Posted on 06/05/2011 1:51:36 PM PDT by smokingfrog
Former President Ronald Reagan died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 93.
Reagan led a conservative revolution that set the economic and cultural tone of the 1980s, hastened the end of the Cold War and revitalized the Republican Party. He suffered from Alzheimer's disease since at least late 1994.
At least two of his children and his wife, Nancy, were at his bedside, according to the former president's Los Angeles office.Ron Reagan Jr. and Patty Davis -- children from his current marriage to Nancy Davis Reagan -- were with him at his home in the Bel Air district of Los Angeles, the office said.It was unclear whether Michael Reagan, his adopted son from his first marriage to actress Jane Wyman, was at his side. Maureen Reagan, his daughter from that marriage, died of brain cancer in 2001.
President Bush was informed of Reagan's death while in Paris, where he is on tour to honor the heroes of World War II on the weekend of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.The White House lowered its flag to half-staff after the news. Bush planned to issue a recorded statement later.
Michael Reagan released a statement soon after his father's death.
"I pray that as America reflects on the passing of my Dad, they will remember a man of integrity, conviction and good humor that changed America and the world for the better," Michael Reagan said. "He would modestly say the credit goes to others, but I believe the credit is his."
Reagan was praised by presidential historian Robert Dallek.
"He restored a kind of confidence in the presidency, and a better mood in the United States about politics and politicians and about the presidency," Dallek said.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.cnn.com ...
Ronald Wilson Reagan was sworn in as President of the United States on January 20, 1981. Iran, which had been holding dozens of American hostages for more than a year, released the former embassy workers within an hour of Reagan's taking office.
What started as the best year of Ronald Reagan's long lifetime came to an abrupt halt when would-be assassin John Hinckley, Jr. shot the President outside of the Washington Hilton Hotel. Reagan survived, winning the hearts of both supporters and opponents alike with his ever-positive and humorous personality, telling doctors who were about to operate on him, "I hope you're all Republicans."
Weeks later, the President surprised nearly everyone by passing the "Kemp-Roth" 25% income tax cuts through a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives. The cuts are credited with turning around the American economy and mainstreaming "supply-side economics." Though Reagan cut taxes, the resulting economic growth resulted in federal government revenues increasing by 96% during the Gipper's 8 years in office.
The popular Reagan was re-elected and concluded his distinguished political career in 1989.
About that time, the Soviet Union began to disintegrate, the Berlin Wall fell and Eastern Europe was freed from communist oppression. Ronald Reagan arguably had accomplished more than any other person in the 20th Century. But his retirement years were cut short by the revelation in 1994 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer disease.
The retired president faded from public view after the announcement and lived until 2004, when the family announced his passing.
The President was buried in southern California near his presidential library in June 2004 after a moving nationally televised funeral service. Ronald Wilson Reagan, the simple boy from Tampico, Illinois, had become the man of the century, changing the course of world history and freeing hundreds of millions of people from the slavery of oppression.
“Let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your President. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future….I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.” – Ronald Reagan
I remember that day well. After I heard about it, I went outside to put up my flag in tribute, and my next door neighbor was already out there putting up his. I had tears in my eyes.
The memory of Ronald Reagan’s passing came to me yesterday out of nowhere - I was telling a friend about it. I had no idea that today was the anniversary of this wonderful man’s passing. Thank you for for this - beautiful. You now light up Heaven, Ron.
"Our enemies may be irrational, even outright insane,
driven by nationalism, religion, ethnicity or ideology.
They do not fear the United States
for its diplomatic skills or the number of automobiles
and software programs it produces.
They respect only the firepower of our tanks,
planes and helicopter gunships."
President Ronald Reagan
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same,
or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children
and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
President Ronald Reagan
Even in his passing America was held up. It was an inspiring and sad funeral. I couldn’t stop watching and cried more for what America had lost than for his passing. RIP Ronnie.
Reagan was very well read and knew his history. Those that scoffed and discounted him as a lightweight had no idea about the background he came furnished with. Reagan's enemies called his campaign "Bedtime for Bonzo." They didn't realize this guy in many ways knew more than they did.
This is a hard act to follow. At the time, I didn't know much about Reagan’s background or why he was so good. It was only later that I learned about all this stuff he did before anybody took notice.
God Bless you Mr. Reagan. I intend to see you someday in Heaven.
I remember that day. I remember the work I was doing, and listening to the radio and the coverage of President Reagan’s death.
I also remember a lot of the funeral events from that whole week, ending with the heartbreaking sight of Mrs.Reagan at the final service in CA, and her not wanting to leave the side of the casket.
My favorite President, and there will be no other to take his place in my heart.
"Almost all the world's constitutions are documents
in which governments tell the people what their privileges are.
Our Constitution is a document in which
'We the people' tell the government what it is allowed to do.
'We the people' are free."
- President Ronald Reagan
I remember that day well too; I cried like a baby; my liberal boss thought I was deranged to mourn Reagan.
I’m at home watching “I Want Your Money” on Netflix, when I decided to check my email and Freep on the laptop while watching. ‘Ol Ron was speaking in the show when this story crossed my screen. Great timing!
Thanks again Gipper!
What I remember about the funeral is that Lady Margaret Thatcher came, even with her failing health.
I remember her approaching the casket and curtseying, even though it was obviously painful for her to do so.
Spoke volumes about the relationship between the two.
http://www.ge.com/reagan/video.html
Still Point in a Turning World: Ronald Reagan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvP63ETpjbM
His spirit is growing again.....
In 1982 at the depth of the recession as Reagan and Volker fought to bring the USofA back from what Carter had left, Sam Donaldson [ABC News] asked at a press conference; "Mr. President, in talking about the continuing recession tonight, you have blamed mistakes in the past and you have blamed the Congress. Does any of the blame belong to you?" To which Reagan retorted: "Yes because for many years I was a Democrat!"
I remember it all too well. Heard about it on the radio. Had just started to listen to Tammy Bruce not long prior, and back then she had a weekly show on Saturdays on KABC. I was sad, though glad he was no longer suffering, and I was ok until I heard the first segment of her show. Her opinion of him had dramatically improved from her days with N.O.W., and the last thing she did in the first segment of her show was to read the President’s goodbye letter from 1994, where he first announced he had Alzheimers.
Well, she tried to read it. Choked up. Tried again to finish it. Broke down, apologizing to us listeners. Took the commercial break that was coming anyway, composed herself, and finished the letter. Did a wonderful tribute. Have been a fan of hers ever since. (2004 was my second year on Free Republic...I wasn’t quite as active an activist as I am today.)
Took that Friday off to watch the memorial services, morning and evening. Was tempted to go to his library in Simi Valley, but there were so many people there, I talked myself out of it. (Simi Valley isn’t too far from me) Someday I will go there.
I only hope when (not if) Palin is POTUS, she can come up with such brilliant on-the-spot answers - not mean, just spot on.
DC FReepers were in action against Code Pink that day. We defended Sec. Rumsfeld’s home from a stinky hippie invasion.
I cried buckets full of tears when President Reagan died. Was glued to my tv to watch the funeral events, and later visited his grave shortly after his passing with a group of California FReepers, including JimRob. Will never forget.
If you’ve never visited the library you need to. It is exceptional. His feet are pointed toward the Pacific Ocean and his Air Force One is on display...all of it.
I lived in Ireland during the first years of Reagan’s presidency. The leftist scum over there were putting up anti-US propaganda posters showing a cartoon of Reagan wearing an Uncle Sam outfit and shooting “innocent” Middle East Arabs . . . ridiculous how bad the anti-US propaganda was back then; it’s far worse now.
RIP. It was so sad to see this great man struck down by Alzheimer’s. I know he is truly at peace now.
So California is worth fighting for, people. Don't dismiss it so easily.
One of the saddest days ever in my life.
RIP, RR.
Don't worry about them.
Most of those willing to give up the best to settle for less, are not the ones ya want in a foxhole with ya.
Most of them are just pissed they're in a place where the winters resemble the inside of my icebox, with summers being like the surface of Mercury, but with uninhabitable sweltering humidity.
To this day I can’t look at his photo’s, read about him or listen to his speeches without getting wet eyes.
I loved this great man while her was here, I sorely miss him now and will until my time is up.
I had live and worked in CA for many years. I know there are many conservatives in the state. It is a beautiful state and worth fighting for.
Miss you? Yes Sir, every day.
The put a picture of President Reagan on the infield matrix board; and I knew. After a brief delay, there was a PA announcement and people were asked to stand in silence in memory of the late President. The place was absolutely quiet. Afterward a couple of my daughter's friends asked respectful questions about the President, and I answered.
ML/NJ
It was 1986. I was flown in to DC as a delegate to my fraternity. The hotel picked me up at the airport. The driver said “get in the car, as fast as you can!!”. I complied and he said he had a surprise for me. Upon reaching the hotel, he said “I’m taking your bags in. Go stand there on the curb. President Reagan will be arriving any minute!!” Well, sure enough, in came the motorcade. I was one of a few people standing there on the hotel corner curb to the basement entrance. The President waved at us and I got a pic of it. I then went in to the hotel to check in, then went downstairs to the ballrooms. The Secret Service blocked each door and eyeballed me as I stood there to listen to that golden voice booming through the corridors. I’ll never forget the selflessness and hustle of that hotel driver for allowing me to witness the Great One.
I think that is my favorite picture of him. Funny how you can miss someone that you didn’t personally know.. but I do.
I went to the White House, on the Lafayette Park side. There were a lot of us there. Somebody gave me a candle to hold, everybody had them.
My most memorable moment was Margaret Thatcher approaching the casket and then laying her hand upon the flag draped over it. You could see the sorrow she felt at his loss and great affection she held for him.
That’s the picture that stands in my mind from the funeral.
Thank you for posting. Lady Thatcher is wonderful!
Something else that I noticed in that clip was that Arnold appeared to cross himself backwards.
Nothing makes the tears well up as easy, as remembering President Reagan.
It’s not just that he’s gone, it’s that America is so different than when he was President. That’s the painful part, to know that half our country is for all practical purposes, anti-American now.
I pray we get an American President with the same values as President Reagan, on Jan.20th, 2013. We will not survive as “America” without that answered prayer.
I want Reagan’s America back. I know of only a few presidential contenders who want that too. May God have mercy on us, and give us a patriot president again.
Yea, I was home that week for the funeral. I had tears in my eyes. I did record the event for the future. I had to make copies for hundreds of freepers! I wish we had him back!
I could have done without the Gorby pic.
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