[MadIvan]

This is particularly poignant for me because my mother recently discovered a photo from 18 years ago of me and my sister in Washington DC - we stood with a life size cutout of President Reagan. I had my arm around his shoulders, my sister, who was quite small at the time, was holding his hand. He was like a favourite uncle, a staunch defender of freedom, and as the Daily Telegraph called him, "The Great Man".

Maureen Reagan worked for the Alzheimer's Association. They accept online donations at their site, which is at: www.alz.org. Please give generously.

God Bless You, Uncle Ron.

Regards, Ivan

[NYCVirago]

The children had many run-ins with their emotionally distant father but Michael now visits him once a month. “He doesn’t know me, but I go there for Nancy, to show up. I hug and kiss him,” he said.

What a good son and stepson. Too bad his brother Ron is such a jerk.

[HAL9000]

Thanks for the post.

[Spacetrucker]

Many in his day called him the Mad Cowboy many called him dim Many more thought of him as a great leader Through times of peace and when they seemed grim I will always remember that we always knew where he stood As did the rest of the world For the American people that was good. It is best he does not know how the country he led is now After the effort he gave His only word would be, "HOW?" Pass well, Mr. President - your vision, leadership and courage will be sorely missed. May God take you gently into His loving arms to your blessed reward.

[Dustbunny]

This is so sad.

Crying for him and his family.

I frequently prayed that he would quietly slip into Gods's hands before he became this bad, now I will pray that God takes him soon.

[foreverfree]

bump

[World'sGoneInsane]

“George W is closer to my father’s ideology than he is to his father’s,” said Michael, who believes that the September 11 attacks would not have happened under Reagan. “He responded to the Muammar Gadaffis. They knew where he stood.” Despite backing Bush, he thinks his father would have disapproved of the “giant conversation” under way over Iraq. Libya was bombed in 1986 after a terrorist attack on Americans in West Berlin. “Dad didn’t hold a press conference saying what we’ll do with Gadaffi. He just did it,” said Michael.

I hope Peggy Noonan reads the line about W's ideaology being closer to Reagan's than his father's. If Reagan was in after the Clinton era however, I don't know if even he could have stopped 9/11. I distinctly remember the Libya bombing though, and Reagan acted swiftly there. Gadaffi had a transformation after that--thanks to President Reagan. The only time Gadaffi came out of his hole after that day was to express his support of America's actions. I believe history will remember Ronald Reagan for the true statesman he was, and perhaps learn from his belief in a strong America. I am sure he is safely in God's hands as he sleeps, and I pray his passing is peaceful.

[A. Pole]

Federal spending on Alzheimer pales in comparison with AIDS related research:
The $521 million allocated for annual NIH research in 2001 pales in comparison to the projected resources given to AIDS (at least $2.2 billion)
This is despite that number of Alzheimer is much higher.

Are We Spending Too Much on AIDS?

[...]
This year, AIDS dropped from being the 14th biggest killer of Americans to number 15. Heart disease this year will kill about 775,000 Americans, a figure perhaps 20 times as high as the number of Americans who will die of AIDS in the next twelve months. In the next two months cancer will kill almost as many people as have died of AIDS in the course of the entire epidemic.

Nevertheless, the current PHS allocation of about $1.6 billion for AIDS research and education higher than that allocated for any other cause of death. In 1990, the CDC will spend $10,000 on prevention and education for each AIDS sufferer as opposed to $185 for each victim of cancer and a mere $3.50 or each cardiac patient.

Total federal research expenditures on AIDS this year will be more than 100 percent of nationwide patient costs in the case of cancer, the corresponding ratio of research-and-development spending to patient costs is about 4.5 percent, in the case of heart disease about 2.9 percent, and in the case of Alzheimer's disease, less than 1 percent.

AIDS activists have answers to these statistics. Since AIDS strikes most often in the prime of life, they urge us to consider the years of lost productivity as a cost that could be avoided by more spending now on AIDS research. Yet every year cancer and heart disease each kills more than 150,000 Americans below the age of sixty, while this year AIDS will kill around 30,000 persons of all ages. Nor do the calculations of years lost take account of the fact that intravenous drug abusers, who make up a growing portion of those affected by the disease, have a very low life expectancy and an even lower expectancy of productivity.
[...]

Bush budgets

There's no question that federal AIDS spending has gone up tremendously in recent years. President Bush's proposed fiscal 1993 budget calls for authorized spending of $4.9 billion, up from $4.4 billion in the year ending Sept. 30. The budget boasts of a 118% increase in AIDS spending authority since Mr. Bush took office in 1989. In research, the government now spends more on AIDS than on any other disease except cancer.

[Happygal]

That's the nicest post I've ever seen you make.
You are a big softie underneath that stiff upper lip :)

[.30Carbine]

This extremely well written article moved me to tears. Reagan's place in history and in heaven is secure. Every Republican since has tried and will try to live up to his stature, both public and private, but Ronald Reagan will always top the list.

As Maureen was quoted by Nancy as saying, "his soul doesn’t have Alzheimer’s."
I praise God for the hope that is ours in trials such as these through His Son Jesus Christ
and through the Holy Spirit who empowers us to overcome this present darkness.
When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!

[harpo11]

"As I walk off into the city streets,
a final word to the men and women of the Reagan Revolution,
the men and women across America who for 8 years
did the work that brought America back.
My friends: We Did It.
We weren't just marking time.
We made a difference.
We made the city stronger,
We made the city freer.
All in all, not bad, not bad at all.
And so, goodbye, God Bless you,
and God Bless the United States of America."

President Ronald Reagan's spirit, his energetic determination against the naysayers, his dynamic optimistism, his unflinching stalwart resolve brought down an "evil empire" and raised the Torch of Freedom higher for all the world to see and know that America is the Land of the FRee and the Home of the Brave. Ronald Reagan will forever live richly in our hearts and on the pages of history for eons and will be honored and revered for eternity.

[knighthawk]

You know I live in the Netherlands. There the media tried to convince Reagan was the worst thing that ever happened to everyone. A lot of people thought he was just a bad actor, now playing the cowboy in the White House.

But I think he was one of the best leaders in the world ever. And I know I not wrong, for there are so many others who think so too.

[BibChr]

Yea, but I want to say, "Mike, I know this is the only way you can be sure to get press, but some things belong behind the veil of family privacy. This is one of them."

My other thought I'm sure you'll understand: if Reagan expires, thank God it didn't happen while Clinton was President.

Dan

[yankeedame]

I had to quit reading these posts about 1/4 of the way through. I could hardly see b/c of the tears....

[nicmarlo]

The world will grieve at his passing and, perhaps, for a moment, will once be unified in their thoughts: he was a Great Man whom God smiled upon. How lucky was this country, America, to have him, and call him, President.

[LibKill]

This is the man that beat the Soviet Union.

I was particularly proud to serve in the USMC while he was Commander In Cheif.

If I live to be a thousand I will remember him with love and respect.

[Kwilliams]

My Fellow Americans,

I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzeimer's Disease.

Upon learning this news, Nancy and I had to decide whether as private citizens we would keep this a private matter or whether we would make this news known in a public way.

In the past, Nancy suffered from breast cancer and I had my cancer surgeries. We found through our open discourses we were able to raise public awareness. We were happy that as a result many more people underwent testing. They were treated in the early stages and able to return to normal, healthy lives.

So now, we feel it is important to share it with you. In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it.

At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done. I will continue to share life's journey with my beloved wife Nancy and my family. I plan to enjoy the great outdoors and stay in touch with my friends and supporters.

Unfortunately, as Alzheimer's Disease progresses, the family often bears a heavy burden. I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from this painful experience. When the time comes I am confident that with your help she will face it with faith and courage.

In closing 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 now begin this journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.

Thank you my friends. May God always bless you.

Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan

[VOA]

HE was a key figure in ripping down the iron curtain and ending the cold war, which brought
the 20th century to a close with America as the only superpower. Yet Ronald Reagan’s
horizons have shrunk to his bedside as Alzheimer’s disease ravages his mind.

Shrunk my rather-ample @ss!
At this moment Ronald Reagan knows more than one Bill Clinton will ever know about
truth, freedom and integrity.
And this is not to deify Ronald Reagan, but just to say what an exemplar he was among mankind.

(And I wasn't ragging on the writer...just letting it fly...)

[VOA]

Michael Reagan, his elder son, believes that death would be a merciful release
for the former American president.

Whenever I hear the topic of adoption, I think of Michael Reagan.
I can't think of any better example of why adoption can be an wonderful alternative for
couples unable to bring forth their own off-spring.

Of all the Reagan children, Michael appears to be the one who "got it" when considering
who and what his father meant to the country and the world.

[VOA]

Yet Ronald Reagan’s horizons have shrunk to his bedside as Alzheimer’s disease ravages his mind.

One last comment before I go...
how many aging men, suffering from Alzheimers...have a United States Aircraft Carrier
being built with with name slapped on the end of the ship!!!

Not too many in the history of this country or of the world, I'd bet!

[Jacob Kell]

"At the launch of the battleship USS Ronald Reagan last year, Nancy’s children Patti Davis and Ron Reagan stayed away."

Ingrate brats. They should have shown, at least out of respect for their father. God bless you Ronnie. We'll never forget you.