Ronald Reagan 'had a warmth about him,' Emerson says

It's not state dinners and speeches that U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson remembers most about former President Ronald Reagan. It's how he embraced her then 2-year-old daughter, Katharine, when she jumped into his arms in the Oval Office in 1985.

Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, said Katharine ran toward Reagan. Secret Service agents moved to stop her but Reagan told them to step aside.

"Katharine flew past them and jumped into the president's arms. He lifted her up high," Emerson recalled Wednesday as Washington prepared for the state funeral of Reagan.

"The genuine joy on both their faces struck me then," Emerson said. "Today, the memory reminds me that as strong a man as he was, President Reagan could easily match the enthusiastic happiness of a 2-year-old."

Said Emerson, "He had a warmth about him." Reagan, the nation's 40th chief executive, was 93 when he died Saturday of pneumonia as a complication of Alzheimer's disease.

Federal, state and many local governments will be closed at least part of the day on Friday in observance of a national day of mourning for Reagan, whose nationally televised funeral will be held that day. There will be no mail delivery Friday and post offices will be closed.

Southeast Missouri State University offices will be closed and classes canceled.

Art Wallhausen, associate to the president at Southeast, said school officials made the decision after Missouri Gov. Bob Holden issued a declaration closing state offices in observance of the Reagan funeral.

Southeast exams moved

State offices in Missouri also closed for state funerals for two other former presidents, Harry Truman in 1972 and Lyndon Johnson in 1973.Final exams for Southeast's four-week summer session, originally scheduled for Friday, were rescheduled for today and Monday, school officials said.

But an orientation session for new students will go on as planned since many students and families already had made travel plans and committed to attend, Wallhausen said.

Cape Girardeau County offices will be closed all day, along with state and federal offices. City offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson will close at noon. City offices in Scott City will be open.

Mayor Jay Knudtson said a number of cities in the state plan to close their municipal offices in observance of the state funeral.

Knudtson said Cape Girardeau city officials decided to close offices at noon to allow time for Public Works crews to pick up the trash and recyclable materials.

"To just cancel trash pickup would have been an inconvenience for a number of people," Knudtson said.

Emerson said Reagan's philosophy of "less government and less taxes" proved popular nationally and in Southeast Missouri. "I think it absolutely struck a chord in our area," she said.

Emerson credits Reagan with helping convince long-time Democrats in Southeast Missouri to vote Republican.

The congresswoman said Reagan's legacy includes his leadership in ending the Cold War. "He redefined the concept of freedom for Americans and restored our pride in our country," she said.

"He will go down as probably one of the greatest presidents," Emerson said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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