Courtesy and Cash : The Doles Visit With the Reagans Then Sign Copies of Their Autobiography for Fans

The first book was free, an early birthday gift to former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

After that, signed copies of Bob and Elizabeth Dole’s updated joint autobiography sold for $24 a pop--plus tax, as any good Republican would be sure to note--as the power couple traveled the Westside Wednesday in a whirlwind tour of courtesy and commerce.

The first stop was for courtesy. The scene, Century City and a tightly orchestrated, very private visit between one man who aches to be the next president and another who filled that job for two full terms.

Former President Ronald Reagan, reclusive since his struggle with Alzheimer’s disease was revealed some two years ago, welcomed the Doles to his 34th floor office for 30 minutes of cake and campaign chat. They talked; he mostly listened.

“We had coffee and a good visit,� Dole said later, as he strode from the office building with Elizabeth and Nancy. “It reminded me of the great things that President Reagan had done for America--tax cuts, a good economy, a strong defense. It was sort of a shot in the arm.�

And it offered the world a fleeting glimpse of a popular politician who now makes no public appearances. Four photographers got about as many minutes to capture handshakes and candle-blowing. Reporters were not invited; details were provided by the Doles and others in the room.

According to those accounts, Elizabeth presented Nancy with a chocolate birthday cake and Dole joked, “I know what you’re going to wish for� as Nancy blew out the single candle on it. Nancy chuckled and later said coyly that her wish “might have something to do with November.� She turns 73 on Saturday.

Dole, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, didn’t much want to discuss the brief meeting. “We talked about a lot of things,� he said with characteristic taciturnity.

Elizabeth, however, was a different story. When her husband paused, she proceeded: “And the fact that Nancy Reagan had made such a difference in drug use in this country. It was down when Nancy Reagan was involved in the ‘just-say-no’ campaign. Unfortunately, drug use has gone up.�

The next stop for the Doles was the Westwood branch of Borders Books and Music, where the line to meet the candidate and buy a memoir had started three hours before the couple’s arrival. The backdrop was a bookcase filled with copies of their book “Unlimited Partners: Our American Journey�--not to be confused with former Gen. Colin L. Powell’s recent memoir, “My American Journey.�

The book tours couldn’t be confused either. Powell’s foray drew thousands of fans as he mulled running for the Oval Office. The Doles had 500 books on hand Wednesday and ended up selling just over two-thirds to a snaking line of staunch supporters, history buffs and a few gentle critics.

“I want to give him a letter,� said Cornelius O’Leary, 70, clutching the receipt for his Dole book, which served double duty as a ticket to meet the candidate. The letter “tells a lot of mistakes that Clinton makes and also tells the mistakes he [Dole] is making. . . . Dole waffles. He’s waffling now on abortion.�

Ever poised, Elizabeth told the Buena Park man that she’d be sure her busy husband read the letter. Dole told O’Leary: “Another World War II man. There are still some of us left. We’ll win it.�

Outside the store, police hustled about 75 pro-Clinton demonstrators, organized by the California Democratic Party, across the street, where they chanted “Bob Go Home.�

Dole’s recent comments about tobacco were the favored target of protesters outside and inside the store. Yoav, a 13-year-old from West Los Angeles who did not want to give his last name, took the five seconds he had with Dole to make a statement about the candidate’s position that tobacco is not necessarily addictive.

“I took a fake cigarette out of my pocket and waved it in [Dole’s] face and said, ‘Thanks Mr. Dole for settling the fight I was having with my mother over cigarettes. Do you have a light?� ’ Yoav recounted.

He was swiftly escorted out by the Secret Service--but not until he bought a copy of the Doles’ book.

Times special correspondent Mary Moore contributed to this story.