Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for seance remark

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
President-elect Obama called Nancy Reagan on Friday to apologize for joking that she held seances in the White House. At a news conference in Chicago, Obama said he had spoken with all the living presidents as he prepares to take office in January. Then he smiled and said, "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances." The 87-year-old former first lady had consulted with astrologers during her husband's presidency. But she did not hold conversations with the dead. Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect later called Mrs. Reagan "to apologize for the careless and offhanded remark." She said Obama "expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share, and they had a warm conversation."