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American Morning
50th Wedding Anniversary of Nancy and Ronald Reagan
Aired March 04, 2002 - 07:40 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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for a special presidential portrait. Today marks the 50th wedding anniversary of Nancy and Ronald Reagan. This morning, we're taking a look back at some special moments they shared in the White House. The former president just turned 91 and, as you probably know, suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. While the occasion for Nancy will be a bittersweet one, they still remain inseparable after all of these years -- unusual both in Hollywood and in Washington.
Former Reagan White House photographer Pete Souza joins us now from Washington to share some memories of the former first couple. Pete, nice to have you with us. Good morning.
PETE SOUZA, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER: Thanks for having me.
CAFFERTY: Before we glance at the pictures, just a quick line. Was the relationship that you were privy to -- being able to witness the Reagans in their private lives -- the same as the public image, which was of a couple extremely devoted and very much in love?
SOUZA: Oh, yes. It was very much a genuine love affair.
CAFFERTY: It was the real deal?
SOUZA: It was the real deal, yeah.
CAFFERTY: All right. Let's take a look at some of the pictures you've taken over the years, beginning in 1983. A meeting at the ranch out in California, they were at the helipad. She had come in the day earlier, he just got off, they both had their arms outstretched. They had probably only been apart for a day or so, right?
SOUZA: That's correct.
CAFFERTY: Now what -- what about this one? Tell me about -- who's in the Santa suit?
SOUZA: That's President Reagan in the Santa suit, and this is at some friends' house, the Wicks (ph). This is at Camp David after a horseback ride.
CAFFERTY: OK. We missed the one I guess in their hometown of Dixon, Illinois. Now what -- here's a -- this is a touching shot, what's this one?
SOUZA: This was after Mrs. Reagan had had breast cancer surgery. And president Reagan had come over in the afternoon to visit her in the hospital in Bethesda.
CAFFERTY: Now how would you -- how would you take a picture like this? How -- what were the ground rules for shooting a shot like that one in terms of, you know, how much time you had, were the -- you know, tell me a little bit about what it was like.
SOUZA: Well I guess you just kind of learn to -- when it was time to leave. I mean I had a good relationship with both of the Reagans. They understood I was there to document to history and they accepted my presence. You know, in that hospital room, I didn't spend much time with them. I let them have some private time to themselves.
CAFFERTY: All right. Let's take a look at some other shots that you recorded over the years that you were working. Now what's this one?
SOUZA: Well I like this just because it shows the playfulness that took place between the Reagans. Here she is with Elizabeth Taylor in tow tugging on the back of his suit coat trying to get his attention.
CAFFERTY: Was this at one of the inaugural balls? Is that where they took this or...
SOUZA: This was -- that earlier picture was from January 20, 1985.
CAFFERTY: OK.
SOUZA: This was the following day, the public ceremony, which was moved indoors. She had forgotten to introduce her husband and they both realized it at the same time. And then she went back to the microphone and said, "I forgot to introduce my roommate."
CAFFERTY: OK. Now moving on to another picture from January 21, 1985. I think this was at the inaugural ball for the second inauguration. What's going on here?
SOUZA: This was at one of the inaugural balls. I think there were nine that night. And he's kind of leaning over asking her to dance (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CAFFERTY: I mean, it looks like a scene out of one of his movies, you know...
SOUZA: Yes.
CAFFETY: ... the formality of asking his wife to dance with him. That's very touching. The next picture I think was in the oval office. The two of them standing behind the desk in the oval office. No, that's not the -- the other picture. This is the limousine. Where was this? (CROSS TALK)
SOUZA: This was in Dixon, Illinois on February 6, 1984, a birthday celebration in his hometown. This is the one in the oval office, the two of them alone. Just a kind of a touching scene. Just -- you know, just look at that eye contact back and forth. The way she's touching his (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CAFFERTY: Oh, I know. There's absolute devotion there. Are you married, Pete?
SOUZA: I am not married. No, I am not.
CAFFERTY: I just -- I wonder what the secret is to a marriage like this. And I was reading in one of the newspaper accounts of their anniversary that -- I think she was saying it's always much more than 50-50. Somebody is always giving more than 50 percent And that over the years they have both had to give much more than half in order to sustain this thing. But, obviously, it's worked. What's this picture of here?
SOUZA: And this would have been 15 years ago today and their wedding anniversary. And you can see she's laid out, I don't know, five or six cards -- Hallmark cards -- for the occasion, as they had a luncheon in the private study off the oval office. I mean, I saw this a lot, where they would exchange cards and notes and little things like that. Very genuine...
CAFFERTY: He used to write her a letter on their anniversary every year too...
SOUZA: Yes.
CAFFERTY: ... that she would look forward to receiving, right?
SOUZA: And I read that she was very disappointed, of course, that she won't be receiving that letter this year.
CAFFERTY: Yeah. Well, Pete, it's a fascinating bit of access that you had to arguably one of the most charismatic and popular couples ever to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I thank you for sharing some of your memories with us on AMERICAN MORNING this morning.
SOUZA: Well thanks again for having me.
CAFFERTY: All right. Pete Souza, former White House photographer -- Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: So, Jack, I don't want to completely expose your personal life here, but you've been married -- happily married -- for many, many years. Is it the 60-40 equation or is it as simple as happy wife, happy life?
CAFFERTY: No, I think it's much more than that. And, yes, sometimes it is -- you've got to give a little more than you get. But that goes back and forth, the pendulum. You know that, you're married.
ZAHN: Absolutely.
CAFFERTY: Right? Sometimes you've got to be the giver and sometimes when you can't do that then the other side takes over and does the giving. You know -- I mean, I've been married twice. The first time I had no idea how to do it. And I think -- you know, sometimes you go through one just to learn the rules and then the second time maybe you get it right.
ZAHN: Well you lucked out the second time.
CAFFERTY: Yeah, I did.
ZAHN: All right. Thanks, Jack.
CAFFERTY: All right.
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