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I was lucky enough to hear him 1976 when he almost overtook Ford in the convention. In 1980, I watched him all summer from primaries to Detroit convention and onward till his sound defeat of inept Jimmy Carter. And best of all in 1984 at the ripe old age of 18, I cast my first ballot for one great man and president Ronald Wilson Reagan. Much to the chagrin of my liberal new dealer college professor.

I miss Ronald Reagan!!!

I wish my fellow republican's would quite pandering to liberals and lead us like Reagan. But they listen to the media and talking heads who say values based politics will get you no where. I strongly believe if we republicans followed Reagan's mantra, we would never loose another race for president again! Viva Reagan Revolution!!!!

Sounds like we had similar experiences. I date my obsession with politics and my discovery that what I was had a name ("conservative") to Reagan's 1976 campaign against that quinessential do-nothing RINO, Gerald Ford.

I prayed and hoped for a miracle the night they did the role call but he narrowly lost, and I will admit that I shed a few tears, fearing that it was America's last chance, and that we had missed it.

Thank God, we had another chance 4 years later, and the rest is history.

Reagan wasn't perfect, but we knew at the time that it was probably the best we would get in our lifetimes, and I think we were right.

I had the privilege of raising my hand and taking my oath as an Air Force officer while Reagan was still President. The morale of the military had never been so high, and has never been so high since.

To the extent that W has been successful, it has been by emulating Reagan. To the extent that he has failed, it has been by going another direction that masquerades as "conservatism..."

" I strongly believe if we republicans followed Reagan's mantra, we would never loose another race for president again! Viva Reagan Revolution!!!!"

Mike Pence in 2008!

I was a Reagan Democrat my first vote as an 18 year old in 1976. I absolutely loathed Gerald Ford Republicanism. When he held on by eleven votes at the convention and threw Bob Dole in as his veep nominee, supposedly for conservatives, I supported Carter with a vengeance. Four years later, I got my man. I remember the press telling us the Gipper couldn't win. I will never forget Brokaw's jaw dropping on Election Night, 1980.

I'm so glad to remember the great man we all loved so much. It's a shame a Reagan or a Churchill come along so rarely.