Reagan film a guide to 'all we went through'

Orange County Register ^ | Jan. 21, 2011 | David Bro

[La Enchiladita]

Late former President Ronald Reagan's name blazed across the marquee at San Juan Capistrano's Regency Theatre on Thursday night for the world premiere of "Ronald Reagan: An American Journey."

San Juan resident Robert Kline, a former executive vice president at Fox Studios and producer of "Firing Line" with William F. Buckley Jr., directed the documentary film, which he began in 2008 after the debut of his movie "The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings." Kline said it was natural to continue with Reagan, as he feels Presidents John F. Kennedy and Reagan were among America's greatest communicators.

"Reagan was unique because he was an equally great communicator to his friends as well as his adversaries," Kline said.

Kline sought and was granted full access to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, where, working with his wife, Stephanie Heredia, and audio-visual archivist Steven Branch, he completed the project in two years.

[La Enchiladita]

Kline introduced the film to three different capacity crowds at the Regency, commenting briefly about his experience with Reagan, his research for the film and the controversy involving Reagan's son Ron Jr., whose book "My Father at 100" claims Reagan had Alzheimer's disease while president. Reagan died in 2004 at age 93 after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

Kline, a friend of Ron Jr., said he strongly disagrees with the book's claim, citing comments made to him by friend Dr. Donald Becker, former chief of neurosurgery at UCLA Medical Center.

"Donny said he was asked by Reagan's people to evaluate the president and ... he was fine and showed no signs of any disease," Kline said. "I found that in Gorbachev's notes from '85, '86 and '88, he said Reagan had a total grasp of the missile talks."

I knew Dr. Becker and he is the best, so this puts the "controversy" to rest in my mind.