My Turn

The former First Lady discusses her life the Reagan administration her shaky relationship with her children and key White House personnel her husbands involvement in the Iran-Contra affair and her bout with cancer. During our White House years I said almost nothing about how I really felt regarding the controversies that swirled around me. . . . But now those years are over and its my turn to describe what happened. . . . About Ronald Reagan: Although Ronnie loves people he often seems remote and he doesnt let anybody get too close. Theres a wall around him. He lets me come closer than anyone else but there are times when even I feel that barrier. About being a mother: What I wanted most in all the world was to be a good wife and mother. As things turned out I guess Ive been more successful at the first than at the second. About her influence: I make no apologies for telling Ronnie what I thought. Just because youre married doesnt mean you have no right to express your opinions. For eight years I was sleeping with the president and if that doesnt give you special access I dont know what does. About astrology: What it boils down to is that each person has his or her own ways of coping with trauma and grief with the pain of life and astrology was one of mine. Dont criticize me I wanted to say until you have stood in my place. This helped me. Nobody was hurt by itexcept possibly me. About Don Regan: His very first day on the job Don said that he saw himself as the chief operating officer of the country. But he was hired to be chief of staff. . . . Although I believed for a long time that Donald Regan was in the wrong job my power in getting him to leave has been greatly exaggerated. Believe me if I really were the dragon lady that he described in his book he would have been out the door many months earlier.