President-elect Barack Obama apologized to former First Lady Nancy Reagan on Friday for a "careless" joke during his first press conference at the White House, Politico.comreported.
When asked if he had met with all the living presidents, Obama said this:
"I have spoken to all of them who are living," he said. "I didn’t want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any séances."
The newly elected 44th president later called Reagan to apologize "for the careless and off-handed remark he made during today's press conference," said Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter.
Nancy Reagan was ridiculed in 1988 when the media reported that she consulted with an astrologer when making schedules for husband and President Ronald Reagan, Reutersreported.
During President Bill Clinton's administration, Sen. Hillary Clinton was said to have had imaginary conversations with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt at the suggestion of a spiritual adviser named Jean Houston.
The broader message of Obama's first press conference was to reassure Americans about the state of the economy.
"I do not underestimate the enormity of the task that lies ahead," Obama said.
He also said that in his first 100 days as president, he could do "an enormous amount to restore confidence" on the economy.
President-elect Barack Obama apologized to former First Lady Nancy Reagan on Friday for a "careless" joke during his first press conference at the White House, Politico.com 