LOS ANGELES, June 6: America mourned as tributes poured in from around the world on Sunday for Ronald Reagan, the former Hollywood star who as US president became one of the dominant figures of the 20th century.
As the White House flag came down to half-mast and preparations were made for a state funeral in Washington, friends and ex-foes of the 'Cold War Warrior' praised Reagan, who finally died Saturday at the age of 93 after a decade-long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
US media redrew their schedules to offer an avalanche of nostalgic eulogies to the charismatic leader, one of the most popular presidents of all time, whose eternal optimism made Americans feel safe and confident even in their darkest moments.
While illness had robbed Reagan of his ability to remember his remarkable career as "leader of the free world", world leaders paid resounding tribute to the man whose political legacy made him as many foes as friends.
"He leaves behind a nation he restored and a world he helped to save," said President George W. Bush, who was in France for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
"America laid to rest an era of division and doubt, and under his leadership the world laid to rest an era of fear and tyranny." The US and French flags flew at half-mast during the D-Day ceremonies where Bush again praised the former Hollywood movie star as a great leader.
His wife Nancy wrote in a Time magazine piece released on Sunday that Reagan was an "eternal optimist" who always prayed silently while travelling by airplane. "He was the eternal optimist, the glass is always half full, not half empty," the former first lady wrote. "I think his faith and comfort with himself accounts for that optimism. Since he felt that everything happens for a reason, he never saw things darkly."
Reagan's great friend and ally, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, remembered him as "a truly great American hero." Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union denounced by Reagan as the "Evil Empire", called his US counterpart and friend a "great president."
Reagan, who served two terms as president from 1981 to 1989 after switching a film career for politics, died at his Los Angeles mansion on Saturday from pneumonia, a family spokesman said. -AFP
