Obama Apologizes To Nancy Reagan For Joke About Seances

UPDATE: AL BROOKS: LIGHTEN UP AMERICA

WASHINGTON — President-elect Obama called Nancy Reagan on Friday to apologize for joking that she held seances in the White House.

At a news conference in Chicago, Obama said he had spoken with all the living presidents as he prepares to take office in January. Then he smiled and said, "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances."

The 87-year-old former first lady had consulted with astrologers during her husband's presidency. But she did not hold conversations with the dead.

Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect later called Mrs. Reagan "to apologize for the careless and offhanded remark." She said Obama "expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share, and they had a warm conversation."

It actually wasn't Nancy Reagan who was linked to conversations with the dead; it was Obama's top Democratic challenger for the presidency, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

In either case, use of the word "seance" might be overstated.

Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer to help set her husband's schedule, wrote former White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan. The revelation created a furor and President Reagan even broke with his policy of not commenting on books by former White House staffers.

"No policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology," Reagan said.

In his book "The Choice," Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward described how Clinton consulted with a spiritual adviser who led her through imaginary conversations with her personal hero, Eleanor Roosevelt. Newsweek magazine, which was promoting the book, characterized the visits as "seances," a term that White House officials quickly tried to squelch.

"These were people who were helping her laugh, helping her think," said Neel Lattimore, Clinton's spokeswoman. "These were not seances."

Comments

[FarOutFish]

Has anybody noticed the links to the 10 reasons for Palin and the 10 reasons for Obama are virtually identical, The Palin link has been denounced as spam and a virus, but the Obama link has not. MODERATOR Please resolve this.

[Lagniappe]

Speaking of speaking to deceased persons,this may be off topic, but what is the status on the funeral for Obama's grandmother who passed away the day BEFORE the election in Hawaii? I haven't seen or heard a word about if the services were held or not.Anyone?

[roshni]

i hope it's completely private so that the media and the republican haters don't use it to further annoy him. He deserves the right to grieve in peace.

[jrlaco]

As a conservative, I will say that I think Obama has been hitting all of the right notes thus far. He has shown no tendency to talk about the "failed policies of the last 8 years", rather he seems committed to rolling up his sleeves and trying to get things done.

His reaching out to NR was the right move as well. As someone who frequently speaks in front of sizable groups, I know the feeling of cringing as a words or a phrase escapes your lips and you immediately regret it.

On a scale of 1-10 of transgressions, it was about a 0.5, but I admire the speed with which he sought out Mrs. Reagan.

The fact remains, however, that we don't know where he intends to go in the immediate, and long term. But I am one who is fully on board until I see reason not to be...nothing so far!

[kokuaguy]

The most annoying thing about the press conference was that it started so late and was so short. I planned my morning around the start time (9:20 am here in Hawaii.) So, I was already unhappy with the pres,-elect by the time the thing started. Obama and his team should have known that it the whole country was waiting, and it was going to be the country's first impression of Barak Obama as "president."
I agree with those who point out that it's been an exhausting campaign and he's been forced to hit the ground running while his family is still grieving his grandmother's loss. I was not worried about Nancy Reagan's reaction to the remark, but it was really uncalled for, and frankly, so juvenile and petty, that I was shaking my head and I was feeling bad for him and all of us who supported him. HOWEVER, the news of the apology made everything OK, and in fact it must have been a great lesson for him. Also, the country's reaction to his apology has been great. Imagine ... a president who not only realizes that he can make dumb mistakes, but who understands that a quick and sincere apology can be the most powerful act of a loving person. It's been a learning experience for all of us, I think.

[08timefortruth]

For pete's sakes, the man is human, has a sense of humor, and was not trying to be insulting. Why is this such a big deal....petty and juvenile? come on now how petty are those who take offense at a joke that was not in any way a personal attack on Mrs. Reagan.

[adl]

Although I can't speak for kokuaguy, I suspect that a lot of the people who want to jump on Obama for every little perceived transgression are people who aren't in a position in life to have their own words and actions scrutinized to such a degree. If they were, and I am (although not nearly to the degree that Obama is), they would understand that you can't say so many words in front of so many people so many times and not slip up once in awhile. We should measure people by the totality of who they are and what they do, not overscrutinize every little thing they say. Like you said, the man's human and he's doing amazingly better than the people criticizing him could ever do.

I wasn't crazy about the comment, not because it offended me but because I knew people would jump all over it. But I also didn't think about it for long, because in the overall scheme of things it really doesn't matter. When I weigh that one comment against all I've seen of this man, it becomes less than insignificant.

[kokuaguy]

No, it was not an "attack", but it was misleading (there were no seances -- and the astrology thing was blown out of proportion.) It was unnecessary and uncalled for and a mistake. The first ever news conference of the potus elect is not a time for such potentially hurtful and offensive "jokes." Thankfully he's a far more mature and insightful person than you, 08tot. He knew the right thing to do was issue a speedy apology. Google power + apology and perhaps you'll begin to understand.

[Takae]

Your response has made me realize how high expectations there are for Obama and his people.

You must agree that he's made it very clear that he's not and never will be "perfect". He's also made clear that there WILL be mistakes during his presidency and has vowed to correct and learn from them.

Such high expectations... wow. I almost feel sorry for Obama and his people. I think every move they make will be hotly disputed from now to whenever.

Going off the track a bit, I think some people are watching him closely because he's "different", so when he makes a mistake or a bad judgment call, they will quickly assume it's *because* he's "different", thus they won't - or for some, shouldn't - "trust" another "different" person again.

Good luck, Obama, on surviving these minefields. :/

[druidlady42]

Obama is innately so courtly that he apologizes almost to a fault! How I wish the press and everyone else could quit being so hypersensitive and allow our new President to just be a normal human being who likes to joke a bit every now and then!

I'm STILL waiting for Bush, Cheney, and the GOP to apologize for FAR WORSE OFFENSES against the American people ("Where ARE those WMD's?") during the past eight years, and for leaving this country in a total MESS as he skips off, scot-free, to a posh retirement himself!

[dphilip]

AAHhh! .... I just love the smell of the "new political tone" in the morning..hahah

[salsmom]

Amen! And we were always told that we were the party of political correctness. I actually laughed when Obama said he talked to the living presidents - my mind immediately went to a comparable statement that he made - he was attempting to laugh at himself for that comment.

[frappe]

I could tell when he made the remark that he immediately felt a bit awkward about it. I guess once he had used the word "living" when describing the presidents that he had talked to since the election, he tried to make some sense of it somehow through humor. Given Barack Obama's deferential style, I'm sure that he didn't mean any harm by it. Regardless, I'm glad that he called her to apologize.

[sherwoodforest]

This is so exciting to have a president who will speak and think at the same time! I personally love the image of a seance to speak to dead presidents, Nancy Reagan aside. It is a funny image. You have to put stuff in context of a dumb question from a reporter- "have you spoken to ANY ex- presidents" will get Obama to make a funny/literal reply. Why? because he is thinking! Meanwhile, he apologized once he realized it might have been hurtful- but he didn't call her a terrorist or anything. It was just fun- and I for one thought it was funny.
Her son supported Obama, maybe she did too.

[roshni]

I don't know about seances, but I'm sure Obama and JFK would have a lot to talk about.

[CaptainZero1969]

But...it was true.

[mcpalin]

Not exactly. She supposedly consulted an astrologer, and I think she's publicly denied it. Mary Todd LIncoln was the one who actually had seances in the White House. He mixed up his First Ladies.

[kokuaguy]

Well, in defense of Mrs. Lincoln, she did lost a child while in the White House, and if I'm not mistaken it was not the first time she and her husband had suffered such a loss.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

Ronald Reagan wrote about how Nancy consulted an astrologer in his 1988 memoirs. She made him set his schedule by Astrology, although policy was not influenced by it. Joan Quigley is well-known as the official White House Astrologer during this time.

[nevadagirl]

It was documented in her daughter's book that she FREQUENTLY consulted Jeanne Dixon to plan events, including the exact time of Ronnie's inaugeration as governer of CA.

[wanderingsalmon]

I would have loved to hear that conversation. The fact that she did not endorse McCain in this election is a glaring endorsement for Obama by omission. I kind of cringed when I heard him say that, but the true test of a man is how he handles his missteps, and Obama is obviously a man of class.

[mcpalin]

She did endorse him, although in a way that made her fundamental lack of enthusiasm apparent, that she was only doing it because, as she pointed out, she and Ronnie always endorsed the Republican nominee. She and Ronald Reagan were extremely angry with him about the way he divorced his first wife, basically blindsiding her after having an affair with Wife No. 2 for nine months or so during the marriage, and apparently didn't speak to him for years. I don't believe they ever forgave him for it, they were very close with the wife.

[BPascal]

Contrary to popular belief, Mr. Obama is not perfect. He makes mistakes. Notwithstanding the tribute albums, celebrity fawning, cult of personality thing, we all must remember that he is a politician. Politicians are what they are. I am glad he apologized for his remarks. I thought the remarks showed a certain lack of class and a lack respect for Mrs. Reagan and the office of the Presidency.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

I think that the current Republicans lack of respect for those who do not adhere to their version of Evangelical Christianity shows a lack of respect for good Americans like Mrs. Reagan and their hero, Ronald Reagan.

It must burn Nancy up that Sarah Palin invokes Ronald's name at every speech and yet would condemn her belief in Astrology as being against God & Un.. American. That is a true lack of class and respect.

[Moosekilla]

Are we going to make a Mountain out of everything this man does...Gosh. What have we become as a society. Like no one has a life except to critique and judge others. Cmon guys...

[dphilip]

I just love to witness the hypocrisy of the left..."are we going to make a molehill out of everything this man does?" Well, we just came through a period of 8 years where the left took advantage of every opportunity to undermine George Bush with no regard for what impact it had on our nation.
Your behavior of the last 8 years have left you very vulnerable in certain areas.
It will be entertaining to watch the media do a 180 on all the issues now that "the right person" is president...

[mcpalin]

Actually, to me, he made the remark, its fair game, even if it is fairly trivial and wasn't meant to offend.

But as for your assertion that the left took every opportunity to undermine George W. Bush, yeah, right. Certain elements of the "left" colluded with him, or perhaps I should say, collaborated, or acquiesced for YEARS on the Iraq War, it was only as it was bungled and bungled worse and worse that they started to oppose him. The supposed leftist media ENABLED the Bush administration for years, they dropped the ball before the Iraq War started, they fundamentally failed the American public, they were cowards, and they ought to be pilloried for that. Dubya didn't go through anything like the vigorous working over that the British press gives their prime ministers, regardless of party, he still hasn't been exposed to the kind of rigorous press treatment he deserves, so he should consider himself lucky.

George W. Bush is the author, publicist and promoter in chief of all his own problems and woes, the left and the media merely pointed it out, way too late and way too politely.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

On the contrary, Bush was given a totally free pass until about 2005/2006 when KO started his show and started questioning the MSM who toed the line to not make Shrub look bad during a war.

Where are those WMD's anyway?

[adl]

The Iraq War, deregulation leading to a financial crisis, Plamegate, etc, etc, etc, versus a little remark about a former first lady? NO COMPARISON.

[Scott1560]

The mountain was already made by both Obama's $$$campaign$$$ and the media. You get placed that high up, have incredible, almost paranormal expectations to be held to and, of course, every word & gesture wil be watched & judged. He knew what he was getting into and so did his supporters. You know what they say about having cake and.............

[adl]

He didn't place himself that high, we did, and what Moosekilla wrote deserves consideration, not dismissal. We want real people to run our government yet we beat them up when they do what real people do, make mistakes. It's OUR fault that we get politicians that show us only what we want to see. Someone who didn't play that game would never get elected.

[larmarch5]

Yes, that is what happens where there is great interest in what a person says and does. It's fair to talk about it. May God bless us with the good humor to be able to "fess up", laugh at ourselves, and forge ahead without fear, knowing we all "put our foot in it" once in a while. That's how you keep the molehills from becoming mountains. No defence needed here.

[youinmississippinowboy]

Obama will be a great president. So what if he miss-spoke once. Palin did it every day.

[mazees]

And she didn't apologize. Even once.

[DFL]

HE WAS SMART, HE TOOK AWAY THE CHANCE FOR NEO CONS LIKE RUSH TO HAMMER HIM FOR THAT MISTAKE.

[youinmississippinowboy]

[randyschaeffer]

I am a 100 percent Obama supporter -- but it was a hurtful and unnecessary thing to say.

[forthepeople1]

I am 200% OBAMA supporter, and I say it doesn't matter. He said it. He apologized. It's done.
The man just lost his grandmother, and has to bury her today. He has everybody who is anybody in his ear. This was his first address as President -Elect. WHO GIVES A FREAK? Move ON!

[xmw]

but he was humble enough to realize it.

[HoldenLitgo]

Hurtful? I think you assume too much. Unless, of course, you have an insight into Mrs. Reagan's world that few have. What he said was actually refreshing after months of idiotic sensitivity and moronic reframing of context to suit partisan purposes. If you're old enough to remember, Reagan's visits with astronomers and others had the world aghast and in stitches and her PR firm reeling. If nothing else, it was an excuse for Obama to have what is reported as being a "warm" conversation with the former first lady. Let's keep perspective on what humor is and how wonderful it will be to finally have a president who has a sense of irony. I say, "Get it on Obama!" Everyone else, lighten up!

[randyschaeffer]

Yes, I'm old enough to remember Reagan as well as a good number of those who came before him, and no president has given me such hope as has Obama.

Try to excuse it as you may -- it was an unnecessary comment to make.

He slipped -- youre right -- big deal -- but it was a mistake.

I hope that in your conception, "Getting it on" does not include arrogance.

[shag11]

Alreay you see a difference in class. The Bushies never apologized for squat. They always blamed the target. Cheney shot his hunting partner and dissappeared from view for several hours.