2013}}</ref> Reagan hosted a [[2012 Republican Party presidential debates and forums|2012 Republican presidential debate]] at the Reagan Presidential Library on September 7, 2011.<ref name=endorse>{{cite news|title=Nancy Reagan endorses Romney's bid for president|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-05-31/nancy-reagan-mitt-romney/55319818/1|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=May 31, 2012|access-date=December 20, 2013|archive-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116171152/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-05-31/nancy-reagan-mitt-romney/55319818/1|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=GOP debate at the Ronald Reagan presidential library|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-debate-at-the-ronald-reagan-presidential-library/2011/09/07/gIQAmBJQAK_gallery.html#photo=1|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 7, 2011|access-date=December 20, 2013}}</ref> She suffered a fall in March 2012.<ref name=fall /> Two months later, she endured several broken ribs, which prevented her from attending a speech given by [[Paul Ryan]] in the Reagan Presidential Library in May 2012.<ref name=fall>{{cite news|title=Nancy Reagan still recovering from fall|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/23/politics/nancy-reagan-fall/|publisher=CNN|date=May 23, 2012|access-date=December 20, 2013}}</ref> She endorsed Republican presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]] on May 31, 2012, explaining that her husband would have liked Romney's business background and what she called "strong principles".<ref name=endorse /> Following [[Death and funeral of Margaret Thatcher|the death]] of former British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] in April 2013, she stated, "The world has lost a true champion of freedom and democracy ... Ronnie and I knew her as a dear and trusted friend, and I will miss her."<ref>{{cite news|title=Nancy Reagan: 'Ronnie and Margaret were political soul mates'|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/08/nancy-reagan-ronnie-and-margaret-were-political-soul-mates/|publisher=CNN|date=April 8, 2013|access-date=December 20, 2013|archive-date=May 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503014936/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/08/nancy-reagan-ronnie-and-margaret-were-political-soul-mates/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! 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