Reagan's Funeral a Planning Feat

The death of former president Ronald Reagan spawned a frantic clamor to pull together the first presidential state funeral in more than 30 years. The New York Times compares the preparations to an inauguration in reverse—with five days instead of six weeks to prepare—and reports that a 300-page funeral plan is in place to choreograph the pageantry. Some of the staff who planned the president's trips while he was in office have volunteered to work on his funeral, including Rick Ahearn, who was present during the assassination attempt and is planning the logistics for receiving the president's coffin in Washington. The State Department also established a task force to coordinate the representatives from foreign governments attending the funeral, who are likely to be accommodated at the luxe residences of their ambassadors in the capitol.

Posted 06.09.04