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Former Reagan Aide Talks About Maureen Reagan

Aired August 08, 2001 - 14:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check in on our news on Maureen Reagan. She passed away today at the age of 60 of malignant melanoma. It was a five-year battle. She was diagnosed back in 1996. Her husband announced that she had passed away at home today with loved ones surrounding her. On the phone with us is Michael Deaver. He is the former Reagan chief of staff. Mr. Deaver, how long did you know Maureen Reagan.

MICHAEL DEAVER, FMR. REAGAN CHIEF OF STAFF: Well, I knew Maureen as long as I knew Ronald and Nancy Reagan, so that's 30 years.

KELLEY: So she was about 30 years old probably, when you first met her.

DEAVER: Yes, we were all pretty young.

KELLEY: Tell us about her and how you came to know her and what she was like.

DEAVER: She was always part of the California political scene. She was an activist and she had real heart for politics, and she was dedicated to her dad's campaigns for governor and president. So, obviously I would know her.

KELLEY: In your relationship with her, did she have many conversations with you, being so close to her dad, was she saying, maybe you should try this, Michael.

DEAVER: Oh, sure. Maureen never hesitated to give you her opinion. She was very forceful and had strong beliefs. But I always took her recommendations and criticisms because I knew that her real interest was her dad and that was my real interest too. And she had known him a lot longer than I had.

KELLEY: Like what? Can you share maybe a couple of those incidents? Can you share when she came up and said, how about if we try...

DEAVER: No, I really can't remember anything quite that specific. But these would have been campaign tactics or it might have been the way we were dealing with a position that he had taken a particular issue that we weren't getting the full story out. She was very attuned and had a great antenna for the media. And so it might have been something like that, but I can't remember a specific. KELLEY: She seems very energetic and very plugged in to politics.

DEAVER: Extremely energetic. And the thing was this loyalty to her father in whatever part of his life, including the last part of her life which was so dedicated to finding a cure for this terrible disease that had stricken her father and her family. She was the front person who went out and really worked at it.

KELLEY: Michael Deaver who is the form Reagan chief of staff. Thank you very much -- Stephen.

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