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Ronald Reagan died.. He died at his home in California, according to a family friend, who initially disclosed the death on condition of anonymity. The friend said the family has turned to making funeral arrangements. A formal statement from the family was expected later. In Paris, White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said President Bush (news - web sites) was notified of Reagan's death in Paris at about 4:10 p.m., EDT, by White House chief of staff Andy Card. The United States flag over the White House was lowered to half staff within an hour. Card learned of the death from Fred Ryan, Reagan's former California chief of staff, Buchan said. The White House was told his health had taken a turn for the worse in the last several days. Buchan said that Bush would issue a written statement later Saturday. The president planned to participate in D-Day ceremonies in Normandy on Sunday and then fly back to the United States for an international economic summit in Georgia. She said it was not known at this point whether Bush would change his travel plans because of Reagan's death. Five years after leaving office, the nation's 40th president told the world in November 1994 that he had been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's, an incurable illness that destroys brain cells. He said he had begun "the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life." Post a comment in response: |
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