"Nightline": RWR and stem-cell research

[gauguin57]

Will stem-cell issue benefit from RWR death?

Today's Nightline Daily E-Mail
June 10, 2004

TONIGHT'S FOCUS: Will Ronald Reagan's funeral, and Nancy Reagan's public support of stem-cell research, turn the political tide that is building for President Bush to overturn his 2001 policy restricting medical research in this field? A majority of the Senate now opposes the Bush stem cell policy, as do scores of scientists. But will any of that mean that Bush will make what amounts to a political about-face?

In late summer 2001, President Bush announced a policy that at the time, pre-9/11, seemed as if it might be the most controversial and politically heated issue of his presidency. My, what a difference three years make. In light of terrorism and war, the stem cell debate has been effectively pushed off the front pages.

But medical research does not pay attention to terrorism or war. The 2001 Bush policy significantly restricted the ability of federally-funded scientists to study the potential promise of stem cells. His executive order limited the use of federal funds to a small number of cell colonies already extracted from embryos, avoiding a scientific climate that might "encourage further destruction of human embryos."

In the last three years, criticism of the 2001 policy has been steady from a range of scientists, doctors, and advocates for a slew of diseases for which stem cells might hold therapeutic promise. But the subject now appears to be gaining significant political momentum - and support from perhaps unlikely places.

In recent years, as she watched her husband suffering in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, Nancy Reagan has become involved in stem cell research advocacy. She has been cautious not to challenge the White House publicly, but she reportedly wrote President Bush a letter in 2001, as he contemplated his stem cell policy position. And just last month, in an unusual public appearance at a dinner sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, she spoke in favor of stem cell research, saying: "Ronnie's long journey has finally taken him to a distant place where I can no longer reach him. Because of this, I'm determined to do whatever I can to save other families from this pain. I just don't see how we can turn our backs on this."

Late last week, just before President Reagan's passing, 58 Senators sent a letter to President Bush urging him to reconsider his position on stem cell research. It was a rare bi-partisan majority.

Will this mounting political pressure change the President's position? During an election year, which could be more damaging to the President - reversing himself or staying the course?

Nightline's John Donvan will report on the political firestorm surrounding this microscopic study. And Chris Bury will talk to guests on both sides of this heated debate.

We hope you'll join us.

Sara Just and the Nightline Staff
Nightline Offices
ABCNEWS Washington D.C.