Obama Apologizes To Nancy Reagan

WASHINGTON (AP) ~ President-elect Obama called Nancy Reagan on Friday to apologize for joking that she held seances in the White House.

At a news conference in Chicago, Obama said he had spoken with all the living presidents as he prepares to take office in January. Then he smiled and said, "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances."

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer when planning her husband's schedule, according to former White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan.

The 87-year-old former first lady had consulted with astrologers during her husband's presidency. But she did not hold conversations with the dead. It was Hillary Clinton who was linked to conversations with the dead.

Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect later called Mrs. Reagan "to apologize for the careless and offhanded remark." She said Obama "expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share, and they had a warm conversation."

It actually wasn't Nancy Reagan who was linked to conversations with the dead; it was Obama's top Democratic challenger for the presidency, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

In either case, use of the word "seance" might be overstated.

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