Here’s a photo of Ron and Nancy the way I saw them at Bel Air Presbyterian.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zffCruuQm6k/Tp_Yqr5kJiI/AAAAAAAALdw/23MR-hmkCK8/s1600/Ronald-and-Nancy-Reagan-with-Michael-Jackson.jpg&imgrefurl=http://whoknewtheykneweachother.blogspot.com/2011/10/ronald-nancy-reagan-with-michael.html&h=1600&w=1524&sz=461&tbnid=zwQ-qj-xdIW7mM:&tbnh=142&tbnw=135&zoom=1&usg=__ko0B-0mb8DNxj3H2KUDbEWuVdZk=&docid=Z0MNbyjO4oKhYM&sa=X&ei=ikpAUuGwMKWejALVlYGgDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQ9QEwCw
Nancy was 5’4” and I would say those are 3” heels she is wearing making her 5’7” in the photo absent the hair pile. Ronald’s boots are western dress boots giving him at least 2” in height.
Nancy’s brushed hair gives her about 3” extra height and Ronald’s about an inch at most.
In the photo Ronald stands about 3” taller than Nancy.
After all adjustments take 3” off Reagan and 6” off Nancy and add 3” that Ronald has over Nancy in the photo. Ronald stands about 6” taller than Nancy’s 5’4”. That’s about how tall I remember him, maybe even an inch shorter.
Remember too that Ronald was an actor and likely wore height increasing shoes, hence the western style boots. Many Hollywood actors of his era were made to look taller than they actually were. Humphrey Bogart had to practically wear stilts in films with his leading ladies. Tom Cruise is only 5’7” but he is made to look taller in his films.
Ronald also colored his hair. All of these things were done in his day to look the part, and I don’t mind these vanities. Earlier presidents also had cosmetics or hairpieces to enhance their image with the public.
It’s not about appearance so much as about spirit but of course appearance helps a great deal. Newt Gingrich is tall but many think him fat and short probably because his spirit doesn’t often resonate with the public (although I like him, at times). I’ve stood next to Newt and he is a big man, tall and stocky.
Also looking at the photo you can see Michael Jackson about the same height as Ronald Reagan. Michael was said to be 5’11” and that may or may not be true. But his hairpile is about an inch and his shoes likely added an inch. Subtracting 2” for Michael and 3” off RR would leave RR at 5’10” if in fact Michael was 5’11” which I somehow doubt.
RONALD REAGAN FACTS
Physical Description
Height: 6’1”
Hair: Brown
Weight: 180-184 lbs.
http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/reference/facts.html
RR's height has been reported in many references and all references essentially say the same thing: 6'1".
Picture angles often change the perspective of things. In person people often lean in as they greet others. Maybe you're short and he leaned forward to accommodate you.
Suffice it to say you did not witness him in his doctor's office on a height/weight scale.
I happen to be 6'4" so from my perspective he would have been shorter than me. Had I ever met him I doubt he would have been inclined to lean-in to accommodate my height.
I any case he was certainly not a man of short stature as has been implied.
FReegards!
