It was an offhanded comment trying to explain away why he had just said he had spoken to every living ex-president 'I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about, you know, doing any sances,' President-elect Barack Obama said at his first press conference since his election triumph, a reference to the 1980s First Lady who reportedly consulted an astrologer to help set White House scheduling.

It's become his first gaffe. Obama campaign aides announced Friday he had called Mrs. Reagan to apologize. The slight was all the more impolitic since she is recovering from a broken hip.

'President-elect Barack Obama called Nancy Reagan today to apologize for the careless and off-handed remark he made during today's press conference. The President-elect expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share and they had a warm conversation,' said President-elect Obama Transition Team Spokesperson Stephanie Cutter.

Jonathan Weisman