Ronald Reagan dies, June 5, 2004

http://www.oregonlive.com ^ | Friday June 05, 2009, 2:43 AM

[Lucky9teen]

On this day in 2004, Ronald Reagan, the nation’s 40th president, died at age 93 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Most historians give Reagan good marks for having lifted American confidence and for having managed the Cold War conflict with Soviets in its later stages.



Before embarking on a political career that brought him to the White House in 1981, Reagan spent two decades in Hollywood. Although he never became a top movie star, he appeared in more than 50 films and several television programs. His nickname “the Gipper” came about from his having played Notre Dame football star George “the Gipper” Gipp in the 1940 film “Knute Rockne: All American.”

In contrast to his friend Jimmy Stewart, who rose from private to colonel during World War II, Reagan couldn’t perform combat duty because of his poor eyesight. Beginning in 1942, he made military training films until his discharge in 1945.

During the late 1940s, Reagan became more politically conservative, influenced by his father-in-law, Loyal Davis, a wealthy Chicago neurosurgeon. In 1947, he testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee on communist penetration of the film industry. Reagan was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1947 to 1952 and again from 1959 to 1960.

After leaving the Oval Office in 1989, Reagan moved to the Los Angeles area, often spending time at his California ranch, Rancho del Cielo. In November 1994, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Reagan wrote: “I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.”

After a state funeral in Washington, Reagan was buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. His wife, Nancy, still lives in California.

[Vigilanteman]

LOL. Undoubtedly, you will be leaving him the six-pack via the same route I’ll be giving him the bottle of Scotch.

[Gator113]

Five years already. It seems like it was only yesterday when the world got to watch the Clintons fall asleep during his funeral.

I miss that great man and our way of life.

[Gator113]

Me too, but only one beer. No problem though, I take diuretics.

[smokingfrog]

My hero! No one could put down a liberal as well as President Reagan.

[dainbramaged]

What a great man - the speech he made after the Challenger disaster was probably the most moving thing I’ve ever heard.

[~Vor~]

That's why I'm hoping to outlive the impeached one...

[dfwgator]

One of his least known speeches, and yet, one of his best, was the very last major speech he gave, in 1992 at Oxford.

I’ve been trying like the Dickens to get a transcript of it, I saw it played on CSPAN a few years back, and wondered why the heck there is very little mention of it.

[Conservative4Ever]

I wept like a child while watching the funeral proceedings. Make an effort to see the Reagan Library. It is soooooo beautiful and the setting is wonderful.

[reagan_fanatic]

My favorite Reagan moment!

Don't mess with Ronnie!

[WilliamofCarmichael]

I was listening to NPR's Garrison Keillor. At the start of the show he announced that it was reported that President Reagan had died.

There were immediate squeals of delight, cheers, and applause.

Keillor must have stared down his audience because the celebrating soon ceased, Keillor finished his announcement and the show started.

[smokingfrog]

Morning in America

My how times change.

[Kakaze]

Reagan, was my first vote ( second term).I have a theory , for what its worth, I don't believe it takes a 'village", but I do believe the Man, the character of the man in the White House affects the generation coming to adult hood.

Ronald Reagan, provided a great example and set the course of our lives......the clinton kids , oh my.

Lord Knows what the Obama kids will be like but I know Dubya's kids went to war, I'm proud of them.

I'm proud of President Reagan.

[Loud Mime]

I’ll visit there 6 hours after my visit to an all you can eat buffet.

[conservative cat]

When Carter goes, I plan to make a special visit to Plains, Georgia to pour a fine bottle of Scotch over his grave. But it will have to pass through my kidneys first.

LMAO. How kind of you to filter it!

[Gator113]

;>)

[Lucky9teen]

Wow...that’s pretty cool.

My dad took me when I was 15 or 16, to see Reagan speak when he came to Medford, OR, and spoke at the airport there.

And even though politics didn’t really matter much to me then (because of my age)....I still knew he was a great man and a great President and I was SO proud to have seen him in person.

[Marathoner]

I was listening to NPR's Garrison Keillor. At the start of the show he announced that it was reported that President Reagan had died. There were immediate squeals of delight, cheers, and applause. Keillor must have stared down his audience because the celebrating soon ceased, Keillor finished his announcement and the show started.

I really hope you're right about Keillor staring down his audience. I'd heard about the cheers and applause and really had issues with Keillor because of that.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

It was radio but to me it was obvious that the audience was hushed. They quieted down too quickly for it to be otherwise and Keillor's tone and comments were very respectful.

I'd say about a quarter of the audience was involved.

[Right Cal Gal]

Indeed. I look at Ronaldus Magnus’ America, and I look at the Boy King’s vision. And I wonder if every time it rains in California, the Great One isn’t weeping for his beloved country and state.

[Right Cal Gal]

I live in California. Lord, I have NO excuse. I have loads of vacation coming and that’s a drive I’m going to take. I don’t care if gas is $6 a gallon, or the weather sucks. I owe this man so much.