I was reflecting on that this morning. So many people are finding comfort in the thought these two will be reunited once again. Nancy reagan, a picture of el elegance and strength. Nancy reagan died in her home at the age of 94. She was equally passionate about her husband and the many causes she championed. Well talk to her son ron coming up, but first, natalie is at the reagan president ial library in simi valley, california. Good morning to you. Inside the air force one hangar here at the reagan president ial library, where many are remembering nancy reagan so fondly. She redefined the role of first lady, bringing style, substance and sensitivity. Reporter late sunday, the hearse carrying the former first ladys body left her home in los died of congestive Heart Failure sunday. Her daughter, patti davis, releasing a blog post overnight. I got the call around 8 30 this morning that my mother passed away in her sleep. Its the way she wanted to go. Her spokesperson saying, mrs. Reagan will be buried at the Ronald Reagan president ial library at simi valley, california, next to her husband, Ronald Wilson reagan. Prior to the service, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects at the library. Tributes are pouring in, remembering nancy reagan as a woman of grace and grandeur. She was honored by a moment of silence on the debate stage. Hillary clinton praising her predecessor. Nancys strength of character especially forral al tiemzheimers research, was tireless. Also, accolades for her husband. She loved her husband, loved her country, and at least with me, she was always very fair and decent. Reporter president obama and first lady obama releasing a statement saying, our former first lady redefined the role in her time here, and we remain grateful for Nancy Reagans life. Thankful for her guidance and prayerful that she and her beloved husband are together again. The first lady who succeeded her, barbara bush, writing, nancy reagan was totally devoted to president reagan, and we take comfort that they will be reunited once more. And former president george w. Bush saying, her influence on the white house was complete and lasting. As a woman who expanded the role of first lady, her influence was felt far beyond washington. Michael j. Fox tweeting, i will always be grateful to nancy stem cells, class, grace and guts. Rest in peace. Arnold schwarzenegger, from hollywood to the governors mansion, praised the former first lady. She was one of the greatest first ladies. Extraordinary human being. Such a wonderful partner to her husband, to president reagan. I know [ applause ] she will join him now in heaven, and this love affair between the two of them will start all over again. And it is that love affair that will be part of Nancy Reagans enduring legacy. Coming up in our next half hour, well take a look back at their long life and love together, as they became known as nancy and ronnie to most of us. Back to you. Natalie, 52 years of marriage. Thats nice. One of Nancy Reagans many trusted adviser, guiding him through decisions throughout his presidency. Andrea mitchell covered the reagan administration. Good morning to you. Good morning, savannah. She was one of the most consequential first ladies in modern american history. Ronald reagans life partner, chief protector and political adviser. A story right out of the movies. Thats, in fact, where it all started. Reporter she always dreamed of being an actress and, in a way, she became one, on a world stage. Born in 1921 in new york city, nancy davis making her way to hollywood, landing small roles in films for mgm. It was there she met Ronald Reagan. The chemistry was instantaneous. They married in 1952. Appearing in 11 films, the young actress starred alongside her husband in a film. You knew better. How could i know . Did you give me a post dated check . My wife, nancy. Her life to him and his budding political career. Her influence quickly extending beyond the home and into politics. Thank you very much. Reporter becoming first lady of california in 1966, and then of the nation in 1981. At first, she was criticized for wearing designing gowns during a recession. Then lauded for her antidrug, just say no campaign. When it comes to drugs and alcohol, just say no. Reporter but it was the 1981 assassination attempt that nearly took his life that overshadowed his entire presidency. Nancy reagan became fiercely protective, even consulting an astrologer before scheduling his trips. An embarrassment exposed by his chief of staff, who had been fired largely at her behest, after the irancontra scandal. She was Ronald Reagans closest adviser. His constant protector. Reporter during her eight years as first lady, nancy reagan changed world history. Encouraging her husband to negotiate with what he had called the evil empire, the soviet union, and its new leader, gorbachev. He knew he could do a deal with gorbachev, he just needed to be allowed to do it. Him. Reporter after leaving the white house, nancy reagan became an advocate for Stem Cell Research for alzheimers after the expresident wrote a heartbreaking letter to the nation, disclosing he was suffering from the disease. He made the decision to write a letter to the american people, and the people responded. Reporter his caregiver until his death in 2004, she remained devoted to him for all her days. Carrying the torch for her husbands legacy and her own. For all of the glamour and success they experienced on the world stage, those who knew them were alone, upstairs in the white house, eating dinner on tray tables, watching a movie or tv. Best friends in life. Now, together again. Matt and savannah . Andrea, thank you. Please stand by. Well talk with you more in a moment. The image of her kissing his flag draped coffin unforgettable. Yeah, it breaks me up. Last night, we had the chance to speak by phone to the reagan son, ron. You and i spoke after your dad died, and i asked you a very simple question then. Let me just ask the same question. Tell me about nancy reagan. Who was she . Well, nancy reagan was the woman who was totally dedicated to her husband, and i know that that sounds, you know, antifeminist. I dont mean it in that way. She loved her husband, more than anything in the world. I think that you can make the case that the Ronald Reagan that would not have existed without nancy reagan. She was seen as this devoted woman. Some feminists actually gave her a hard time, working women gave her a hard time, and she said just about everything i did in that first year was misunderstood. Yeah, well, i think it was tough for her in the white house because there was a lot of anger that could have been directed at my father, but my father was a person who was almost impossible to dislike as a human being. She was a little more, lets say, complicated a personality than he was. Think. Complicated, how so, ron . My mother was more aware of, life. Nature. Her view was more, im going to watch, and if i think youre good for my husband, then youve got a friend for life. Husband or youre hurting him in some way, oh, you know, you better watch out because now you have an enemy and its not an enemy you want. The assassination attempt on your father, i dont think anybody knew until years after he left the white house how close he came to dying. But your mom knew. Yes, yes. How did that change her perception of his life in the white house and the bubble . I dont think that she ever had another day during his presidency where there wasnt some fear involved. Particularly, of course, when he went out in public and all. He meant everything to her. Seeing her spouse gunned down in the street and having him almost die is, to say the least, tra traumatic traumatic. I dont think she was ever without anxiety and fear from then on. Can you tell me how your dads passing changed her as a woman, ron . She was lonely without him. She missed him terribly. I can say this, i suppose, she didnt have to worry anymore about whether any of her opinions would necessarily clash with any of his. Last two questions. If someone were to ask you to describe the love story of ronald and nancy reagan, how would you describe it . Once they had bonded together, they really were inseparable. I mean, it sounds cliche. I dont think that they ever spent a day apart where they didnt call, speak on the phone. He wrote her letters all her life. All his life. They were in love. They stayed in love for, you know, 52 some odd years. I would say anybody watching this and learning of this news, who is perhaps under the age of lot about your mom and your dad. Yeah. So for the people in that age group and below, whats the most important thing they should know about nancy reagan . I think that she knew how to love somebody. That would be, you know and you can do a lot worse than that in life. Thats what i think of when i think of my mother. I think of her relationship with her husband. Thats a wonderful place to leave it. Ron, thank you so much. Again, my sincere condolences to you and your family. Thank you, matt. Appreciate it. Nbc news special correspondent tom brokaw first met the reagans in los angeles and grew to know them well over the years. Also, lets bring back andrea mitchell, as well. Tom, tell me about the early years of knowing them. Well, when i first met them, he was running for governor of california, obviously. She was, from the very beginning, an important counsel for him. Everybody said, you have to or nancy believes we ought to be doing this or not this. She was always kind of on gourduard. I remember when he was running for a second term, i was in a room with a lot of their friends. Including Jimmy Stewarts wife. She was kissing everybody around the room and got to me and went like this. I said, mrs. Reagan, whatever i have, its not catching. She laughed and leaned over and kissed me. That was the beginning of a personal relationship, as well. You mentioned over the years, you stayed in touch and became personal friends, and spoke with her rather recently. On february 6th, the birthday i shared with the president. We talked every year, exchanged notes. I saw her last summer for tea. She was not as responsive as i hoped shed be. By february 6th, she was responsive. This is a sad passing for everyone because i always thought that most symbolically and from a substance point of she never gave up that title, and people responded to it. Andrea, lets talk about her power behind the door of the white house. Not only in terms of her husbands view of policy, but she was also very good at understanding who he should trust. Absolutely. One of the things about that, there were three advisers who came from well, two from california and, of course, jim baker brought into the circle. She did have a huge impact on changing white house staff. Before that, the campaign staff. But she always had her antenna out. I think that ron reagan eluded to that. She understood the people who were not there to serve Ronald Reagan. He did not. He was so genial and liked everyone. He didnt have that political antenna, but she did and she protected him. She was the chief protector, and she reached out, as well, to democrats, to others, to come in and talk to him so he would not be isolated in the white house. Course, for the exit of donald, who was charged for a lot of things, like letting the irancontra affair happen under his nose. Tom, dont you think nancys reputation and the way this country felt about her changed over the years . In the early years, people were tough on her. They were tough on her because she brought her hollywood elegance and the whole bell aire way of life to the white house. I felt she knew what her role was. Other people had ideas of the first ladies. When they first got elected, i said some things in the press that she thought were far too critical about not his childhood, but when he was a young man, he made good money right away and he was one of the highest paid people in hollywood. I was told by the white house staff, stay away from her. Shes angry. Youll be invited to a state what youre going to say in the receiving line. Im walking up, and meredith is with me, saying, what are you going to say . I hadnt figured it out. I said, nancy, back to square one. She laughed. This was the moment in which she said to me, tom, back to square one. This picture arrived the next day in my office, autographed by her, tom, back to square one. Thats how good and nimble she was and how political she could be. This is something i keep. The most surprising part of the story is you had a moment you didnt know what you were going to say. But it wasnt lets be clear, i knew i would say something. Thank you, thank you so much. Andrea, thank you. The president ial candidates are paying tribute to nancy reagan, including the moment of silence during the democratic debate. Two contests were held on sunday. Marco rubio won puerto ricos sanders topped Hillary Clinton in maine. The news is not all good for his campaign. Nbcs Kristen Welker has the latest on both races this morning. Good morning to you. Savannah, good moshing to ingmorning to you. The candidates have one more day before the michigan primary. Sanders picked up wins over the weekend, in addition to maine, kansas and nebraska. But it was secretary clinton who expanded her delegate lead by winning the state of louisiana. All that setting the stage for a fiery debate on sunday. Reporter it was one of the most ruckus democratic debates yet. Excuse me, im talking. If were going to argue about the 90s, lets get the facts straight. Reporter sanders attacking clinton for supporting nafta, which many in michigan oppose, and mocking her for reverse reversals on the issue. Secretary clinton discovered religion on this issue. But its a little bit too late. Reporter clinton firing citing sanders opposition to the 2009 auto bailout. If everybody voted the way he did, i believe the Auto Industry would have collapsed. If you are talking about the wall street bailout, where some of your friends destroyed this economy if youre going to talk, tell the whole story, senator sanders. Let me tell my story, and you tell yours. I will. Reporter there was disagreements, both sdisa greemt disagreement disagreements and agreements, calling for the governor of flint to resign. And both vowing to beat trump in a general election. The gop front runner made a memorable entrance at the Golf Championship at his own course in florida. Over the weekend, called for marco rubio to end his campaign. I think its time he drops out. Reporter saturday night live finding new humor in the hotly contested race. Races, ugly racists, people who didnt know they were racists. Weekend. He won kansas and maine. Take a look at the delegate count now. Ted cruz just 87 delegates behind donald trump. Meanwhile, our latest nbc news wall street journal poll shows trump and clinton ahead in michigan. Thank you. Weather from mr. Roker. Good morning. We have some Severe Weather for the midsection of the country with potential flooding rains, as well. We have this slow moving upper level low coming out of the west, and a High Pressure ridge that isnt going to let this thing move east very far. Were going to have a setup where we see from san antonio to dallas, the risk of Severe Weather. 16 million at risk for damaging winds, isolated tornado, large hail. From Corpus Christi to dallas, we have an enhanced risk. 26 Million People at risk. Tornadoes. Rainfall, upwards of 7 inches from houston to little rock. Some places could see 10 to 12 inches of rain. Texas, arkansas and louisiana. Thats whats going on. Were going to look at your why are all these people so asleep, yet im so awake . Did you know your brain has two systems . One helps keep you awake the other helps you sleep. Science suggests when you have insomnia, the wake system in your brain may be too strong and your neurotransmitters remain too active as you try to sleep, which could be leading to your insomnia. Ohh. Maybe thats whats preventing me from getting the sleep i need thats your latest weather. Matt . Al, thank you. Coming up, much more on the remarkable life of nancy reagan. Her influence on the white first, this is today on nbc. Just ahead, love and devotion. Nancy and Ronald Reagans relationship captured in the heartfelt letters he sent to her over the years. We wonerere. And here. And here. Here. And here. Uh, here. Also in here. Back there. Behind here. Even next to these guys, here. In the nations largest, independent study, rootmetrics just named verizon Number One Network for the fifth time in a row, here. So when the other guys claim theyre the best, remember theres only one, number one. And now well pay up to 650 to switch to the best network. This one right here. Allergies with nasal congestion . Find fast relief behind the counter with claritind. [ upbeat music ] strut past that aisle for the allergy relief that starts working in as little as 30 minutes and contains the best oral decongestant. You can help prevent blindness in undernourished children all over the world. When you get your vitamins at walgreens, you help give lifechanging vitamins to kids across the globe. Get vitamins here. Change lives everywhere. Good morning. Time now is 727. Were following breaking overnight news of a police chase in two cities. Police are still looking for the suspect on a motorcycle, this morning. Portsmouth Police Say Officers in chesapeaked asked them to help catch the suspect on George Washington highway around 12 30. Our wavy crew saw a biker drive right by our station in portsmouth with about seven police cars in pursuit. Officers lost the suspect a short time later. To gather more details from police. Hell have a live update in just two minutes over on fox43. Good morning, hampton roads. Lets check traffic now. Today mostly sunny. Highs will be in the low 60s. Winds sw 515mph. Tonight mostly clear. Lows will be in the upper 40s. Winds sw 10mph. Tuesday mostly sunny. 70s. Winds sw 510mph. After a chilly start well see lots of sunshine and a nice day. Highs will be in the low 60s. High pressure will be in control of the weather for the next few days. Well see fair skies with warmer temperatures. Highs will be mainly in the 70s. It will feel like spring sunday. So we will also get a chance to dry out. Were back at 7 30. March, 2016. Flags are flying at halfstaff across the country as the nation remembering nanc