………………………I had the great honor of sitting at Nancy Reagan’s table along with the President of Ecuador, who sat beside her. I remember the head of the NY Times was at the table as well as Nancy’s very wealthy girlfriend Anne Getty. Sitting at my left was the prima ballerina, Heather Watts who danced for the New York City Ballet Company. There were about 20 tables of 10 people in the Lincoln Room….I think that is what the room is called. There is a huge portrait of Lincoln above the fireplace…….Someone had the idea of passing our menus around so everyone could sign it. Unfortunately, not everyone signed mine. As coffee was being served Heather leaned over to me and whispered “I’m desperate for a cigarette”. I noticed there were ashtrays on the table so I said I thought it would be OK to smoke, because why else would ashtrays be there. Remember in 1986 there were no limitations to where you could smoke. She said she didn’t have any, but I did! So sheepishly I gave her a cigarette and I lit hers and mine at the same time….waiting to see what reaction we would get!…..The President of Ecuador said in a booming voice “Thank God people smoke here and proceeded to light up a cigarette! Then others started to smoke too….Not Nancy…..Actually, I was surprised a ballerina smoked!