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.
What a sick bunch.
To me, the testimony showed also the love and greatness of spirit in Michael Reagan.
Michael's eulogy was wonderful. The great love that he had for his father really came through.
I agree. It's so important to make sure those that you love are aware of that fact. Life is so short and following this advice you won't have regrets later in life.
I think these little insights into what Ronald Reagan was really like are so touching. I already loved Ronnie before; I love him more now.
From where I was sitting, he seemed to be bashing our current President. Amazing how individuals can perceive the same remarks so differently.
Michael Reagan seems to be the Reagan of the Future, and it seems he has become the son Ronald wanted. Listening to him on Radio America is hard to find, but worth it. He's a genius on the air.
DISCLAIMER: His books are published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. (NYSE : TNM), a company in which I hold shares.
Mike does a talk show, everynight out of L.A. He is a true believer in his Dad's Presidency and is the one who constantly defended his Dad from the naysayers. Maureen, who died of cancer recently was another big defender of her Father. I don't think it is right for any of us or anyone else to second guess this family. They all loved their Dad and will be better human beings for having had him and their mother in their lives.
I believe that Ron R. (the small one)was putting down President Bush for the way that he is unafraid to show his feelings about God.
Also I didn't like the way the family had Michael and his wife on the very back row at the capitol. There were people I had never seen in my life sitting right behind Nancy and her children. Then there was Michael.
You know that Ron R. goes on Chris M. show quite a bit?
Bump & bookmark
Who cares what Chris Matthews thinks. These leftists just can't bear the expression of true love and faith and patriotism. It affects them like a cross affects a vampire.
Leftists know no shame either.
I agree, antivenom. Ron Jr mentioned his father didn't wear his faith on his sleeve like some others in politics. Direct slam.
And yes, his wife was the one showing great emotion. At the casket she was overcome and didn't have her husband to comfort her-although in Ron's defense he was most likely caring for his mother at that moment. Michael Reagan was there though - the support and compassion was lovingly given to Ron's wife.
Michael had the best talk.
Patty only quoted other authors and Ron got into religion and something he doesn't really know -- he was over his head and fake.
Brit had a lady on his show the same evening of the capital memorial. He pointed out that Michael was in the back and not with the rest of th family. The lady who seemed to be in the know about the dunamics of the family said that the dysfunction in the Reagan family continues. I was glad that Brit brought this up, because my sister had just called me from Kentucky and had noticed the same thing. The lady spoke about a book that Michael had written called, "Outside Looking In". I plan to look for the book at Amazon.
Michael did not ride in the car with Nancy and the other two children at any of the televised events. I thought it very obvious that Michael was being treated as an outsider all the way to the end. When Patti finished his remarks, Ron got up and gave her a big hug. Neither acknowledged Michael.. Even Nancy mad the first move toward Ron and Patti, when they each finished their comments.
Michael was the one who constantly reached out to them during the entire week of mourning.
I thought Ron's remarks about religion being used as a political tool was directly meant for GWB. He has such distain for our president. They probably were meant for Michael as well.
Chris Mathews is enamoured with Ron. He must have been salivating when Ron gave his remarks. I really can't watch him anymore.
I agree that Ron will be front and center at the democrat convention.
I also predict that Nancy will cause GWB a great deal of grief over the stem cell issue as time grows nearer the election. She is not the conservative tht her husband was.
I thought her response to Michael when he approached her was shameful. She was cold and could never look him in the eye, not once. He and Maureen were the two to give her support during Reagan's illness. Especially Maureen. I remember when Maureen died how Michael, praised for the support and help she gave to Nancy.
Michael is the better of the two. Ron, Patti and Nancy will be interesting to watch between now and the election, and of course Orin Hatch as well, particularly on the stem-cell issue.
I think it's become undeniably clear that leftists have as their foundation a hatred of God and all that reflects His glory and goodness. Every day I see it more and more. And not just Christianity, as many people say. They just hate God Himself, and anyone who is trying to be His faithful servant. They exempt Muslims since Islamo-fascists have made themselves the enemy of God using the name of God.
I used to have a lot of sympathy with environmentalism (I have lived almost my whole life way out in the boondocks, and I can see many ill effects of squandering or polluting our natural resources) but it gradually became clear that environmentalists don't want to protect the earth because it belongs to God, but becuase they want it for themselves. They're just thieves and people haters. They say there are too many people - they mean, too many OTHER people.
I thought he had a talk show,,,,but we don't get it here in N.C. as far as I know.
It didn't look like Michael was reading from notes, either. I was impressed.
This is the part where I saw a look of shock on Nancy's face.
Why is my monitor getting fuzzy?
Chris Matthews
Ordinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid.
Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.