I strongly doubt that Ronald Reagan was ever aware of Santorum’s existence.
I suspect that you’re right. But, now that I’ve seen Wayne’s reply to you in his #45, the only conclusion is that he’s being deliberately obtuse, as is his wont. There’s probably no point in discussing it with him any further.
I have no reason to believe he did. Of course, several people who were close to Ronald Reagan say he hardly knew Newt Gingrich. And Newt doesn’t figure into his memoirs.
But all I really want to remind people is that Nancy Reagan did NOT say that the torch was passed to Newt alone, but to the entire republican congress. Each time it is brought up, it reminds people that Newt claimed as a personal thing something that was in fact given to his colleagues as well.