health

Lucky

Mrs. Reagan graciously agreed to allow us to reprint the story of Lucky, included in her book,"My Turn, The Memoirs of Nancy Reagan" by Nancy Reagan with William Novak, published in 1989 by Random House. Thank you Mrs. Reagan, and thank you for sharing these photographs as well!

"Usually, we went to Camp David by helicopter, which took about
twenty-five minutes. In bad weather we drove, which added an extra hour or so to the trip. I was never crazy about the helicopter, although as helicopters go, ours was large, and the ride was fairly smooth. I'm sure one image that people will always remember of the Reagan years is of Ronnie and me leaving the South Lawn of the White House for Camp David. Sam Donaldson would be shouting something to Ronnie, who could rarely hear him over the noise of the helicopter's engine. I would be walking behind Ronnie, led by one of the dogs-either Lucky, until she became too big to live at the White House, or Rex.

Lucky was a black Bouvier who was given to me as a small puppy in 1986 by the March of Dimes poster girl; I named her Lucky, after my Mother. She was just a little bundle of fur when I got her, but she grew to be the size of a pony. When she became too big for the White House, we took her to live at the ranch, with the other four dogs. She was in heaven.

Both dogs loved to ride in the helicopter; they knew we were headed for Camp David, where they had room to run around. During the flight, they would sit peacefully and look out the window. Lucky usually sat on
Ronnie's lap.

When we drove to Camp David, we left the White House quietly, without the press. We'd just get into the car and drive off . . . Invariably, a handful of people stood along the road and waved to us, which gave me a neighborly feeling about Camp David.

When we arrived, whether by car or by helicopter, the camp commander would be there to greet us. A marine stands by the flagpole, and the moment the President arrives at Camp David, the Presidential flag goes up. The moment he leaves, it comes down.

I always had a tremendous feeling of release when we got to Camp
David." Sounds like the dogs did also!"

Mrs. Reagan sends word that Lucky lived out the rest of her life at the
ranch, happily, and that the Reagan's always enjoyed her spirit and the
ranch suited that spirit.