Our first story, funeral arrangements are being made to very dense -- Nancy Reagan next her husband at the Ronald Reagan presidential Library. She died yesterday of congestive heart failure at the age of 94. Joining me to talk about Nancy Reagan's legacy is James Ingram @Tran20. He teaches a class on the American presidency. Walk him to the program. Glad to be here. What do you think Nancy Reagan will be remembered for most during her years as first lady? I think some of her battles with Donald Reagan -- in the 1980s will be one of those things people remember. Although that is part of the negative side of her image. You asked about when we he was in office. And her just say no campaign would probably figure prominently as well. That was in some ways -- some people thought was too simplistic for the problems of drug use. Many others saw it as a common response to something that was a big problem at the time. Not near as well as now. You mentioned this just a minute ago privately, she with often thought of as the power behind the President. She did have sort of public confrontations with some of his advisers. How much truth do think there was to that -- the power behind the throne idea? I think she really was the President's strongest advocate. When some of his advisers were trying to grind their own axes and see their own agendas, she made sure the President's agenda and the issues he cared about state on the front burner. That he wasn't missed served by some of people working in his administration. She also seemed to be a lightning rod for criticism about the Reagan administration. She was criticized for using astrology to plot the course of the administration. That is also part of the headlines that with her term as First Lady. She would later explain this as she was afraid I -- of her husband's well-being regarding the assassination attempt. It consoled her to think about ways in which she could control the difficult environment the President operated in. She would later write, she wouldn't -- really didn't believe scheduling was critical to her husband's well-being. It helped her deal with it psychologically. She was also criticized -- criticized for not helping friends like rock Hudson will she was dying of a -- while he was dying of AIDS. She didn't have a very good press during the time she was in office. Some was unfair. When Jackie Kennedy with do things -- things to defend her husband's legacy, everyone would give it positive coverage. When Nancy Reagan would do it, everyone would be very critical and negative about her investing or having friends invest in for new China sets at the White House for those kinds of things. It said, the press only gave her a fair shake when she was taking care of her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. As you mentioned, she was noted for her devotion to Ronald Reagan as he suffered from Alzheimer's. Here's a clip from her speech at the convention in San Diego. Just four years ago, Ronnie stood before you and stood for what he said might be his last speech. At a Republican convention. Sadly, his words were too prophetic. Sorry. May God bless him and from both of us, God bless America. That was Nancy Reagan from her speech at the 1996 Republican convention in San Diego. She was a great protector of the Reagan legacy wasn't she? Yesterday was. It's really poignant hearing that speech. I'm reminded of the fact that her husband really had his national breakout in politics by speaking at the 1964 Republican national convention. The fact that she had to speak for him because two years earlier he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and was symbolic of the way she would try to protect her husband's interest when he was unable to do so. Did she set a new standard of any kind for first ladies who followed her? One of the things she will be remembered for is the way in which he opposed the George Bish Junior administration blocking stem cell research. And spoke out about how Alzheimer's by be addressed if they were able to use stem cell research. Must first ladies are only remembered for the things they do while they are in the White House. She actually made a powerful statement years after having left. I have been speaking with James Ingram . A Political science lecturer, San Diego State University
President Barack Obama said he once had the opportunity to meet with former first lady Nancy Reagan, and she could not have been more charming and gracious to him and Michelle Obama when he came into office.
The president spoke about the former first lady on Monday after meeting with financial regulators and advisers. Earlier in the day, he had ordered flags on federal buildings to be flown at half-staff in her memory.
Obama said it's well documented the extraordinary love that she had for former President Ronald Reagan and the comfort and strength she provided him in hard times.
Obama said he has been lucky to have an extraordinary partner in his life as well. He knows how much she meant to the president and country as a whole.
"He was lucky to have her, and I'm sure he would be the first to acknowledge that, so she will be missed," Obama said.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest, asked whether Obama would attend the funeral, said officials were waiting until funeral arrangements for the former first lady are settled before determining who will represent the White House at the service.
Mrs. Reagan died Sunday at the age of 94.
