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Barbara Walters disputes Ron Reagan’s book claims about father’s mental state
Daily Caller ^ | 1/18/11 | Jeff Poor

Posted on 01/18/2011 3:49:59 PM PST by markomalley

In Ron Reagan Jr.’s new book, “My Father at 100,” he says his father, President Ronald Reagan, exhibited signs of mental lapse during the end of his first term in office. And although Ron Reagan has since backtracked from some of those claims, there is still the question – did President Ronald Reagan show signs of mental deterioration while in office?

According to Barbara Walters, the answer is no. Walters was the moderator of the 1984 presidential debate between then-Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale and Reagan, which is where Ron Reagan alleged his father first showed signs of Alzheimer’s.

“The 100th birthday of President Ronald Reagan is coming up and his son has a new book, ‘My Father at 100,’ where he claims in the book that his father showed signs of Alzheimer’s during his first term in office – specifically mentions the 1984 presidential debate with Democrat Walter Mondale, where Ron, Jr. writes that his father looked lost and bewildered,” Walters said on ABC’s Tuesday broadcast of “The View.” “Well, as it happens, I was a moderator of that debate. It was in 1984. It was an hour and 40 minutes. That’s a long time. And maybe he stumbled over one answer or so forth. But I don’t remember — an hour and 40 minutes to answer questions and to answer questions from a panel, and he was with it.”

Those allegations have sparked a family feud between Ron Reagan and President Reagan’s adopted son Michael Reagan. (The two brothers haven’t always seen eye-to-eye on politics.) But according to Walters neither son was particularly close to the president during those years. She also claimed she spent more time with President Ronald Reagan than either son and  always witnessed Reagan being of sound mind.

“Ron, Jr.’s half-brother Michael said this is not true. This didn’t happen,” she continued. “I’m going to say something that I probably saw more of President Reagan in those years than either of his sons. He was not really close to them. And I did interview after interview. I didn’t see any signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s or whatever until after he left office. Now, this morning, Ron Reagan, who is a very pleasant fellow and I like him a lot, was on ‘GMA’ and he said – he sort of disputed what he said. He said I didn’t say that. I said exactly the opposite. I did not see symptoms of dementia or anything like that when he was in office. I wasn’t thinking, ‘Gee I’m seeing signs of Alzheimer’s here.’ So his half-brother says he said all of this because he’s trying to sell books.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: ballerina; notajunior; ronaldprescottreagan
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To: markomalley
"Sister Ron" is doing to his father's memory what John Edwards did to his late wife.

I don't know what beef the little prom queen had with his Dad, but he's obviously starving for a little leftist attention.

He's disgusting.
21 posted on 01/18/2011 4:25:06 PM PST by FrankR (The Evil Are Powerless If The Good Are Unafraid! - R. Reagan)
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To: markomalley

Why is Ron Reagan such a jerk? Even if this is true it’s your Dad? Does it really need to get dragged through the media like this?


22 posted on 01/18/2011 4:28:49 PM PST by exist
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To: markomalley
Ron was a "20 something" (being born 1958) when Ronnie whipped up on Carter (younger still in 1968 when his father was making his mark to set him in position for his historic rise,) I hate to think that one's overly-pampered 20 something offspring really aware of a father's physical condition.

Come to think of it, I thought my parents were nuts when in my 20s and so have my children had similar opinions of me.

When I turned 45 and was divorced, one daughter of mine spoke with her elder sister about her "mother's ability to live on her own!"

So much for children's' views of their parents.

23 posted on 01/18/2011 4:34:38 PM PST by zerosix (native sunflower)
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To: markomalley

Does anybody know what schools Ronald P. Reagan went to? I am sure that he did not go to medical school. He probably went to a school for spoiled punks.


24 posted on 01/18/2011 4:36:33 PM PST by forgotten man (forgotten man)
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To: Swede Girl
Nancy needs to 1)speak up and set the record straight and 2)give her spoiled and misguided poor-excuse-for-a-son a long overdue public reprimand since he is too old now for a long-overdue spanking.

Ron Reagan is claiming that his mother said, ‘You tell them that I’ve read it, I loved it, it made me cry and I’m very proud of you.’”

It's hard to believe she said that. I don't trust him.

25 posted on 01/18/2011 4:40:52 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: csmusaret

Ron Jr’s always been a twit. And it ain’t just the shape of his head that’s funny.


26 posted on 01/18/2011 4:43:25 PM PST by Huck (The GOP symbol should be the platypus; they speak in platitudes and they act like pussies.)
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To: exist

$$$


27 posted on 01/18/2011 4:43:40 PM PST by GVnana
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To: exist
And to top it off he said on GMA that he does not air family laundry. I warrant his bed sheets stink.
28 posted on 01/18/2011 4:53:04 PM PST by Louis Foxwell (For love of Sarah, our country and the American Way of Life.)
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To: Hunton Peck

Fritz is just grateful to Reagan for refusing to make an issue of his youth and inexperience in 1984.


29 posted on 01/18/2011 5:11:37 PM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: Hunton Peck

The person who should be most outraged by Ronlet’s claims is Mondale, with whom the allegedly demented Ronald, Sr. wiped the floor in that debate.

***
Good one!


30 posted on 01/18/2011 5:12:44 PM PST by Bigg Red (Palin/Hunter 2012 -- Bolton their Secretary of State)
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To: exist

Why is Ron Reagan such a jerk? Even if this is true it’s your Dad? Does it really need to get dragged through the media like this?

&&&
Yeah, but look at all of the attention it’s gotten the little twit. Expect to see more.


31 posted on 01/18/2011 5:16:55 PM PST by Bigg Red (Palin/Hunter 2012 -- Bolton their Secretary of State)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

I believe Nancy said that. She is a phony.


32 posted on 01/18/2011 5:19:17 PM PST by Bigg Red (Palin/Hunter 2012 -- Bolton their Secretary of State)
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To: markomalley

Two words for Ron Reagan, and they are not Happy Birthday.


33 posted on 01/18/2011 5:27:01 PM PST by CdMGuy
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To: Carley

Ron needs to go back to hosting the dog shows (he’s too old to return to ballet class).


34 posted on 01/18/2011 6:33:03 PM PST by teeker
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