Nancy Reagan’s Death: Twitter Explodes With Condolences – and Condemnations
Former First Lady’s Death Today Throws Social Media Into a Battle Over Her Legacy
Nancy Reagan died today. She was 94. The former First Lady, married to the late President Ronald Reagan, leaves behind a legacy of elegance, a career in film, a great love affair, the “war on drugs,” an extremely out-of-touch relationship with the American populace, and, some say, partial responsibility for the deaths of millions of people with AIDS by ignoring it and not doing anything to stop it.
Nancy Reagan, 1950 pic.twitter.com/HXVE6cYpat
— Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) March 6, 2016
That time Nancy Reagan went on Diff’rent Strokes in 1983 to tell kids to “just say no.” pic.twitter.com/3yeIucc6lP
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) March 6, 2016
When the news broke of her passing, Twitter erupted with comments honoring her life and memory, and with comments lambasting her for ignoring the outbreak of HIV/AIDS when it was first discovered. A Buzzfeed article detailing how the former First Lady ignored the pleas of her friend, the actor Rock Hudson, weeks before his death of complications from AIDS are flooding the social media platform right now.
In 2015, I wrote about the role Nancy Reagan played (didn’t play, to be more accurate) in Rock Hudson’s last days: https://t.co/q5rjQJs7RI
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) March 6, 2016
Many saw fit to attack Mrs. Reagan, while others are attacking those who are – calling any condemnation of her immediately after her death inappropriate.
Here, a collection of responses to Nancy Reagan’s passing, from people well known in the media, and others.
What do you think?Â
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama:
“Our former First Lady redefined the role in her time here.” —@POTUS and @FLOTUS on the passing of Nancy Reagan pic.twitter.com/sOf2k7qOaR
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 6, 2016
“We remain grateful for Nancy Reagan’s life” —@POTUS and @FLOTUS: https://t.co/nJZIHumlsS pic.twitter.com/KftNACmkAh
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 6, 2016
Bernie Sanders’ statement:
Bernie Sanders: “Nancy Reagan was an exemplary first lady.” pic.twitter.com/Ukh9SuO1Af
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) March 6, 2016
Bill and Hillary Clinton’s statement:
Statement from President Clinton and Secretary Clinton on the Passing of Nancy Reagan pic.twitter.com/PTFCOI01Xd
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 6, 2016
GOP Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois:
Nancy Reagan will always be remembered for confronting drug abuse. I join the nation in mourning her death. May she rest in peace.
— Mark Kirk (@SenatorKirk) March 6, 2016
Journalist John Nichols of The Nation:
Nancy Reagan has died at age 94. In has last years she was an advocate for science, championing potential of embryonic stem cell research.
— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) March 6, 2016
Author Alexander Chee:
How I’ll remember Nancy Reagan: as the object lesson for any of you who are gay BFFs with a conservative: https://t.co/rfBwDGUlQl
— Alexander Chee (@alexanderchee) March 6, 2016
NBC reporter Ronan Farrow:
“We’re all here for a certain space of time and then it’s going to be over and you better make this count.†Nancy Reagan made it count. RIP.
— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) March 6, 2016
Goldie Taylor, Editor-At-Large at The Daily Beast:
So we’re going to write this eulogy without including the War on Drugs and its devastating impact on Black families and communities…
— Auntie Goldie (@goldietaylor) March 6, 2016
Journalist Mark Joseph Stern of Slate:
I get it. Nancy Reagan did some terrible things, as did Scalia. But I refuse to say something nasty about a person who just died.
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) March 6, 2016
Journalist and Author Joy Reid of MSNBC:
Deepest condolences to the Reagan family, including @RonReaganShow on the passing of Nancy Reagan.
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) March 6, 2016
More:
The Reagan Administration ignored the deaths of gay men but also gave my parents green cards, so our relationship remains complicated.
— ¡Gabe! OrtÃz (@TUSK81) March 6, 2016
CNN: 1986: Nancy Reagan’s ‘Just say no’ campaign. The start of the disastrous ‘War On Drugs’. https://t.co/tmKloxYoxy
— Paul Wallbank (@paulwallbank) March 6, 2016
Nancy Reagan oversaw a period of America governing in which thousands of AIDS victims were ignored. No sympathy for her “legacy” today.
— Charles Clymer (@cmclymer) March 6, 2016
sorry if I can’t be compassionate about the death of Nancy Reagan but I still haven’t forgiven her for being partially responsible for Rent
— Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) March 6, 2016
More than anyone else, Nancy Reagan prodded her husband to finally address the AIDS crisis. RIP.
— Luke Brinker (@LukeBrinker) March 6, 2016
The same people who mock “political correctness” will have tantrums today if anything is written even mildly critical about Nancy Reagan.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) March 6, 2016
I wonder, when Nancy Reagan gets to Glory, will Rock Hudson return the favor and pretend he doesn’t know who she is if she needs anything?
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) March 6, 2016
God I hope heaven is a west village gay bar circa 1984 and Nancy just walked in like pic.twitter.com/TWAuC2Es7w
— Jason Powell (@jasonpowell98) March 6, 2016
Nancy Reagan is dead. #neverforget #actupfightaids pic.twitter.com/LUKLqlQOxO
— Mx Viv (@mxjustinVbond) March 6, 2016
The truth about the Reagans is that they responded to fellow human beings dying of AIDS with indifference & contempt https://t.co/lXt2QnnNTb
— Michael Cavadias (@michaelcavadias) March 6, 2016
More than just her husband’s protector: Nancy Reagan urged him to deal w/Gorbachev when some conservatives opposed. #pragmatic #legacyminded
— Susan Page (@SusanPage) March 6, 2016
Another thing Nancy Reagan just said “NO” to, was helping people dying of AIDS. Anyway, here she is with ALF. pic.twitter.com/lThPlOGccV
— Jake Fogelnest (@jakefogelnest) March 6, 2016
Nancy Reagan lived to 94, unlike the plague victims her and her husband built their careers on.
— Ryan Houlihan (@RyanHoulihan) March 6, 2016
Nancy Reagan. She loved her gay friends with all her heart, but not enough to help save their lives. I’m sure they can’t wait to see her.
— Marc Moose Moder (@moosesicman) March 6, 2016
If you were gay or had AIDS and dying, Nancy Reagan wasn’t your friend. #fact
— Nik Roybal (@nikroybal) March 6, 2016
I’ve decided to be as quiet about Nancy Reagan’s death as she and her husband were about all the deaths from aids during his administration.
— Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) March 6, 2016
I consider Nancy Reagan a huge participant in/architect of a system that led to the eventual death of my father to an AIDS-related illness.
— Mathew Rodriguez (@mathewrodriguez) March 6, 2016
In honor of Nancy Reagan’s passing, here’s a link to AIDS/HIV orgs for potential donations. https://t.co/ab5371Tl7d
— Jennifer Lynn Jones (@indianajonesie) March 6, 2016
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Image via Wikimedia

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