NOT a debate, just a ? about Reagan's funeral

[KimRaye]

I was just curious, considering all the pomp & circumstances and, the HUGE attendances, who paid for all that? It's just a question, not an opinion. TIA

 

[ThreeCircles]

You, me, everyone on the Dis Board.

In other words, tax dollars.

 

[Dan Murphy]

It is paid for by the Federal Government.

 

[KimRaye]

Thanks, I kinda thought that was the answer. Who made the decisions tho? Seems like Nancy (and family) had a HUGE say-so in the events. Ultimately, who makes the decisions on what to spend on a former President's funeral arrangements? I suppose there's some 'fund' I'm unaware of.

And, the plane...was that the VP's plane? Again, just curious (and clueless).

Thanks.

 

[N.Bailey]

Once a president is elected, they try to get them to start the process of their funeral right away. You never know what you could possibly die, and they like as many as the preprations done ahead of time as they can get. The president and the 1st Lady both decide what it is that they want. If everything isn't decided upon ahead of time, it reverts back to the 1st lady.

The plane used I believe was Air Force One. The president's plane.

 

[Truth]

"The plane used I believe was Air Force One."

Usually Air Force One is the call sign of one of the "presidential 747s" when the president is on board.

For example when nixon was taken back home after he resigned, the pilot had to call in at 12:00 noon near the end of the flight to reassign the call sign since it was no longer Air Force One since it no longer carried the President of the United States as of noon that day.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by Truth
"The plane used I believe was Air Force One."

Usually Air Force One is the call sign of one of the "presidential 747s" when the president is on board.

For example when nixon was taken back home after he resigned, the pilot had to call in at 12:00 noon near the end of the flight to reassign the call sign since it was no longer Air Force One since it no longer carried the President of the United States as of noon that day.

Wow, that's cool, I never knew that! I guess I always just assumed. Actually, I guess I never gave it much thought at all really. Thanks for the history lesson.

 

[my3kids]

I was one of the planes that President Bush routinely uses, and he ordered it to be at the disposal of the Reagan family for this period. When the President is on board, it is Air Force One. When he isn't in the plane, it goes by a different name.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I read in the post earlier this week that about a third of it was paid for by the government and the rest by the Reagan library foundation. I'll see if I can find a link that gives more info on that.

 

[WDWLVR]

Air Force One actually left Washington about a half hour before the Reagans plane left. While they were showing the airport they showed Air Force One leaving - heading to Texas I believe.

The only real difference between the two planes is who is on board.

 

[timC]

Heard somewhere that the call-sign for Air Force One officially changed to Special Air Mission ****0 during support for President Reagan's funeral.

EDIT: ****0 = ninety-eight thousand. For some reason the board will not let me enter that number into a post. Very odd.