| CLINTON FURIOUS AT REAGAN SNUB
Jun 10 2004
By Natalie Walker
FORMER US President Bill Clinton is furious at being snubbed at tomorrow's state funeral for Ronald Reagan.
He has been left off the speakers' list but Margaret Thatcher will join those eulogising.
Clinton has privately expressed anger that he and other Democrats, including former president Jimmy Carter, are excluded.
A source close to Clinton said he was angry that both Bush presidents will address the crowd gathered at National Cathedral in Washington DC, and a TV audience of millions.
The source said: 'He really held out all hope the funeral would be a non-partisan event, like Nixon's was. He's angry and disappointed. It is a state funeral, using tax dollars.'
Clinton's inner circle are convinced that Nancy Reagan has personally shut out Clinton from any high-profile participation.
Thatcher, 78, will join those speaking in memory of Reagan, the movie star-turned-politician who died on Saturday, aged 93.
The former PM has described Reagan as 'one of my closest political and dearest friends'.
She will be among a small group at the private burial in California.
Prince Charles will attend the Washington event and Tony Blair who is already in the States at the G8 summit will be there with his wife Cherie.
The eulogy is being prepared by President George W Bush's chief speechwriter, Michael Gerson. | |
