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  • 2016-03-09 (xsd:date)
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  • Did Barack Obama Skip Nancy Reagan's Funeral to 'Party'? (en)
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  • On 19 February 2016, Texas' Travis County Democratic party confirmed that President Barack Obama would attend a March 2016 political fundraiser at Austin's South by Southwest (SXSW) conference: On 29 February 2016, the Houston Chronicle reported that Obama planned to attend a party fundraiser (political, not festive) at SXSW, the interactive media and film conference: On 5 March 2016, President Obama's weekly address centered upon his planned appearance at SXSW. In the brief speech, Obama explained an initiative to incorporate technology into key government functions, and his objective in attending the event, specifically describing asking everyone from all walks of life working inside and outside of government to help make this democracy even stronger: An 8 March 2016 article on social media web site Mashable focused on the President attending the event, and why he planned to be there: The President was later named as a participant in a keynote appearance at SXSW, in addition to the commitments announced earlier. On 7 March 2016, news broke that former First Lady Nancy Reagan had died of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles at the age of 94. The confluence of events led to headlines suggesting that President Obama was opting out of Reagan's funeral in order to party at an entertainment event. However, the New York Post reported on 8 March 2016 that sitting presidents rarely attend the funerals of former first ladies: In fact, the last sitting president to attend the funeral of a former first lady was John F. Kennedy, who paid his respects in person upon the death of Eleanor Roosevelt in 1962. President Obamas released an official joint statement mourning Mrs. Reagan, praising the guidance she provided and her commitment to husband Ronald Reagan: While it's true President Obama was slated to appear at SXSW during Nancy Reagan's funeral, it appeared that many confused the political use of the word party with its recreational application. The President's appearance was planned well in advance, and was the subject of a weekly address aired before Reagan's death. Michelle Obama was scheduled to attend Nancy Reagan's funeral as a White House representative, and sitting presidents rarely attend the funerals of former First Ladies. (en)
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