Ronald Reagan's Son Remembers The Day When GE Fired His Dad

IBD Editorials ^ | February 4, 2011 | MICHAEL REAGAN

[Kaslin]

If liberals had supported Ronald Reagan the actor, they wouldn't have had to deal with Ronald Reagan the politician.

In 1954, my father Ronald Reagan began hosting a weekly TV series, "General Electric Theater." The show aired Sunday nights at 9 on CBS, and consistently ranked in the top 10. Dad hosted the show and appeared as an actor in a number of episodes. Nancy made sure we watched it every week.

Under my father's contract with General Electric, he toured the country by train and visited GE factories, local chambers of commerce and civic groups. The thousands of speeches he gave helped prepare him for bigger things to come.

The GE of Ronald Reagan's day bears little resemblance to GE today. Headed by CEO Jeffrey Immelt, today's General Electric has been roundly condemned for its past business dealings with Iran (which GE says ended in 2008). GE's critics range from liberal Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey to Fox News host Bill O'Reilly.

Isn't it against the law for American companies to do business with Iran and other nations that sponsor terrorism? Yes — but a legal loophole permits foreign divisions of multinational companies to get away with it.

As Christopher Holton of the Center for Security Policy said on "The O'Reilly Factor" Jan. 11, 2008:

[Kaslin]

I have been boycotting GE since it was revealed that General Electric does business with Iran and I refuse to purchase anything from GE

[proxy_user]

“Once, around 1960 or ‘61, Dad gave me a Christmas present of 90 shares of General Electric stock, worth around $70 a share. What is GE stock trading for these days? Around $20! Why isn’t Immelt on unemployment?”

However, if adjusted for splits, each share was trading for .17 in today’s terms. If Reagan still had the stock, instead of 90 shares he would have about 9000.

[al baby]

He would spend it all on ballerina shoes

[lonestar]

Wrong son....read it!

[WHBates]

While a little overstated, an old joke in Nuclear power is that “the only thing the GE makes that doesn't suck is a vacuum cleaner”. Your right about GE dealings with Iran, it's a disgrace.

[Brilliant]

True, but if he’d bought when Bush became President, he’d have less.

[doc1019]

I applauded your personal boycotting of GE products. Unfortunately GE components are so prolific that it is almost imposable to buy anything that runs on electricity or gasoline that doesn’t have GE parts.

[Navy Patriot]

Mike has a point, and it’s heartwarming that Bobbie Kennedy found that Karma is a bitch.

[al baby]

oops sorry i have been seeing so much of that fruit cup on tv lately i just assumed

[e_castillo]

Nice try...

[re_tail20]

“If Bobby Kennedy had let Ronald Reagan continue hosting his successful TV show, would my father have run for governor? Doubtful. And if he had not been elected governor, he certainly would not have run for president of the United States.”

I’d consider this Bobby Kennedy’s greatest legacy - one liberals can barely contemplate.

[al baby]

see post 9

[e_castillo]

Heh! Thats better.

[lonestar]

I thought the same thing...until I read it. If you haven’t already, read it...it’s interesting.

[Vendome]

Michael Reagan...The real son.

[al baby]

He was the chosen one

[rockinqsranch]

Thanks for the post Kaslin. Very interesting. I emailed my list the link.

[Vermont Lt]

I dont know, but the fact that this guy presents stock prices that are nearly 50 years apart as if there were no splits or dividends is at worst a moron, and at best he is the worst kind of huckster.

And there are people that read it and nod, as if to say, “Yeah, he must be right, he is Ronnie’s son....” should reconsider how they judge people.

I have always thought this guy was a jerk—trying to make buck off his Dad. He is no better than his brother....Ronnie punches the Dad doll one way, and Mikey punches it the other.

Go make a living on your own name.

[Publius]

Bobby Kennedy also provided Reagan with another chance to shine. In 1968, ABC broadcast "Town Meeting of the World", in which both Reagan and Bobby appeared. As an old Hollywood pro, Reagan knew enough to look into the camera even when it was not on him, something Bobby didn't figure out until it was too late.

While Bobby was apologizing for America's actions in the world, Reagan looked into the camera and said, "I will never apologize for America." The host from ABC gave Reagan a chance to back away from that statement, but Reagan only repeated it.

After the broadcast, Bobby knew he had performed quite badly as opposed to Reagan. He said to one of his staffers, "OK, who got me into this f***ing mess?"

[dancusa]

Too young for GE Theater. But I remember Reagan from 20 mule team Death Valley days in early 60’s. He hosted it and sometimes starred in it.