Nancy Reagan Remembered as Gracious at Her Book’s Launch
Image by Karen Leon
I first met Nancy Reagan — who died on March 6 at 94 of congestive heart failure — during the 1989 American Booksellers Association Convention in Washington, D.C. The event was a June 5 by-invitation-only reception for her autobiographical memoir “My Turn: The Memoirs of Nancy Reagan” with William Novak, held at the Library of Congress’ mezzanine hosted by then Random House’s Publisher Joni Evans. Hundreds tried to crash the event just to get a glimpse of the former First Lady who stood for more than an hour in unbearable un-air-conditioned humid heat smiling, smiling, smiling as a phalanx of Secret Service men glowered at the seemingly endless line of gawkers and hopeful hand-shakers.
Image by Karen Leon
Though the intended guest list was 600, nearly 900 vied for a moment with the former First Lady cum author — dazzling in a white and black geometric patterned dress with a large black bow and belt — ignoring fatigue, smiling and shaking hands.
With that year’s ABA roster of name authors that included a by-invitation-only reception for Umberto Eco, celebrities Gladys Knight, Roseanne Barr, Pearl Bailey, and Art Buchwald, it was, Nancy Reagan’s book that had the cache of expose and White House celebrity.
Random House — who had scheduled a 350,000-copy first-run printing, was kvelling.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
