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Tag: ronald reagan

  • Nancy Reagan: Friends Remember Her Love Of Gossip, Disdain For Sarah Palin

    Nancy Reagan was laid to rest over the weekend amid many stories of love and life shared between the former president and first lady.

    Nancy Reagan was no doubt a loving wife and devoted first lady.

    But, after stories from her close friends began to surface it became clear that Nancy Reagan was also, in many ways, just like the rest of us.

    For instance, TV news anchor Judy Woodruff and long-time friend of Nancy Reagan recalled, “She loved to hear the latest stories about what was going on in Washington, in politics. And she never shied from expressing her own thoughts.”

    Woodruff also remembered when Nancy Reagan heard that Sarah Palin was John McCain’s VP choice.

    She said, “She remained as sharp as ever and was aware of just about everything going on in Washington and in politics, but always was interested in knowing more.”

    #Christmas #Morning #Kiss #RonaldReagan #NancyReagan

    A photo posted by Ronald Reagan (@reaganfoundation) on

    She added, “I’ll never forget the time we spoke in 2008 just after the Republican nominee for president, Senator John McCain, had chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. I spoke with Mrs. Reagan on the phone, and her first comment was, ‘What in the world was he thinking in picking that woman?’”

    It’s so great that these fun memories of Nancy Reagan are beginning to surface after her passing.

    What do you think about Nancy Reagan’s opinion on Sarah Palin?

  • Ron Reagan Honors Mother, Nancy Reagan

    Ron Reagan Honors Mother, Nancy Reagan

    Ron Reagan, the son of former president Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan, had sweet words for his late mother this week as the country continued to mourn the loss of a great first lady.

    On a phone call for Today, Ron Reagan told of the love his mother and father had for each other all throughout their 52-year-long marriage.

    He said, “She loved her husband more than anything in the world, and I think you can make the case that the Ronald Reagan that we all came to know as president would not have existed without Nancy Reagan.”

    Such sweet words for Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.

    Ron Reagan also spoke of some of the flack she caught from feminists of the time and working women because she was so devoted to her husband.

    Matt Lauer added that Nancy Reagan once said that everything she did in the first year was misunderstood.

    Statement by Joanne Drake, Spokesperson, on the death of Former First Lady Nancy Reagan Los Angeles – Nancy Davis Reagan, former First Lady of the United States, died this morning at her home in Los Angeles at the age of 94. The cause of death was congestive heart failure. Mrs. Reagan will be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, next to her husband, Ronald Wilson Reagan, who died on June 5, 2004. Prior to the funeral service, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects at the Library. Details will be announced shortly. In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Reagan requested that contributions be made to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Foundation at www.reaganlibrary.com. For continuous information on the week’s events, please visit the Reagan Library’s web site at www.reaganlibrary.com.

    A photo posted by Ronald Reagan (@reaganfoundation) on

    Matt Lauer asked Ron Reagan about the love story between Ronald and Nancy Reagan.

    Ron Reagan said, “Once they had bonded together, they really were inseparable …I mean, it sounds cliche, but I don’t think that they ever spent a day apart where they didn’t call [or] speak on the phone. He wrote her letters all her life, all his life.They were in love.”

    Ron Reagan concluded by saying, “She knew how to love somebody.”

    What do you think about Ron Reagan’s words for his mother?

  • Nancy Reagan: Former U.S. First Lady Passes Away At 94, Politicians Send Condolences

    Former First Lady Nancy Reagan has died at the age of 94.

    According to her rep and spokeswoman with the Reagan library, Joanne Drake, Reagan died of congestive heart failure. She will be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, next to her husband, according to an official statement.

    Before the funeral service, members of the public will be given a chance to pay their respects at the Library, Drake wrote.

    Her stepson Michael Reagan also confirmed the news on his Facebook account: “She is once again with the man she loved. God Bless.”

    Prominent political figures have also expressed their love and support for the family of the former first lady on social media.

    President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama also offered their condolences to the Reagan family, “We remain grateful for Nancy Reagan’s life, thankful for her guidance, and prayerful that she and her beloved husband are together again.”

    Former president Bill Clinton and his wife, now a Democratic Presidential candidate, remembered Nancy Reagan as an “extraordinary woman, a gracious first lady, proud mother, and devoted wife to President Reagan.”

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also paid tribute to the former first lady, describing her as a “great friend of the state of Israel.”

    Nancy Reagan, formerly Nancy Davis, was an actress during the ‘40s and ‘50s, and married Ronald Reagan, also an actor, in 1952. Her marriage to the President lasted 52 years until his death in 2004, and many admired their relationship.

    She braved criticism for an expensive renovation of the White House. She was best known for her “Just Say No” program, which aimed to help youth fight drug abuse.

    Mrs. Reagan requested that instead of flowers, supporters donate to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Foundation.

  • Nancy Reagan, Former First Lady, Dies in California at 94

    Nancy Reagan died on Sunday at her home in L.A. at the age of 94. Her spokeswoman Joanne Drake, confirmed her passing.

    “Mrs. Reagan will be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, next to her husband, Ronald Wilson Reagan, who died on June 5, 2004. Prior to the funeral service, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects at the Library,” she said in a statement.

    2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney posted his thoughts on Nancy Reagan’s passing on social media.

    With the passing of Nancy Reagan, we say a final goodbye to the days of Ronald Reagan. With charm, grace, and a passion…

    Posted by Mitt Romney on Sunday, March 6, 2016

    Nancy Reagan served as first lady during husband Ronald Reagan’s eight years in the White House. She came to be known as the “Just say no” woman behind the anti-drug campaigns of that era.

    A devoted wife, Nancy Reagan never once left the hospital when when then-President Reagan was hospitalized following a 1981 assassination attempt.

    When Ronald Reagan suffered from Alzheimer’s in his post-presidential years, she was his protector. After he died in 2004, Nancy Reagan kept his memory alive.

    “She was always the one who kept the flame alive,” former Reagan adviser and CNN senior political analyst David Gergen said on Sunday.

    According to Nancy Reagan’s official biography, Ronald Reagan was the light of her life.

    “My life really began when I married my husband,” she said.

    Those closest to Nancy Reagan feared for her well being after her husband of 52 years died.

    “He was the center of her universe,” Nancy Reagan’s press secretary, Sheila Tate, said. “And I think when he died, we worried so much about how she’d hold up. But she always surprised me. Whenever the going got tough, Nancy Reagan did just fine.”

    Prior to her years in the White House, both Ronald and Nancy Reagan lived the Hollywood dream. Nancy Reagan appeared in 11 films between 1949 and 1956. It was during her Hollywood life that she met her husband.

    Funeral arrangements for Nancy Reagan will likely be announced later on Sunday or on Monday.

  • Jodie Foster Stalker Walks the Streets Tailed by Secret Service

    Jodie Foster may not give her former stalker another thought nowadays. It’s been over 30 years since the troubled man formed his obsession with her, then set out to impress her.

    But Jodie Foster’s stalker is different from most others. Only Jodie Foster can say that her stalker shot a United States president.

    The name John Hinckley is much more associated with the shooting of President Reagan than with Jodie Foster, but that is where the whole thing started.

    In fact, the psychiatric team that examined Hinckley commented on his obsession with her.

    “Her presence dominates every interview; it is conceivable that he could spend every minute of every interview speaking about her.”

    They spoke about how his obsession with Foster continued to grow after he shot President Reagan.

    “Before the shooting, he experienced ambivalent feelings and fantasies about her, but then his positive feelings dominated. On March 30, 1982, when Ms. Foster gave her deposition and ignored him even though they were in the same courtroom, his negative feelings became much stronger and have continued to the present day. For Mr. Hinckley, it is better to be hated by Jodie Foster than not to have an attachment at all. He believes that she has become attached forever in history to him because of his shooting of the President.

    “In the more recent past, he has expressed sexual and aggressive ideas about Ms. Foster. He has more frequent thoughts of murdering her; he now has thoughts of raping her. Following Ms. Foster’s deposition on March 30, 1982, he wrote a poem, entitled ”Bloody Love.’ In this writing, he imagines himself visiting Jodie in New Haven. She is surprised and frightened: ‘She is scared to death about me. She knew I had bad intentions in my eyes. She couldn’t come to me so I raped her and killed her and shot myself.’ (The sequence of rape, consummation, murder and suicide is described as ‘perfect love.’ He removes them from a corrupt society and they can be happy in the hereafter.) When asked if he were dangerous to Jodie, he replied, ‘Not now, if released I would go the other way but in one or two years if things go on the same, no response from her then I’ll kill her.’”

    John Hinckley spends 17 days per month outside of the walls of the psychiatric centers he was confined to for decades. Those days are usually spent at his mother’s home in Williamsburg, Virginia. The home overlooks a golf course in a gated community. Some residents are nrevous about his being there, but most seem not to care.

    His doctors have insisted for many years that he is no longer a threat — not to the president, and not to Jodie Foster. Still, the Secret Service frequently follows Hinckley when he goes out. He is also not allowed near the president or members of Congress.

  • James Brady, Former Reagan Press Secretary, Dies at 73

    James Brady, the former press secretary to Ronald Reagan who was permanently disabled in a 1981 assassination attempt on the president, has died.

    “Jim touched the lives of so many and has been a wonderful husband, father, friend and role model,” his family said in a statement. “We are enormously proud of Jim’s remarkable accomplishments – before he was shot on the fateful day in 1981 while serving at the side of President Ronald Reagan and in the days, months and years that followed. Jim Brady’s zest for life was apparent to all who knew him, and despite his injuries and the pain he endured every day, he used his humor, wit and charm to bring smiles to others and make the world a better place.”

    Brady was among four people, including Reagan, shot by John Hinckley, Jr. on March 30, 1981. Brady suffered a serious head wound in the attempt and most media outlets reported that Brady had died that afternoon. Hinckley later said he made the attempt on the president to get the attention of actress Jodie Foster.

    When Brady’s friend, ABC News anchorman Frank Reynolds, was forced to retract the report, he famously yelled on-air to his staff, “C’mon, let’s get it nailed down!”

    Brady survived the hours-long operation following the shooting but was left with slurred speech and partial paralysis. He was in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The wound effectively ended his career as White House Press Secretary, although he remained in the position until the end of Reagan’s first term. Larry Speakes and Marlin Fitzwater performed his duties in his stead.

    Brady and his wife, Sarah, worked tirelessly over the years for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence — formerly known as Handgun Control, Inc., which was co-founded by N.T. Pete Shields.

    Brady became a frequent lobbyist for stricter handgun control and assault weapon restrictions. The “Brady Bill”, or more formally, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, was named in his honor.

    The White House press briefing room is also named for the former press secretary.

    Image via YouTube

  • George W. Bush a Better President Than Obama, According to New Poll

    President Obama’s approval poll numbers have been sitting at low levels for months now. The botched roll-out of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) healthcare markets hit his approval numbers hard. The government shutdown of 2013, though caused by House Republicans, dragged down the president’s approval numbers as Americans grew ever-more tired of legislative gridlock. Foreign policy headaches such as the Russian invasion of Crimea and civil wars in both Iraq and Syria have also driven down the president’s foreign policy approval numbers.

    Now a new poll shows just how little some Americans think of President Obama. The poll, released on Wednesday by the Quinnipiac University Poll, shows that nearly one-third of Americans believe Obama is the worst U.S. president since World War II.

    This compares to 28% of those polled who said that George W. Bush is the worst U.S. president since that time. Perhaps even worse, 45% of those polled said that they believe the country would be better off if Mitt Romney had won the 2012 presidential election and a majority (54%) said that the current administration is not competently running the U.S. government.

    “Over the span of 69 years of American history and 12 presidencies, President Barack Obama finds himself with President George W. Bush at the bottom of the popularity barrel,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

    Well into his second term, President Obama’s approval ratings now sit at an all-time low for this president. The percentage of Americans who approve of the president’s job record hit just 42% last October, and that number has dipped to 41% in subsequent months.

    At the other end of the spectrum, many Americans are pining for a return of the Gipper. Over one-third (35%) of those polled by Quinnipiac said that Ronald Reagan was the best president of the past seven decades. Other (relatively) popular presidents include Bill Clinton (18%) and John Kennedy (15%). Obama finished fourth-best in the poll with just 8% of Americans calling him the best president since FDR.

    Image via the White House

  • Steven Seagal Supports Vladimir Putin

    While filming a movie in Romania, actor, film producer, screenwriter, director, martial artist, musician and reserve deputy sheriff Steven Seagal did an interview with the state-run Russian newspaper Rossiskaya Gazeta, in which he’d expressed that Vladimir Putin’s actions against Crimea are “highly reasonable.”

    The 7th-dan black belt in Aikido commented that Putin’s “desire to protect the Russian-speaking people of Crimea, his assets, and the Russian Black Sea military base in Sevastopol … is very reasonable,” and added that the U.S. policy on Ukraine was “idiotic.”

    Republican Seagal, a close friend of Putin’s, reportedly because they both share a keen interest in the martial arts, called the Russian president “one of the great living world leaders,” and that he “would like to consider him as a brother.” Early this month the straight-to-video action star had helped Putin relaunch a national physical fitness program that had been axed after the fall of the Soviet Union.

    As a sort of Renaissance Man, Seagal has also developed an energy drink called “Lightening Bolt,” as well as a fragrance called “Scent of Action.”

    seagal

    Seagal was recently part of an American delegation to Russia following Boston Marathon bombing, and conveys his stance against the U.S. policy regarding Russia and the crisis in Ukraine:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAb39HMVAGE

    Excited about Seagal’s perceived superstar status, Rossiskaya Gazeta went on to compare the former silver screen star’s popularity to that of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald Reagan’s, deeming him “no less popular or authoritative in the world today.” Seagal had previously threatened to run for governor in Arizona, and when asked to comment on the matter, the former husband of Pantene peddler Kelly LeBrock stated that it was more important to be a peacemaker than the leader of a state.

    Seagal also stated that he might “sometime” become a Russian citizen, though he stills loves the United States.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons (1), (2)

  • John Hinckley: Attempted Reagan Assassin Gets More Time With Momma

    John Hinckley Jr. is the man who attempted to assassinate former US President Ronald Reagan. The would-be assassin was found not guilty in court by reason of insanity. Today, Hinckley spends his time at St.Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital in Washington.

    The now 58-year-old Hinckley, attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981 in an effort to impress a teen actress.  Apart from seriously wounding Reagan, White House press secretary James Brady, Police officer Thomas Delahanty and Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy were all shot in the attack. They all survived.

    Yesterday, a federal judge allowed Hinckley more days to visit his elderly mother in Williamsburg, VA. Before the judges ruling, Hinckley was restricted to only 10 days of visitation per month but he has now been granted 7 more days.

    In a 106-page opinion, district Judge Paul Friedman said he was convinced that Hinckley would not endanger the lives of others and himself if he spends more hours away from the institution. However, Hinckley must prove to the court that he can better socialize and integrate himself in Williamsburg before granting him further visitation time.

    The judge further noted that more visits to Williamsburg could offer Hinckley new employment opportunities and “structured community activities” than are available to him at the hospitals. The hospital is required to send regular reports to the court outlining his activities and movements while Hinckley is away in Williamsburg.

    Nonetheless, this will not bring Hinckley’s case to a close. There have been legal debates over what should be done with Hinckley’s case with his doctors urging the judge to gradually expand Hinckley’s freedom and eventually give him total freedom. However, the judge wrote that it would not be wise to grant Hinckley further freedom without further evaluation.

    Apparently there is still some question as to his trustworthiness. The judge gave an example where Hinckley had recently lied about watching two movies and also noted that he had not yet established any new associations to any groups or made any friendships in Williamsburg.

    Watch the assassination attempt of President Reagan as it happened in 1981

    Image via Wikipedia

  • Reagan Daughter’s Lesbian Novel Self-Published on Kindle

    It turns out that not even having a U.S. president for a father can guarantee a publishing contract.

    This week, Patti Davis, born Patricia Reagan, self-published a novel in the Kindle book store. Titled Till Human Voices Wake Us, the book deals with a woman’s lesbian relationship with her sister-in-law. From the book description on Amazon:

    In the empty days after her son’s death, left alone in her grief by her husband, Isabelle Berendon falls in love with the unlikeliest person in the world: her sister-in-law.

    Davis has previously written 8 books, including The Long Goodbye, which chronicled her father’s, Ronald Reagan’s, battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Now that she has penned a fictional novel (and one dealing with lesbianism at that), she states in her author biography that she finds herself in the same boat as other authors who can’t get an offer from a publishing house. However, she is also embracing the self-publishing model that ebooks are making more possible:

    I’ve written a lot about my famous family, the Reagans — maybe this non-autobiographical novel was too much of a departure for publishers to wrap their heads around. But now there is KDP and the room to publish a book yourself. It’s exciting to me — a new era in publishing. Most writers have books they have labored over for years and long to put out into the world. Till Human Voices Wake Us is one of those books.

  • Chuck Norris Anti-Obama Ad Invokes God, Reagan

    It looks as if Mitt Romney might have another aging movie star on his side. Well, that may not be true, since Chuck Norris‘ new anti-Obama ad doesn’t mention Mitt Romney at all. In fact, it it only name-checks President Obama once, and doesn’t explicitly endorse a candidate. The entire video is more of a wink to conservative Christians, to let them know that Lone Wolf McQuade is on their side.

    The ad features Norris and his wife, Gena O’Kelley standing in what appears to be the couple’s home dojo. With a prominent American flag in the background, the couple speak about the importance of the election and the doom that awaits America if it doesn’t “change direction.”

    “We’re at a tipping point and quite possibly our country as we know it may be lost forever if we dont’ change the course our country is headed,” said Norris. “…we can no longer sit quietly or stand on the sidelines and watch our country go the way of socialism, or something much worse.”

    The couple go on to heavily quote President Ronald Reagan, warning of 1,000 years of darkness and that freedom could be only one generation away from extinction. Of course, this Reagan rhetoric is from the height of the Cold War. Perhaps someone should remind Norris that he is not actually James Braddock and that the Cold War ended two decades ago.

    If there is one bright spot for Romney in this news, its that this ad is likely to hit its mark. Since Norris has weighed in on political issues as a conservative Christian before, his message is likely to go ignored by all but its target audience. Also, while Clint Eastwood’s speech at the Republican National Convention was ripe for parody, Norris’ ad is fairly straightforward, if a bit inflammatory.

  • Nancy Reagan Fall: Former First Lady Recovering from Broken Ribs

    Nancy Reagan, former first lady and wife of the late Ronald Reagan, is apparently still recovering from a nasty tumble she took back in March. The fall resulted in a few bruises and couple of broken ribs, forcing her to skip House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s speech at the Reagan Presidential Library on Tuesday night. Although she’s currently on the mend, doctors have suggested that she not attend any events that are too far from home.

    Director John Heubusch told those in attendance that Reagan would not be making an appearance, though he assured everyone that she would be watching everything on TV.

    According to CNN, the episode in question took place at her home in March. Due to former first lady’s age — Reagan is currently 90 years-old — her recovery process has been a little slower than expected. However, doctors anticipate she’ll be able to add more events to calendar in the coming weeks.

    “Mrs. Reagan has been recovering slowly and has been adding a few appointments back on to her schedule, but was advised by her doctor today not to try and attend large events too far from home just yet. She personally invited Congressman Ryan and really wanted to be here, but sent her apologies to him earlier today,” Reagan spokesperson Joanne Drake explained.

    In other Reagan-oriented news, a vial which supposedly contained her late husband’s blood after an assassination attempt in 1981 is up for auction. However, her son Michael claims that the item in question is entirely bogus. If you’re planning to bid on this morbid little slice of history, brace yourself for disappointment.

    When someone falls, Twitter is there to catch them. You can sample some of the reactions to Reagan’s injury-inducing tumble by eyeballing the posts below.

    (image) Tyson Hess
    @tylerhess     Just found out Nancy Reagan is recovering from a fall. Also just found out Nancy Reagan is still alive.
    30 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
     Reply  · Retweet  · Favorite

    (image) Caligirl22
    @Twitlertwit     RT @cnni_headlines: Nancy Reagan suffers broken ribs in fall http://t.co/QGvh0tlE Does she need any of Ronnie’s blood, cause its available
    2 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
     Reply  · Retweet  · Favorite

    (image) Rightly PointOfView
    @RightlyPOV     Get well soon Mrs. Reagan! RT @politico: Nancy Reagan suffered broken ribs in a fall and is recovering slowly: http://t.co/H8AHhxuA
    25 minutes ago via Flipboard · powered by @socialditto
     Reply  · Retweet  · Favorite

  • Vial That Once Held Ronald Reagan’s Blood Up for Auction

    Owning a piece of a former president has never been easier. If you have roughly $14,500 just lying around your home collecting dust, then you may be interested in owning a vial that once contained United States President Ronald Reagan’s blood. The peculiar item, which once housed fluid spilled from Reagan’s body during the 1981 assassination attemptrecently showed up on the British auction site PFC Auctions.

    Although the glass container no longer holds the specimen in question, there is, and I quote, “dried blood residue” still inside. If a little crusty fluid from a dead president sounds like a solid investment in your eyes, you’ve just struck a big ol’ batch of fried gold, my friend. Congratulations.

    Here’s a description of the item straight from the official listing:

    A 3½” x 1” white label has been affixed to the vial. It is printed, in purple ink, “REAGAN RONALD 940029 THOR / 610892572 AARON PRESIDENTIAL / SUITE 3/30/81 M 2/02/11 JAP.” 940029 was Reagan’s patient ID. AARON refers to Benjamin L. Aaron who was Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at George Washington University Hospital where Reagan was in the Presidential Suite. THOR refers to thoracic. Reagan was admitted on March 30 1981 and M refers to male. The President’s date of birth is incorrectly stated as “2/02/11” when his actual date of birth is February 6 1911.

    But wait! That’s not all! For ponying up such an outrageous amount of money for this morbid little curiosity, you’ll receive a document from Bio-Science Laboratories which gives you even more blood-oriented information to play around with. Still not interested? You’ll also receive a letter from the vial’s previous owner detailing its storied history.

    Buyer beware: Michael Reagaon, Ronald Reagon’s son, calls the whole thing “bogus”. Additionally, John Heubusch, director of the The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, was horrified to learn that such an object was currently up for auction.

    “If indeed this story is true, it’s a craven act and we will use every legal means to stop its sale or purchase,” he remarked in a written statement.

    Those who really want to own a piece of Ronald Reagan would probably be better off picking up a copy of “Law and Order” or “Hellcats of the Navy” on DVD. It’s definitely cheaper, not to mention a hell of a lot less creepy. Better yet, why not watch the video for Genesis’ “Land of Confusion”, instead. You were going to, anyway.