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Posted on 06/11/2004 9:37:43 PM PDT by 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.
Matthews then deduced that Ron Reagan spoke of God just for his mother to hear it. I wonder if there's another thread around here that has better details (transcript)?
I agree. Ron and Patty spent their lives attacking their father before finally making peace with him as his mind started to fade. Michael was grateful for his father's love and had the capacity to love him back.
Michael didn't rell the rest of this story. One day as he and his wife were leaving she told Michael he had forgotten something important. He looked back to see his father standing on the porch with his arms open waiting for the goodbye hug Michael had forgotten to give him. He ran back and gave his father his hug.
Sad story that tells volumes about the terrible disease President Reagan suffered from.
But it also tell this: that even if President Reagan's brain couldn't hold on to details, facts, events, and memories - his heart couldn't forget love. The core of his being remained intact.
As the old saying goes it takes more to be a parent than to bring a child into the world. God bless Michael Reagan.
AGREE, AGREE, AGREE !!! But, the Prez and Dad Prez did pretty well. But, Michael carried the ball.
I thought the same thing. Michael is author of these words. How can the AP copyright his words?
Michael was great, just great. It is more than obvious that he is the most normal of the three Reaagan children there.
Patti has obvious problems. She does not dress or behave with the polish one would expect from a daughter of Ron and Nancy. Something is just not all there with her.
Ron is a disgrace and doesn't fit into his dad's shoes on any level. There is an agenda there, and I wander what his REAL story is. He will be up front and center at the Democratic Convention. The democrats are licking their chops knowing that they have him to work for their cause.
Wow. I am speechless. I feel like crying.
Oh my God ... that lump in my throat is back.
I respect Michael immensely for not only his eulogy, but for the love that he not only felt for - but showed to - his father. God bless them both.
"I agree. Ron and Patty spent their lives attacking their father before finally making peace with him as his mind started to fade. Michael was grateful for his father's love and had the capacity to love him back."
I have to defend Patty and Ron Jr. I thought both were great today (I just saw the replay) and were very sincere. As they say "Better late than never."
Patty's story of Ronnie taking her to a field where a fire brush had swept through days before and showing the regeneration of grass beginning and saying, "In death there always comes good" was very touching and her story of Ronnie explaining how her dead fish (after a proper burial) was in heaven swimming in beatiful blue water. Young Patty then suggested that they kill the others so they could join their lost member and have the same beautiful enviroment to live in too. The President took more time to explain that death comes on God's timetable. Check the replays on C-Span which will air the whole weeks highlights on Sunday.
And Ronnie Jr. was very sincere and told a hilarious story of how the Gipper wanted to revive the "thumbs up" gesture. On one of his first forays in doing the thumbs up gesture to a crowd as he and Ronnie Jr. rode along in the Presidential limo, the President's single-digit gesture was retorted by one angry man that gave him a "different single-digit gesture." The President turned to Ron Jr. and without missing a beat said, "See! I think it's catching on!" Just great.
I think they learned to love their father and accept his genuineness even if his brutal honesty may at one time seemed a disconnect.
God Bless them all!
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Although Michael was the adopted son, he served his Father as a son should. His life shows his respect for his Father. I like to think because he had more time with him than the others. Michael, your Father would be proud, and hopefully and prayerfully Nancy and your siblings are as well, He lives on in you. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Reagan was solid gold.
Dear Michael,
I think I shall have to change my tagline to "everything has a meaning" to honor my now two favorite presidents.
this from someone who voted for Dukakis.
I saw that and it was beautiful just as the whole day had been.
And AP saw fit to put their copyright on it....bah
Thank you for posting this. Michael's words left me speechless and in tears last night.
Doesn't Michael do some talk Radio somewhere?
Agreed. Who in the h*** is Chris Matthews to criticize what ANY family member says at a PRIVATE burial ceremony? That screaming moron should be glad the Reagans even invited us to invade their privacy with TV cameras for what was a horribly difficult time for them. Chris Matthews can stick it up his ass--maybe that would quiet him down a little.
I even noticed that Michael's WIFE seem more greif struck that then "Patti & Ronnie"...
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