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CNN Saturday Morning News

Memorial Service for Maureen Reagan Gets Under Way

Aired August 18, 2001 - 09:08   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: The funeral for Maureen Reagan will be held a few hours from now in Sacramento, California. She died earlier this month of complications from skin cancer.

CNN national correspondent Frank Buckley is in Sacramento. It is still very early this morning, and he joins us with more.

Good morning to you, Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Marty.

Maureen Reagan was the daughter of former president Ronald Reagan and the actress Jane Wyman, but she was very much a public figure in her own right, really, from the moment of her birth, which was chronicled by the movie studios for publicity purposes, trying to generate publicity for the famous actor-actress couple.

She herself was an actress for a while. She was also politically active from an early stage. She liked to say that she was Republican before President Reagan was. And she stayed in the public eye later in life at the disclosure that her father, the former president, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Ms. Reagan fought to raise awareness and money for Alzheimer's research.

Yesterday I had a chance to ask her brother, Michael Reagan, how he hoped she would be remembered. Reagan talked about her generosity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL REAGAN, SON OF RONALD REAGAN: I remember when I was having trouble many, many years ago, she calls me for lunch. And we get together in Beverly Hills for lunch. And she says, "How are things?" I said, "Things are OK." And she says, "Here." And she hands me $1,000. She says, "Don't pay me back. Don't pay me back. This is for you." Because she knew I was having some financial problems.

She was just -- she'd give everything away to help other people. And I think that's what I would like to see her be remembered for more than anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: Michael Reagan will be speaking at the memorial service and possibly at the funeral mass that follows directly afterwards.

Also appearing or speaking at some point during either the memorial service or the funeral mass will be the actor David Hyde Pierce, who is also involved in the effort to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's research. He will be among those who speak today, along with actress Shelly Fabares, who is also involved in that effort, her mother succumbing to Alzheimer's disease in 1992.

Nancy Reagan will be escorted into the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament by long-time family friend Merv Griffin. Also appearing today, Senator John McCain and EPA administrator Christie Whitman -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Frank Buckley, thank you very much.

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