Funeral for Nancy Reagan; Latest on the Campaign Trail
HALA GORANI, CNN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW ANCHOR: Tonight, a special two-hour edition of the program and we'll look at many stories including politics. A former rival gives Donald Trump his support, Dr. Ben Carson is now endorsing Trump. How will is it impact the crucial Florida or Ohio primaries. Then, the American President describes Libya as a complete mess in a new interview, and criticizes the British Prime Minister for much of it. And happening now, the funeral for former First Lady Nancy Reagan, a look at her legacy and her influence, you're seeing those attending there including George W. Bush, and his wife Laura and other dignitaries officials as well former First Lady Rosalynn Carter there in the front row. While a lot more on Nancy Reagan's funeral in Simi Valley, California, a little bit later in the program. Hello everyone, as I mentioned this is a two hour edition of "The World Right Now". I'm Hala Gorani, we are live in CNN London. This is a special edition of "The World Right Now". Well you saw some of the images there at the top of the hour, funeral services are beginning this hour this 2:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. This is Simi Valley, California. It is the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and these are the services for former American First Lady Nancy Reagan. The current First Lady Michelle Obama is attending as his former President Bill Clinton and his wife and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. She is taking some time away from the campaign trail today to be there. Now Nancy Reagan died on Sunday, she was 94. Both of her children, her son Ron and her daughter Patti Davis will offer readings during the ceremony. Mrs. Reagan is being buried alongside her husband of more than 50 years, former President Ronald Reagan. And as I mentioned this is all happening on this day at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. CNN Sara Sidner joins us now live from Simi Valley, California with more on what to expect in the next few hours, Sara?</s>SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're watching as the Reverend Kenworthy walks in. We are also seeing all of the dignitaries here, political heavy weights are here, as well as Hollywood stars, you've been watching them scream and to pay their final respects to Mrs. Reagan, the former First Lady, who is really well-known for a few things, but mostly the love that she had for her husband and that very much on display. This was planned by her, each detail nothing in this -- this funeral. She had it handed everything, every single detail, to the peonies on her casket there that was her favorite flower, to those who were invited as well as the little cards that they give out when you leave, thank you for paying your respects. She planned this and about 6 to 9 months ago we're told from the folks inside of the Presidential Library here that she looked over those plans and made sure that every single detail was just how she wanted it. In the end she will be buried just inches away from the husband that she fiercely love and support him. Hala?</s>GORANI: All right, let's talk a little bit about those attending because we have personalities and dignitaries former first ladies, former president, but also figures from the entertainment world, figures from the journalism's world, tell us more about who's there, as we watch her casket there make it's way in front of those attending these funeral services, Sara?</s>SIDNER: Yeah, we watch this Canadian Prime Minister -- former Canadian Prime Minister Mulroney showed up and he was talking about the fact that he's going to be reading a letter that will probably bring tears to a lot of people's eyes. He's here to take part in this funeral. We're also going to hear from her children who will eulogize her. We'll also hear from -- for example former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw who is here to also eulogize Mrs. Reagan. You can see that the breath of the people who were here. They are from all walks of life and they've been screaming and we're talking about a thousand people, so a large crowd and we're seeing right now of the casket has been brought in and everyone is on their feet including the First Lady Michelle Obama is here. There are also many former first ladies who have come to be apart of this and to say goodbye to someone who truly is iconic. She had a huge presence in the White House but she also had a huge presence in American culture, she was the one that came up with the "Just Say No to Drugs" campaign if you remember that back in the '80s, And then when she was a former First Lady, she really push hard for stem cell research which was against the Republican Party's wishes, they were not with her on that issue but she was there, she was -- she was there and pushing forward for her husband always fiercely fighting for him. Hala?</s>GORANI: All right, we'll be speaking with analyst Larry Sabato in a moment. But first thanks Sara. Let's listen and I understand the Battle Hymn of the Republic, one of the musical pieces being played today, let's listen for a moment. Larry Sabato is joining me as the point-founder and the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, he joins us live from Charlottesville. So, Larry let's talk a little bit about Nancy Reagan's legacy, she had a very of course love and relationship with Ronald Reagan really a big chunk of the '80s defined by that partnership. Tell us more about how history will remember her.</s>LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR CENTER FOR POLITICS UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Actually I think history is going to remember in a very substantive way. We weren't fully aware in the 1980s of the influence that Nancy Reagan had on Ronald Reagan -- President Reagan on big issues including the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. The more we learned, the more we realize that she pushed very hard to give her husband a legacy of peace rather than one of the cold warrior that he had defined himself for much of this political career.</s>GORANI: So explain that and by the way if we could get back to the video of the actual event in Simi Valley, that would be great. But explain what do you mean she pushed him more toward peace, specifically here, because what would the alternative have been had she not been an informal adviser in the White House, do you think?</s>SABATO: President Reagan had always been very concerned about Soviet Union, and remember early on he had called ...</s>GORANI: Yeah.</s>SABATO: ... it the evil empire. Well it's very difficult to negotiate to with an entity that you're calling the evil empire. She helped to get in to tone down the rhetoric and behind the scenes she was even encouraging key Russian figures like Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko to negotiate with Ronald Reagan and she pushed President Reagan to redefine that relationship in a way that defined peace and in the way that encourage negotiations and agreements which did in fact occur in the second term of the Reagan Administration.</s>GORANI: That's very interesting and by the way I want to let our viewers know what their watching right now Nancy Reagan's Funeral standby for a moment Larry in Simi Valley, California at the Reagan Presidential Library, there is a Ron Reagan, the son of Nancy and Ronald Reagan, Patti Davis their daughter as well. We understand that speakers will include James Baker the former Secretary of State, Tom Brokaw news anchor, Amazing Grace will be sung by the Santa Susana High School Choir, we'll have Diane Sawyer from the world of journalism as well. And, a few others as well to pay tribute to Nancy Reagan.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... is far beyond pearls. Her husband entrusting his heart to her has an unfailing prize ...</s>GORANI: This is a family member, the niece of Nancy Reagan there as well paying tribute to the former First Lady.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands. Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from a far. She rises while it is still night and distributes food to her household. She picks out a fill to purchase out her earnings, she plants a vineyard ...</s>GORANI: There's Michelle Obama the current First Lady with George W. Bush sitting to her left. We'll go back live to the funeral of Nancy Reagan. This is a special edition of "The World Right Now". Still to come though, other news. Republican candidates for U.S. presidents take on a much different tone in the latest debate that happened yesterday on CNN, we'll break it down for you. And it is starting to sound like the plot of a spy novel. Washington officials say a former Putin aide did not die of a heart attack but something far more sinister. All that and much more when "The World Right Now" continues, stay with us.