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Ronald Reagan: PROUD to Be Irish!
Reaganite Republican ^ | 17 March 2014 | Reaganite Republican

Posted on 03/17/2014 10:12:21 AM PDT by Reaganite Republican


As House Speaker for 6/8 of the Reagan years, bombastic spendaholic
Tip O'Neill was one of the fiercest opponents of the Gipper's entire agenda, fighting it tooth-and-nail to the end.

He even called Reagan a 'cheerleader for selfishness' and went so far as to personally attack him as 'most ignorant man that has ever inhabited the White House'.


Not one to be easily outwitted -but showing considerably more class and good humor- Reagan observed parallels between the blobular O'Neill and the then-trendy Pac-Man video game, as 'a round thing that gobbles up money'.

Yet despite the professional animosity, Reagan often said the two were 'friends after 6pm'... and both plenty proud of their shared Celtic Irish heritage. In fact, the Saint Patrick's Day Speaker's Luncheon -apparently cancelled this year- has been a tradition initially established by Reagan and O'Neill back in 1983...

Cloture Club:

Despite being fierce opponents during the day, the two grew to be friends.

One story goes how President Reagan would call Speaker O’Neill and say, 'Hey Tip, is it 6 o’clock yet?' in which Speaker O’Neill would reply, 'Why yes it is Mr. President.' 

After the work day had ended, the two were known to have gone and shared a few drinks together at local DC establishments. 

(pic)
On March 17, 1983, Speaker Tip O’Neill, President Ronald Reagan and Minority Leader Bob Michel celebrated the first Speaker’s St. Patty’s Day luncheon after Reagan and O’Neill had suggested doing a luncheon together to celebrate their Irish heritage on St. Patrick’s Day. 

Originally held in H-209 of the Capitol building, then the Speaker’s office, the event has since moved to the Rayburn Room in the House side of the Capitol.


By Reagan's final Saint Patrick's Day in office -1988- Tip O'Neill had retired from the House of Representatives, so he headed over to Alexandria for a surprise visit to Pat Troy's Irish Pub...  

And the Gipper was in fine form: after a cold brew and some corned-beef-and-cabbage, he takes the mike at 4:00... besides the jokes, be sure to note the allegedly 'ignorant' Reagan's extensive knowledge of Irish history and culture:

'I'm very leery of ethnic jokes in my position- the only ones I can tell are Irish!'  
  
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Video/pics at Reaganite Republican

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So may the road rise to meet ya...


A happy and blessed Saint Pat's to all you lasses and laddies from the 
half-Irish, all-Catholic  Reaganite Republican

 


TOPICS: Government; History; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: irish; oneill; reagan; stpattys

1 posted on 03/17/2014 10:12:21 AM PDT by Reaganite Republican
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To: AdvisorB; ken5050; sten; paythefiddler; gattaca; bayliving; SeminoleCounty; chesley; Vendome; ...

-O’Ping-


2 posted on 03/17/2014 10:14:29 AM PDT by Reaganite Republican
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To: Reaganite Republican
Thanks and same to you RR!


3 posted on 03/17/2014 10:17:52 AM PDT by capydick (''Life's tough.......it's even tougher if you're stupid.'')
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To: Reaganite Republican

It wasn’t just any cold brew. It was BALLANTINE ALE. And I’ll be having one in five hours.


4 posted on 03/17/2014 10:18:31 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Reaganite Republican

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all.


5 posted on 03/17/2014 10:37:20 AM PDT by kitkat (STORM THE HEAVENS WITH PRAYERS FOR OUR COUNTRY.)
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To: capydick

Much obliged, Capy


6 posted on 03/17/2014 10:48:38 AM PDT by Reaganite Republican
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To: massgopguy

Right on


7 posted on 03/17/2014 10:48:55 AM PDT by Reaganite Republican
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To: capydick

Great pic!


8 posted on 03/17/2014 10:51:21 AM PDT by MUDDOG
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To: Reaganite Republican

A very funny St. Patrick’s Day toast from President Reagan:

“Well, Seamus Wright, I’ll keep this brief. On St. Patrick’s Day, you should spend time with saints and scholars, so of course, you know, I have two more stops I have to make.”

— Ronald Reagan, 03/17/1988, in a toast at a St Patrick’s Day luncheon hosted by House Speaker Jim Wright


9 posted on 03/17/2014 11:00:46 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: Reaganite Republican

People like President Reagan made it OK for people with names like mine to be Republicans.


10 posted on 03/17/2014 11:21:14 AM PDT by Darren McCarty (Abortion - legalized murder for convenience)
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To: Reaganite Republican

Love Reagan!!!

I’m of French and Irish heritage, which means I have to surrender my whiskey.


11 posted on 03/17/2014 11:35:20 AM PDT by dragonblustar ( Psalm 103, Psalm 37:7, Ephesians 6:12)
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To: Reaganite Republican

Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. Tip O’Niell was one of them.


12 posted on 03/17/2014 11:38:41 AM PDT by forgotten man
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To: Reaganite Republican

Reagan was a GREAT actor. He was never “friends” with the loathsome, execrable baby-killer O’Neill.


13 posted on 03/17/2014 11:45:00 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: Arthur McGowan

They played cards together.


14 posted on 03/17/2014 12:37:12 PM PDT by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (What we need is to sucker the fedthugs into a "Tiananmen Square"-like incident on the National Mall!)
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To: spel_grammer_an_punct_polise

Of course. Reagan had people skills.


15 posted on 03/17/2014 12:59:20 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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