Text of Michael Reagan's Remarks

[ReaganandDubyaForever]

Text of remarks by Michael Reagan at Friday's burial service for former President Reagan, as transcribed by eMediaMillWorks Inc.:

Good evening. I'm Mike Reagan. You knew my father as governor, as president. But I knew him as dad. I want to tell you a little bit about my dad. A little bit about Cameron and Ashley's grandfather because not a whole lot is ever spoken about that side of Ronald Reagan.

Ronald Reagan adopted me into his family 1945. I was a chosen one. I was the lucky one. And all of his years, he never mentioned that I was adopted either behind my back or in front of me. I was his son, Michael Edward Reagan.

When his families grew to be two families, he didn't walk away from the one to go to the other. But he became a father to both. To Patti and then Ronnie, but always to Maureen, my sister, and myself.

We looked forward to those Saturday mornings when he would pick us up, sitting on the curve on Beverly Glen as his car would turn the corner from Sunset Boulevard and we would get in and ride to his ranch and play games and he would always make sure it ended up a tie.

We would swim and we would ride horses or we'd just watch him cut firewood. We would be in awe of our father. As years went by and I became older and found a woman I would marry, Colleen, he sent me a letter about marriage and how important it was to be faithful to the woman you love with a P.S.: You'll never get in trouble if you say I love you at least once a day, and I'm sure he told Nancy every day "I love you" as I tell Colleen.

He also sent letters to his grandchildren. He wasn't able to be the grandfather that many of you are able to be because of the job that he had. And so he would write letters. He sent one letter to Cameron, said: "Cameron, some guy got $10,000 for my signature. Maybe this letter will help you pay for your college education. He signed it, Grandpa. P.S. Your grandpa is the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. He just signed his sign."

Those are the kinds of things my father did.

At the early onset of Alzheimer's disease, my father and I would tell each other we loved each other and we would give each other a hug. As the years went by and he could no longer verbalize my name, he recognized me as the man who hugged him. So when I would walk into the house, he would be there in his chair opening up his arms for that hug, hello, and the hug goodbye. It was a blessing truly brought on by God.

We had wonderful blessings of that nature. Wonderful, wonderful blessings that my father gave to me each and every day of my life.

I was so proud to have the Reagan name and to be Ronald Reagan's son. What a great honor. He gave me a lot of gifts as a child. Gave me a horse. Gave me a car. Gave me a lot of things. But there's a gift he gave me that I think is wonderful for every father to give every son.

Last Saturday, when my father opened his eyes for the last time, and visualized Nancy and gave her such a wonderful, wonderful gift.

When he closed his eyes, that's when I realized the gift that he gave to me, the gift that he was going to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He had, back in 1988 on a flight from Washington, D.C. to Point Mugu, told me about his love of God, his love of Christ as his Savior. I didn't know then what it all meant. But I certainly, certainly know now.

I can't think of a better gift for a father to give a son. And I hope to honor my father by giving my son Cameron and my daughter Ashley that very same gift he gave to me.

Knowing where he is this very moment, this very day, that he is in Heaven, and I can only promise my father this. Dad, when I go, I will go to Heaven, too. And you and I and my sister, Maureen, that went before us, we will dance with the heavenly host of angels before the presence of God. We will do it melanoma and Alzheimer's free. Thank you for letting me share my father, Ronald Wilson Reagan.

© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[kabar]

What, commentating on dog shows isn't a successful career??????????????????

LOL. I guess "going to the dogs" is a good thing. Happiness is a warm puppy.

[ET(end tyranny)]

I was posting to that thread. I left and when I got back it was gone. I thought it was an interesting and informative thread as well.

By the way, thanks for the posts, they are eye openers about Nancy Reagan.

[ET(end tyranny)]

I missed that part. Maureen, who died a few years ago, her husband was placed before Michael? That seems not right.

That's because it isn't proper. The first family takes precedence over the second one, including the second wife, odd as that may sound.

[ladyjane]

Talk to people who were in Washington when Nancy was there if you want to know how much worse it gets. Ronnie may have been 'beloved' but I doubt the intensity would have been as apparent had he not won the presidency. There, I've said it! although maybe it's too close in time to the funeral to have done so. The way Michael (and the other children) were treated during the funeral proceedings is the same way they've been treated by Nancy throughout their lives. As afterthoughts, at best. Nancy has ruled with an iron fist - she and her astrologer.

[condi2008]

BUMP.

[Tribune7]

Matthews more or less stated that Mike was proselytizing his evangelical Christian beliefs at his dad's funeral and wore his religion on his sleave.

Did he also think the tears were phoney?

[Irene Adler]

"I didn't know this before but Nancy Reagan was also adopted."

I am not sure this is true.

[mtntop3]

"It is terrible that so many people not only hate God but feel confident and proud of that hatred."

That is only their outward guise. In their hearts and souls there is disquiet and unease.

[mtntop3]

"The way Michael (and the other children) were treated during the funeral proceedings is the same way they've been treated by Nancy throughout their lives. As afterthoughts, at best."

Perhaps there was an assumption that children have some responsibility of their own to become adults, and to follow the Commandment: Honor thy father and mother...(Exodus 20:12).

Most, if not all, of the Reagan children did this.

The final determination is for the Lord to make - not us.

[little jeremiah]

Good point. And also extreme loneliness and fear, and sooner or later abject terror.

I do feel sorry for them. But I get angry about the proselytizing of materialism and atheism, and the increasing repression and derision of any religious values or moral absolutes. As though such expression had no place in public life.

[nmh]

"I didn't know this before but Nancy Reagan was also adopted."

I am not sure this is true.

I saw it on a site that had an abbreviated biography on her. She was adopted into a wealthy family.

[Not A Democrat]

I recently re-read Peggy Noonan's book, "When Character Was King". According to the book, Nancy was born Anne Frances Robbins. Nancy's biological father divorced her mother when she was a small child. Nancy is a nickname given to her by her mother (not a stage name). Later on, her mother remarried Dr. Loyal Davis, who adopted her.

[jonrick46]

This is the paragraph in question from Ronnie Jr's eulogy:

"Dad was also a deeply, unabashedly religious man. But he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage. True, after he was shot and nearly killed early in his presidency, he came to believe that God had spared him in order that he might do good. But he accepted that as a responsibility, not a mandate. And there is a profound difference."

For Ronnie Jr. to use the occasion of his father's death to make a veiled reference to President George W. Bush Christian faith is unforgivable. Those who saw him give this speech, did not fail to see the virulent nature of his attack. It was a despicable thing to do and what does Chris Matthews do? He takes it one step further to attack all Christians by his comments about Michael Reagan. Did Chris Matthews for one minute have any question of the outrageous nature of Ronnie Jr.'s effort to Bash Bush at his father's funeral? Not a chance. In fact, Ronnie Jr. would have been the Man of the Year if he had at the end of his speech, dropped trou and flashed a "I hate Bush!" tattoo on his posterior. He would have been immediately called by the Kerry Campaign to be the Vice Presidential running mate to the presumed candidate, John F. Kerry. They will use any occasion to further their lefty cause, even if it means walking over their father's grave--or, in this case, the greatest president of this century's grave.

[gentlestrength]

I think we need to love Ron and Patti even more, seeing their need, ok? :-)

In comment to several previous posts, I had long hair a long time, and I know it's not just "vanity" that made Patti brush her hair aside often, but long hair is difficult because it's often just in the way!
I watched Patti alot, and saw how she always looked to Nancy for how Nancy was responding, always seemed genuinely involved and caring. Friday she wore a cross and cross earings, for what it's worth. She did read the liturgical parts of the service with her mom, and at least closed her eyes during prayer time, which Ron would not.

I agree, Michael was wonderful. They all were, to me, (except the commentators of course!) From the amazing production crews, to the family themselves. Thank you for allowing my family to share in this time with you!

[Robert Lomax]

Matthews did go on and use Ronnie's own words to take a jab at Mike, when he indicated that Mike wore his religion on his sleave. Yes, I believe Ronnie's comments were a indictment of his own feelings about the current administration.

[White Mountain]

Your #106: Can you tell me where to find Reagan's farewell letter to america? My wife hasn't read it....thanks in advance.

I web-searched for "sunset of my life" and this was the first hit:

President Reagan's 1994 Alzheimer's Letter

I remember that he had a sign on his Oval Office desk, which said something like this: "There is no limit to what you can achieve if you don't mind who gets the credit." It is amazing what he achieved. His achievements are still bearing fruit, and sure enough, there are many who do not want to give him the credit.

I can see him now, swapping stories with the Challenger astronauts, and so many others.

Mr. President, farewell!

[Elsie]

I stripped them OFF as I e-mailed this out just a moment ago!

[Elsie]

Matthews should be very ashamed of himself.

---

Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.

[Elsie]

But he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage.

---

Amazing how you picked GWB out of this statement!

I was thinking of The Clinton's, myself, as well as all of the 'reverends' that grace the D side of the aisle.....

[job]

Spot on, Elsie.

But I think that most everyone here,on this forum, gets it, in that the most important things we do in life, the things that last and have meaning for an eternity, are things we do to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Chris Matthews, I have to seriously wonder if he gets it all. There are so many people that think religion, or faith, is just another aspect of life, and something that makes you more well-rounded. They do not see faith in Christ as a committment to God's Plan, and that God has a plan wherein one day even American politics will have no relevance (as we will live under a benign monarchy, ruled by the Lord Himself), but rather a Christian philosophy with acceptable moral tenets.

Point I am trying to make, is that Michael correctly, in my belief, held that RR's faith in Christ, was the most important thing in his life, even eclipsing the work he had done as President. It is only fitting that Michael would talk about the most important things at his father's funeral. If anyone wonders if that judgment is correct, resolve the fact that RR's work could never bring him eternal life, no one would argue that, there is no power over death even with the great things he had done, but faith in Christ does bring eternal life. Having recently lost my mother, who led me to Christ, knowing Christ's promise to us, was the most important and comforting thing in my mind when she passed on to be with the Lord.