Posted on 03/30/2021 11:35:15 AM PDT by cowboyusa
I had just turned eleven and my sister and I were sick as dogs with the flu. My dad had us laid up on the couch and we were watching television. The news broke in and started talking about it. I called out for dad and he watched all day. I tried to, but in between puking, I kept falling asleep. I do remember dad was pretty upset about it.
That was the first time I truly understood what “crazy” meant. I couldn’t believe that he shot the president to impress Jodi Foster.
Watching clips, the press was obviously Liberal then, but not Marxist like it is today.
I remember where I was for JFK...Happened 3 weeks before my 15th birthday...My kid brother told me and I didnt believe him...Then my father said it was true...my 18 yo sister came in boo hooing and said we all had to wear black arm bands for a year...she was woke long before it was chic....
For President Reagan I had just got home from college classes and picking up my 2 yo from the sitters...I turned on the TV and saw the horrible news...again I had an idiot in my life...my Carter voter mother-in-law called to tell me to pray that President Reagan died...
For Presidents Lincoln, Garfield McKinley sorry wasnt around yet...which is a great relief because there were no close family idiots to drive me nuts either...
I was in high school history class. Our teacher announced it, then led a prayer asking for God’s intercession on Reagan’s behalf
My first big cry for a public figure was when Reagan lost to Ford in the primaries. I was probably 10 years old. But devastated. I wanted him to beat--I think it was Ford in the Republican primaries--more than anything even as a 10 year old. As I recall I was crushed for days. I started to heal only later when my dad let me know Reagan would run again in 4 years.
In many ways I am happy my dad passed before having to see how completely screwed and screwed up our country has become.
Was in Berkeley going to grad school. Other than a couple of friends who were concerned and we watched the TV together to find out what was going on, there was no reaction in Berkeley that I remember. I am guessing the local left were celebrating but I didn’t pay attention to that. Even back then, folks who were conservative at Berkeley largely had to move around under the radar. You already knew to keep your mouth shut and don’t do anything to bring attention to yourself.
It was shocking to me but in true Reagan fashion he pulled through and did it with that classic humor of his. To the surgeons: "I hope you are all republicans" haha! I believe he also said "I forgot to duck". He was making a speech some time after this and was at the podium when a loud 'pop' sounded from backstage and without missing a beat, Reagan said "missed me". God I loved him and loved that entire era.
Thanks for your share about what it was like, even back then, of your experience as a conservative. I do wonder when that began to shift. Do you think it was after WW2? That doesn’t make sense though as many soldiers went to college on the GI Bill. Maybe at the start of Vietnam? I would really like to pin point how and when and where this control began and how it took over (the repression and making evil conservatives.)
Great stories and also sharing Reagan’s sense of humor around it. Wonderful memories.
I was 24 yrs. old, had just league bowled in Oakland, NJ and was going to the bank in Pompton Lakes afterwards, with my one year old daughter in the car with me, when it came over the radio. It was devastating to say the least.
It was the best time to be a kid.
Ahhhh. To think of how that used to be a wonderful part of American culture. Prayer and class group prayer at that AND for a Republican president. Seems like a time barely memorable.
I was in High School (9th grade) in the middle of class when anther student ran in and said that President Reagan had been shot.
When my Mom picked my sister and me up after school (I think they let school out early because of this), my Mom was so very upset, and she was going to get some groceries but she was so, so afraid and upset that she was having trouble even driving to the store (Albertson’s).
My sister and I were asking what was going to happen, and she said you girls pray, we’re going to pray that President Reagan will be okay, that he won’t die. So we prayed together while Mom went hurriedly into the store and came out with supper fixings.
That night was scary too, as my Daddy and Mom and us girls watched the news and waited along with the rest of the world to find out who tried to murder this awesome, wonderful man that thought of all of us as his kids and grandkids, loved the military and gave all he had to support them, and loved this Land and spent time on his ranch in California working it, and had a place there for respite and help for wounded warriors, spouses, and youth.
When the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster happened, and when he and all of America and the world found that no one had survived, I was attending a small local businesses school. I called home and asked if this had really happened, and Mom told me yes. It was so hard to believe, and then so angering to find out later that NASA had pushed the launch forward that morning despite warnings that freezing temperatures would dangerously compromise the performance of the O - rings in the main fuel tank assembly.
NASA killed those brave astronauts and a school teacher, President Reagan did his best to comfort the families and indeed We The People, and I know he likely cried in private along with praying fervently.
President Reagan is in the Presence of The Lord Jesus now, and those who are also believers in Christ Jesus will soon see Christ’s Return. And we’ll see those loved ones, friends, and those who we helped or were helped by. And, Ronnie Reagan, our pappaw.
Thank You LORD GOD, for the gift of President Reagan. But most of all Your Precious Gift, The Savior of the World, Your Beloved Son, Jesus our Lord and Savior. Praise Your Holy Name, our Messiach, our Great King.
It was the greatest time (during my life) to be an American
—El Callao, Venezuela—hard it on BBC—
Grade school for JFK. They sent us all home. The TV was on when I got there.
Reagan, I was probably getting ready for work. Later that evening a couple of FBI vehicles screeched up to the curb in front of the shop. Apparently Hinkley had claimed he worked at the shop. He lived right up the road so might have applied at one time.
I was impressed by the Uzi the SS agent quickly produced. I wonder what they are packing these days ?
From the president of PETA ....worth the read (sorry about the ads, etc)
I was in the USAF stationed overseas. He was a great President. Just like President Trump.
I had helped raise money for his campaign in 1980.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.