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CNN Live Saturday

Maureen Reagan's Memorial Service

Aired August 18, 2001 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with a farewell to Maureen Reagan, daughter of former President Ronald Reagan. Hundreds of people from the political and entertainment world attended her funeral today in California. They shared laughter and tears for the woman who was called a gift of God.

Our Frank Buckley is outside the Sacramento church where the services are getting more toward the end now. Frank?

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donna, right now inside -- we can take you inside to show you that the funeral mass portion of this day is underway right now here at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. This, a funeral mass for Maureen Reagan, the first daughter of former President Ronald Reagan.

Earlier there was a memorial service, some 1,000 people in attendance here. Some members of the public on hand, but as you mentioned, also many people from the worlds of politics and show business. Nancy Reagan, her stepmother, the former first lady, among those here. Jane Wyman, her biological mother, also here. Other people speaking on her behalf in a very moving tribute to Maureen Reagan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID HYDE PIERCE, ACTOR: Took care of people. Took in the sense of taking charge, taking control, taking the reigns. When she was given lemons in life, she did not make lemonade. She took the lemons and threw them back and said, oh-no you don't.

CHRISTIE WHITMAN, EPA ADMINISTRATOR: All of us who knew Maureen loved her. And I must say, America is a poorer and a duller place today because of her passing.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Maureen had many good causes, and she gave good service to them all. That is a testament to her generous heart, to her great capacity for love.

She possessed much of her father's extraordinary ability to communicate her beliefs and abiding passions. And she was in President Reagan's own words: fearless, energetic and surprising.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BUCKLEY: And a special moment here today, the pallbearers who brought the casket into the cathedral, all secret service agents and former secret service agents who had once been detailed to Maureen Reagan in her public life.

Many people here also suggesting that her secret service handle, Radiant, was a very appropriate one for her. Donna.

KELLEY: Frank, it was an absolutely packed service, as you mentioned, and a lot of dignitaries and actors coming in. A lot of them talked about a lot of the causes that she was involved with, and the passion that she brought to them.

BUCKLEY: Yes, that's what came up over and over again. We saw the public face of Maureen Reagan as the first daughter, but she was very politically involved in a number of causes early on. We saw in recent years the Alzheimer's Association, trying to help to raise awareness and also raise money for the fight against Alzheimer's disease. She was also involved in raising awareness of melanoma.

Earlier, much earlier, she called herself a women's liberationist, a position that she reached while she was actually on the air during a radio take show host phase of her life. And she was very active, and Christie Whitman describing her today as a pioneer for political woman. Donna.

KELLEY: Frank Buckley outside the services there in Sacramento, California. Thank you.

You can read more about the life of Maureen Reagan on our web site. There's also a message board where you can share your thoughts. That's at CNN.com, and AOL keyword is CNN.

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