Posted on 06/05/2004 9:34:42 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
Former President Ronald Reagan's health has deteriorated, the White House has been told. The White House was informed that the 93-year-old former president's health had changed significantly in the past several days, a person familiar with Reagan's condition said Saturday.
Reagan has been out of the public eye since disclosing a decade ago that he had Alzheimer's disease. He has lived longer than any other U.S. president.
Rumors about Reagan's health arose Friday and his office in California said it had received more than 300 calls over the past two days.
"He's 93 years old. He's had Alzheimer's disease for 10 years. There are plenty of rumors. When there is something significant to report I will do so," the Reagan family's chief of staff, Joanne Drake, told The Associated Press on Saturday.
White House officials also checked on Reagan's health Friday. The White House was told his health has deteriorated and "the time is getting close," according to the person familiar with Reagan's health, who did not want to be identified out of sensitivity to the family. "It could be weeks. It could be months."
Reagan's condition has changed significantly for the worse in the past several days, this person said.
News about Reagan's health came as President Bush arrived in the French capital, the second stop on his trip to Europe.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan, at a fund-raiser last month for human embryonic research, described the toll that Alzheimer's has taken on her husband.
"Ronnie's long journey has finally taken him to a distant place where I can no longer reach him," she said. "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."
Nancy Reagan and others believe the use of stem cells from embryos could lead to cures for such illnesses as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Such research is generally opposed by political conservatives and many anti-abortion groups because it involves the destruction of days-old human embryos. President Bush signed an executive order in 2001 limiting research to existing embryonic stem cell lines.
Reagan celebrated his birthday Feb. 6 in seclusion at his Los Angeles home. The nation's 40th chief executive, who broke his hip in a fall at his home in 2001, has rarely been seen in public since his poignant letter announcing he had the memory-sapping disease.
In that note on Nov. 5, 1994, Reagan said, "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead."
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So, even with your apology you allude to the topic again anyway!? Start a Vanity Post if you want to bash Nancy, but leave it alone on this thread.
He dyed his hair.
That's right. Reagan saved America.
The left rejoices and celebrates in Reagan's suffering. (Just peek over at the DU to see what I mean).
Sick jackals they are.
I assume he still had some wits about him in 95??
LongsForReagan
Conservatives - whether columnists, commentators, talk show hosts, or FREEPERS, should prepare now for when the end comes.
We should have columns, background, letters, and phone messages ready to flood networks, newspapers, and networks with our eulogies - describing what President Reagan has meant to the us, to America and to the World.
If we are passive the press will have faint praise for one of the top two Presidents in my lifetime. We should use our mailings lists, phone numbers and personal contacts to urge prominent Conservatives to be prepared.
I am saddened already, to know the end is coming - and to be urging activity like this before he dies. However, I recall when President Kennedy was killed, there was a rush to name expressways, airports, schools and buildings for him.
President Reagan deserves the same response...and more.
God Bless Ronald Reagan and God bless the USA. (As you perhaps recall, the song, God Bless the USA became so associated with him that one thought of him everytime the song was played.)
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
'Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.
Broke out my Ronald Reagan coin and gave it a good polishing, and thanked GOD for Ronnie, the victor in the Cold War.
I don't care that some people didn't like Reagan. Great men get that all the time. Reagan saved America, even for the 42% that later voted for Clinton.
As sad as it is, can you imagine the press right now, cueing their obits? They JUST got done with all the silly Memorial Day WWII Memorial dedication coverage, the speeches, the patriotism et al, THEN they have to cover the D Day commemoration, and JUST when they have that "old folks' stuff" pretty much over with so they can go back to their Bush-bashing....
THEN REAGAN HAS TO GO AND DIE! So NOW we have spend ANOTHER week on the memorials, the speeches, the Cold War, the biography, more speeches, more pundits, and people will inevitably be reminded what he stood for, and what he accomplished, and how he protected America. Some may actually be roused enough from their stupor to even consider voting Republican!
"Ten years with Alzheimers, and WHY does he HAVE to die in an ELECTION YEAR??????"
They'll be cursing under their breath as they cover the events.
Leave it to Reagan, even at the threshold of death, HE'S STICKING IT TO THE LEFT!!!!
He dyed his hair.
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President Reagan's passing shouldn't be used by either side of the fetal stem cell debate to score points.
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