Ronald Reagan dies at 93

CNN ^ | June 5, 2004 | RRPL

[smokingfrog]

Former President Ronald Reagan died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 93.

Reagan led a conservative revolution that set the economic and cultural tone of the 1980s, hastened the end of the Cold War and revitalized the Republican Party. He suffered from Alzheimer's disease since at least late 1994.

At least two of his children and his wife, Nancy, were at his bedside, according to the former president's Los Angeles office.Ron Reagan Jr. and Patty Davis -- children from his current marriage to Nancy Davis Reagan -- were with him at his home in the Bel Air district of Los Angeles, the office said.It was unclear whether Michael Reagan, his adopted son from his first marriage to actress Jane Wyman, was at his side. Maureen Reagan, his daughter from that marriage, died of brain cancer in 2001.

President Bush was informed of Reagan's death while in Paris, where he is on tour to honor the heroes of World War II on the weekend of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.The White House lowered its flag to half-staff after the news. Bush planned to issue a recorded statement later.

Michael Reagan released a statement soon after his father's death.

"I pray that as America reflects on the passing of my Dad, they will remember a man of integrity, conviction and good humor that changed America and the world for the better," Michael Reagan said. "He would modestly say the credit goes to others, but I believe the credit is his."

Reagan was praised by presidential historian Robert Dallek.

"He restored a kind of confidence in the presidency, and a better mood in the United States about politics and politicians and about the presidency," Dallek said.

[smokingfrog]

http://www.ronaldreagan.com/Ronald_Reagan_Biography.html

Ronald Wilson Reagan was sworn in as President of the United States on January 20, 1981. Iran, which had been holding dozens of American hostages for more than a year, released the former embassy workers within an hour of Reagan's taking office.

What started as the best year of Ronald Reagan's long lifetime came to an abrupt halt when would-be assassin John Hinckley, Jr. shot the President outside of the Washington Hilton Hotel. Reagan survived, winning the hearts of both supporters and opponents alike with his ever-positive and humorous personality, telling doctors who were about to operate on him, "I hope you're all Republicans."

Weeks later, the President surprised nearly everyone by passing the "Kemp-Roth" 25% income tax cuts through a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives. The cuts are credited with turning around the American economy and mainstreaming "supply-side economics." Though Reagan cut taxes, the resulting economic growth resulted in federal government revenues increasing by 96% during the Gipper's 8 years in office.

The popular Reagan was re-elected and concluded his distinguished political career in 1989.

About that time, the Soviet Union began to disintegrate, the Berlin Wall fell and Eastern Europe was freed from communist oppression. Ronald Reagan arguably had accomplished more than any other person in the 20th Century. But his retirement years were cut short by the revelation in 1994 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer disease.

The retired president faded from public view after the announcement and lived until 2004, when the family announced his passing.

The President was buried in southern California near his presidential library in June 2004 after a moving nationally televised funeral service. Ronald Wilson Reagan, the simple boy from Tampico, Illinois, had become the man of the century, changing the course of world history and freeing hundreds of millions of people from the slavery of oppression.

[smokingfrog]

“Let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your President. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future….I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.” – Ronald Reagan

[Paine in the Neck]

The Battle Hymn of the Republic from the funeral of President Ronald Wilson Reagan

[duckworth]

I remember that day well. After I heard about it, I went outside to put up my flag in tribute, and my next door neighbor was already out there putting up his. I had tears in my eyes.

[LadyShires]

The memory of Ronald Reagan’s passing came to me yesterday out of nowhere - I was telling a friend about it. I had no idea that today was the anniversary of this wonderful man’s passing. Thank you for for this - beautiful. You now light up Heaven, Ron.

[Diogenesis]

"Our enemies may be irrational, even outright insane,
driven by nationalism, religion, ethnicity or ideology.
They do not fear the United States
for its diplomatic skills or the number of automobiles
and software programs it produces.
They respect only the firepower of our tanks,
planes and helicopter gunships."

President Ronald Reagan

[Diogenesis]

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same,
or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children
and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
President Ronald Reagan

[ReneeLynn]

Even in his passing America was held up. It was an inspiring and sad funeral. I couldn’t stop watching and cried more for what America had lost than for his passing. RIP Ronnie.

[PapaNew]

Reagan started out as a Democrat. He had about seven years of training in negotiations when he was president of the Screen Actors Guild who loved him because he was so successful. For eight years as a General Electric representative, he toured the many GE plants around the country. As he constantly parlayed with the average Joe at all these plants, he began to rethink his way of looking at things and forged a conservative viewpoint that we now know so well.

Reagan was very well read and knew his history. Those that scoffed and discounted him as a lightweight had no idea about the background he came furnished with. Reagan's enemies called his campaign "Bedtime for Bonzo." They didn't realize this guy in many ways knew more than they did.

This is a hard act to follow. At the time, I didn't know much about Reagan’s background or why he was so good. It was only later that I learned about all this stuff he did before anybody took notice.

God Bless you Mr. Reagan. I intend to see you someday in Heaven.

[TheConservativeParty]

I remember that day. I remember the work I was doing, and listening to the radio and the coverage of President Reagan’s death.

I also remember a lot of the funeral events from that whole week, ending with the heartbreaking sight of Mrs.Reagan at the final service in CA, and her not wanting to leave the side of the casket.

My favorite President, and there will be no other to take his place in my heart.

[Diogenesis]

"Almost all the world's constitutions are documents
in which governments tell the people what their privileges are.
Our Constitution is a document in which
'We the people' tell the government what it is allowed to do.
'We the people' are free."

- President Ronald Reagan

[Repeal The 17th]

[PROCON]

I remember that day well too; I cried like a baby; my liberal boss thought I was deranged to mourn Reagan.

[Mike-o-Matic]

I’m at home watching “I Want Your Money” on Netflix, when I decided to check my email and Freep on the laptop while watching. ‘Ol Ron was speaking in the show when this story crossed my screen. Great timing!

Thanks again Gipper!

[smokingfrog]

I remember.

Reagan Landslide '84

[abb]

What I remember about the funeral is that Lady Margaret Thatcher came, even with her failing health.

I remember her approaching the casket and curtseying, even though it was obviously painful for her to do so.

Spoke volumes about the relationship between the two.

[PapaNew]

Should have included this in my previous post.

http://www.ge.com/reagan/video.html

[TheCause]

Still Point in a Turning World: Ronald Reagan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvP63ETpjbM

His spirit is growing again.....

[SES1066]

Reagan started out as a Democrat.

In 1982 at the depth of the recession as Reagan and Volker fought to bring the USofA back from what Carter had left, Sam Donaldson [ABC News] asked at a press conference; "Mr. President, in talking about the continuing recession tonight, you have blamed mistakes in the past and you have blamed the Congress. Does any of the blame belong to you?" To which Reagan retorted: "Yes because for many years I was a Democrat!"

[Christian4Bush]

I remember it all too well. Heard about it on the radio. Had just started to listen to Tammy Bruce not long prior, and back then she had a weekly show on Saturdays on KABC. I was sad, though glad he was no longer suffering, and I was ok until I heard the first segment of her show. Her opinion of him had dramatically improved from her days with N.O.W., and the last thing she did in the first segment of her show was to read the President’s goodbye letter from 1994, where he first announced he had Alzheimers.

Well, she tried to read it. Choked up. Tried again to finish it. Broke down, apologizing to us listeners. Took the commercial break that was coming anyway, composed herself, and finished the letter. Did a wonderful tribute. Have been a fan of hers ever since. (2004 was my second year on Free Republic...I wasn’t quite as active an activist as I am today.)

Took that Friday off to watch the memorial services, morning and evening. Was tempted to go to his library in Simi Valley, but there were so many people there, I talked myself out of it. (Simi Valley isn’t too far from me) Someday I will go there.