NAMES IN THE NEWS : Nancy Reagan Defends Trip

Nancy Reagan is surprised by the criticism resulting from her memoirs and the money-making trip she and former President Ronald Reagan made to Japan. The former First Lady says the Japan trip, which brought the Reagans $2 million and accusations of trading on the prestige of the presidency, was good for international relations. “He did a lot more than two 20-minute speeches,” she told UPI White House reporter Helen Thomas.

“(He) was really doing something for the country. I really worked too. I set up a whole drug program in Japan . . . a ‘Just Say No’ program.” Nancy Reagan also indicated that her book hasn’t been fairly received. “It’s very important that the people read the whole book . . . and get a feeling for my whole life and not just pick out the buzz points,” she said.

In other news, the Reagans have seen daughter Patti Davis three times since returning from Japan, meaning a thaw in their estrangement could be brewing.