'GIPPER' Plates Honor Reagan

Former first lady Nancy Reagan helped salute her husband Monday as she watched California Governor Gray Davis sign a law to honor the 40th president.

Gov. Davis authorized the creation of license plates bearing a picture of Ronald Reagan, the former president and California governor.

"For so long, Ronny has been a native or living in California and loving it," said Mrs. Reagan, who looked on during the ceremony at the Ronald Reagan State Building. "It's so great that he's being honored in this way."

"He took this country to new frontiers of human freedom," Davis said, standing in front of a poster-size personalized license plate reading "GIPPER."

The bill established the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation License Plate. Sale of the plate will benefit educational and historical programs at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

The plates, which will now be designed, will cost car registrants an extra $50 initially and then $40 annually after that. More than ten thousand people have already signed up to get one.