Reagan 98 Years Old Today

My maternal grandfather was born on this day in 1915 in Germany at age 14 coming to America with his mother and brother as a proud and legal immigrant through Ellis Island the year the great depression bega,

This day was and is also obviously Reagan's birthday, and that's how "Papa" as we called him taught my siblings and I as youngsters how to remember his birthday, although as it turns out now I use grandpa's birthday to remember Reagan's. Both were great American's to me and Reagan to millions of others as well.

My grandfather once shared with me that he became a Ronald Reagan fan when he broadcast games for the Chicago Cubs in the late 30's early in his career then on through the rest of his life from their birthday connection which ended for "Papa" on April 15th 1995 at age 80, the day of the Oklahoma city bombing oddly enough.

My grandfather was also a WWII veteran and knew that Reagan was a commissioned officer in the Army Reserve in 1935 and then in November of 1941, Reagan was called up to fight but quickly disqualified for combat duty because of he possessed an astigmatism. As a result he participated back here at home during the war in other ways back when Hollywood was full of Patriots and true die hard Americans, during that era of our greatest generation ever. He acted during that time in the movies Kings Row (1942), International Squadron, 'Tennessee's Partner, Hellcats of the Navy, This Is the Army, and then Bedtime for Bonzo. (wikipedia)

Hereafter I'm borrowing from the detailed White House website Bio, which sadly Hussein Obama has at least temporarily turned into his personal political weblog which will likely change sooner than later, more on that another day. Meanwhile back to our greatest president ever and his legendary biography.

....Reagan became embroiled in disputes over the issue of Communism in the film industry; his political views shifted from liberal to conservative. He toured the country as a television host, becoming a spokesman for conservatism. In 1966 he was elected Governor of California by a margin of a million votes; he was re-elected in 1970.

Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.

On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be assassin, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar.

Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.

A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term with an unprecedented number of electoral votes. Their victory turned away Democratic challengers Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.

In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his administration, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression.

In foreign policy, Reagan sought to achieve "peace through strength." During his two terms he increased defense spending 35 percent, but sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union. In dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Reagan declared war against international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.

Ronald Reagan died on Ronald Reagen died on June 5, 2004 from a well publicized bout with Alzheimer's disease that many liberals mocked and teased him about mercilessly at the age of 93.

I like millions of Americans came of age during Ronald Reagan's terms as our president and shaped my political leanings from then through today that I started picking up in 1984 from watching Alex P Keaton on the popular Michael J Fox show Family Ties. That was during that great television period and the new TV president along with the Cosby Show, Night Court, Hill Street Blues when America was undergoing a patriotic revolution that would continue right through the next presidency of HW Bush, and then begin a sad mourning period of the Arkansas Redneck run Sodom Gomorrah like liberal Clinton era, one of which we are about to sadly embark upon once again.

So in closing here's an interview today featured on NewsMax with Reagan's adopted son Michael you might wish to listen to, and in the meantime please say a prayer if you would for Nancy Reagan, Michael and The Gipper himself. Particularly as he twists and turns in his grave watching his beloved America start to flirt with the communism of which he gave his entire life fighting to end.



For more information about President Reagan, please visit
Ronald Reagan Library and Museum

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