Kerry Suspends Week’s Campaign Events in Memory of Reagan

In a bow to the nonpartisan climate of mourning following Ronald Reagan’s death, Sen. John F. Kerry on Sunday scrapped his political events for the week as he saluted the late president as a “modern giant.”

“Because of the way he led, he taught us that there was a difference between strong beliefs and bitter partisanship,” the Massachusetts senator told Michigan high school students at a commencement Sunday.

Kerry decided to suspend all his campaign activities until after Reagan’s interment Friday, a move that requires his campaign to reschedule two star-studded fundraisers that were to be held in Los Angeles and New York.

Barbra Streisand, Billy Crystal, Willie Nelson and other entertainers planned to fete Kerry in an elaborate concert tonight for 2,000 people at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. On Thursday evening, about 5,500 donors were expected at New York’s Radio City Music Hall for a gala that was to feature performances by Bette Midler, Jon Bon Jovi and James Taylor.

The events -- with tickets from $250 to $25,000 -- were expected to bring in millions of dollars for Kerry’s campaign and the Democratic Party, aides said.

Lara Bergthold, national deputy political director and Kerry’s liaison with Hollywood, said the campaign hoped to announce new dates for the concerts within a few days.

Kerry also canceled campaign events in Colorado, Arizona and Ohio planned for the week. Instead, he was expected to attend services for Reagan in Washington, as well as his daughter Alexandra’s graduation from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

On Sunday, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee delivered a commencement address to the 372 graduates of Bedford Senior High School in Temperance, Mich., three miles north of Toledo, but steered clear of politics.

In his 18-minute speech, Kerry invoked the spirit of both Reagan and the soldiers who fought in D-day 60 years earlier.

“It is a spirit that wears no political label,” Kerry said, speaking to several thousand people assembled for the ceremony in an arena at the University of Toledo. “In service to others and yes, in sacrifice for our country, there are no Republicans; there are no Democrats; there are only Americans and patriots.”

Kerry attended the graduation after an invitation from Brandon Spader, an 18-year-old Bedford senior who wrote Kerry in March and asked him to visit the school. Spader, the editor of the school paper, said many in his community felt demoralized by the state of the economy and alienated from national politics.

“We are all in dire need of a strong flame to brighten the future of our lives,” Spader wrote.

The senator’s acceptance sparked controversy, however, with some students and parents complaining that the presence of a political candidate was inappropriate for the occasion. Others said partisans were trying to limit the students’ opportunity to hear from a national figure.

On Sunday, Kerry stressed public service, asking his audience to remember the “greatness” of the soldiers who helped liberate Europe.