Nancy Reagan passes away at 94

Former first lady Nancy Reagan has died at the age of 94. President Ronald Reagan died in 2004. Best wishes to the family.

George H W Bush in hospital

Yesterday, former President George H W Bush suffered a fall in his summer home in Maine and remains hospitalized. He broke a neck vertebrae, according to family spokesman Jim McGrath.

Best wishes to him and his family. He turned 91 in June and until now has remained very active.

First Lady Barbara Bush hospitalized

Former first lady Barbara Bush has been hospitalized in Houston for treatment of a “respiratory-related issue.” Best wishes to her and her family.

George W Bush gets a stent

Former President Bush was hospitalized yesterday to have a stent placed to open a blocked artery. He should return to his normal schedule by tomorrow. Best wishes to him and his family.

Helen Thomas

Long-time White House press corps fixture Helen Thomas died the other day at the age of 92. She served UPI and other news organizations for decades, from 1961 to 2010. Best wishes to her family and friends.

01 Mar 1962, Washington, DC, USA — This is a photograph of Helen Thomas, UPI reporter in Washington, DC. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

Rex Scouten

The New York Times reports that one-time White House chief user Rex Scouten has died. He was 88 and suffered complications after hip surgery. Our best wishes go out to his friends and family.

Scouten served 10 presidents, from Truman to Clinton not only as chief usher from 1969 to 1986 but also previously as a Secret Service agent and afterward as curator. Scouten never wrote a book or otherwise published any memoirs.

Hilliary Clinton hospitalized

Hillary Clinton has gone into the hospital with a blood clot in her head which is fairly serious. It’s presumed to be the result of a fall she took while fighting off a virus.

Best wishes to her and her family for a full and speedy recovery.

Nancy Reagan’s health

90-year-old Nancy Reagan is being reported as recovering from a fall in her home some weeks ago. It was not reported at the time, and is only being made public now due to her cancellation of an appearance at the Reagan Library.

Best wishes to her and her family.

Dick Cheney heart transplant

After a long wait and using various pacemakers and heart pumps, former Vice President Dick Cheney has, at 71, gotten a heart transplant. Best wishes to him and his family.

So long, Betty Ford

CNN is reporting that Betty Ford has died at the age of 93. Gerald Ford died in June 2009 December 2006, also at 93. Outspoken about women’s rights and breast cancer awareness, she was also inspirational for her personal struggle against substance abuse, which left a legacy in the form of the Betty Ford Center. Best wishes to the Ford family.

Barbara Bush hospitalized

Former First Lady Barbara Bush has been hospitalized in Texas for tests after feeling ill for some days. Best wishes to her and her family.

Bill Clinton hospitalized

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to former president Clinton on his hospitalization for heart problems.

Also, there are some terrific photos of the snow-covered White House on the Flickr photostream.

Get well wishes

Ex-First Lady Barbara Bush had open-heart surgury today. Best wishes to her and her family on a speedy recovery.

Also, the Obamas installed a swing set for Sasha and Malia today (appears to be due south of the Oval Office). What, they couldn’t just use Amy Carter’s treehouse?

White House wedding bells?

I don’t normally pass along celebrity “news” or, for that matter, any news at all except as it relates to the WHM website, but….

In a weird White House convergence, E! Online is reporting that Elisabeth Moss—first daughter Zoey Bartlet on The West Wing (and Peggy Olsen on MadMen) will marry Fred Armisen, who regularly portrays Barack Obama on Saturday Night Live. Best wishes for a kidnapping-free wedding day.

Inauguration news and wishes

Keith Olbermann just announced that Barack Obama will keep the Bush 2 Oval Office decor. Most presidents keep the incumbent decor for a while (Bush 2 actually used the Reagan rug), but I bet he gets his own rug eventually… or at least drapes (please drapes).

If this is true, tho, it means a lot less work for Pete in updating the Oval Office model. 😉

Whatever the case— Best wishes to the Obamas in their new home, our favorite house, this mansion of democracy, this palace of the republic, this old white house.

Also, Vice-President Dick Cheney reportedly injured his back moving boxes and will attend the inauguration in a wheelchair. Best wishes for a quick recovery.

Best wishes

Best wishes to the future first family: Barack, Michelle, Malia Ann, and Sasha (and puppy-to-be-named-later). Here’s hoping that the showers are strong enough, the furniture is comfortable enough, and the ghosts are friendly enough.

Happy 90th, Mrs. Ford

Today, Betty Ford turns 90 years old. Best wishes to her and her family.

Nancy Reagan hospitalized

86-year-old Nancy Reagan was hospitalized after a fall in her home. She attended the funeral of Merv Griffin last year and seems to otherwise be in good health. Best wishes to her and her family.

Lady Bird passes

Claudia Alta Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson has passed away at the age of 94, the epitome of southern charm and grace. Condolences and best wishes to her family and friends.

UPDATE: Link to tribute site. Also, changed the front page to that wonderful photo of her swirling around the Central Hall.

Mrs. LBJ hospitalized

Lady Bird Johnson has been hospitalized. Best wishes to her and her family.

Happy oldest day to Jerry Ford

On Sunday, President Ford became the oldest living person to have been president of the United States: 93 years and 121 days. Ford’s impact on the White House was mainly the installation of an outdoor swimming pool and redecorating the Oval Office with decor that lasted thru Carter and into Reagan’s second term.

A Navy man and a football player in his youth, the president was fit and competitive thru his White House years; his motto was simply “WIN.” Surviving two assassination attempts while president and a devastating wolf attack that many thought would prove fatal, Ford moved to Springfield, USA, across the street from Homer Simpson in the former Bush residence.

Before and after his White House years, he was, by all accounts, an admirable and decent man. Best wishes, Mr. President.

New front page – Ford hospitalized

This week, I changed the front page picture from the 1962 Kennedy Blue Room to the 1948 FDR swimming pool under the Press Briefing Room, given that that room is in the news lately.

Also, former President Gerald Ford went into the hospital again today, the third time in a year. He turned 93 in July. As an honorary member of the White House Museum board of directors, he and his family have our best wishes.