Former President Ronald Reagan Dies at 93

[MacNut]

Former President Ronald Reagan Dies at 93
By ROBERT JABLON, AP

WASHINGTON (June 5) - Ronald Reagan, the cheerful crusader who devoted his presidency to winning the Cold War, trying to scale back government and making people believe it was ''morning again in America,'' died Saturday after a long twilight struggle with Alzheimer's disease, a family friend said. He was 93.

He died at his home in California, according to the friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The White House was told his health had taken a turn for the worse in the last several days.

Five years after leaving office, the nation's 40th president told the world in November 1994 that he had been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's, an incurable illness that destroys brain cells. He said he had begun ''the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life.''

Reagan body was expected to be taken to his presidential library and museum in Simi Valley, Calif., and then flown to Washington to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. His funeral was expected to be at the National Cathedral, an event likely to draw world leaders. The body was to be returned to California for a sunset burial at his library.

Reagan lived longer than any U.S. president, spending his last decade in the shrouded seclusion wrought by his disease, tended by his wife, Nancy, whom he called Mommy, and the select few closest to him. Now, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton are the surviving ex-presidents.

Although fiercely protective of Reagan's privacy, the former first lady let people know his mental condition had deteriorated terribly. Last month, she said: ''Ronnie's long journey has finally taken him to a distant place where I can no longer reach him.''
"This is it."
-Nancy Reagan told CBS News correspondent Mike Wallace

Reagan's oldest daughter, Maureen, from his first marriage, died in August 2001 at age 60 from cancer. Three other children survive: Michael, from his first marriage, and Patti Davis and Ron from his second.

Over two terms, from 1981 to 1989, Reagan reshaped the Republican Party in his conservative image, fixed his eye on the demise of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communism and tripled the national debt to $3 trillion in his singleminded competition with the other superpower.

Taking office at age 69, Reagan had already lived a career outside Washington, one that spanned work as a radio sports announcer, an actor, a television performer, a spokesman for the General Electric Co., and a two-term governor of California.

[virividox]

i hope his family can mourn in peace. though not all his policies may have been the best, he was a good leader who had the mettle to make tough decisions

[voicegy]

"Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall."

I certainly didn't agree with all you did, but what you said that day will always be my favorite.

RIP, Ron. :(

[Freg3000]

Just this morning I woke up an heard reports that "his health was deteriorating." Hours later, I started reading things like, "he has weeks to live." Soon that became hours, and now he has died.

How very sad.

Rest in peace President Reagan.

[G4scott]

I was too young to remember his presidency, but I'm glad for some of fighting he did, both while in office and out of office.

This is an interesting quote my brother found...

In testing the microphone for his weekly radio address, Reagan declared, ''My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today I've just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes.''

R.I.P. Ronald Reagan

[dopefiend]

Taking office at age 69, Reagan had already lived a career outside Washington, one that spanned work as a radio sports announcer, an actor, a television performer, a spokesman for the General Electric Co., and a two-term governor of California.

I wonder if anyone will remember him for his time in Hollywood, not just presidency.

He did say that those were his and Nancy's favorite years. :(

[wdlove]

I'm very saddened by the news, he was one of our great presidents. May he rest in peace. My prayers go out to his family and friends. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease and they all suffered.

I do remember him from his days as host on "20 Mule-team Borax Theater."

He transcended politics a former Democrat and president of the Screen Actors Guild. I felt very safe during his presidency. He gave us all pride in being an American. I felt proud to serve under him as Commander-In-Chief.

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/breaking.jsp?feature=reagan

[Chip NoVaMac]

May he now find peace with God.

I hope that the rhetoric of good and bad can be toned down in this thread. Let is suffice that Ronald Reagan had an effect on world events; whether good or bad.

[wdlove]

I am very please that ABC is doing a live special to honor him. Barbara Walters & George Stephanopolis. They remarking on his intelligence and the love letters he wrote. Nancy said that he preferred to write a letter than to use the telephone.

CBS is going to do a special at 8pm EDT.

[windowsblowsass]

RIP ron thank you for all you have done to help this world may you know be blessed in heaven

[legion]

I wonder if anyone will remember him for his time in Hollywood, not just presidency.

He did say that those were his and Nancy's favorite years. :(

Yeah, nothing like spying on your fellow actors while working for the CIA as President of SAG. He also was a tool for McCarthy (a willingful-participant to that debacle in order to further his career)

I wonder if everyone will forget Iran-Contra? Or his curtailing funding for medical research using stem-cells (which in retrospect holds a great deal of irony) or his lack of action to fund research into AIDS that the CDC was calling for at the time-- all because he didn't want to seem politically sympathetic to the "wrong type of people"?

I remember the 80s.. remember "Greed is Good."

At least God has a sense of humour...
:(

[sambo.]

i just hope we can sing Bye Bye Bush in November.

Ronny was much nicer than the current.......

[dopefiend]

At least God has a sense of humour...
:(

Show some respect. :rolleyes:

Look at the pattern in this thread....

[legion]

Show some respect. :rolleyes:

Look at the pattern in this thread....

What, you don't see some irony that the guy who kills funding to stem-cell research, would have been helped by it latter in his life, and then his wife appeals to open stem-cell research back up again only for her husband to pass away a few days later. The big question is what happens now with Nancy's crusade and all the GOP members she got on board in the last few weeks. Does it all just drop out of sight in order to make sure it doesn't hurt Jr.'s re-election campaign by antagonizing the religious-right?

If it'll do me good, let's go for it. If it'll hurt my political career but help others, let's not. That does epotimize the 80s. Let's put "me" first.

[Krizoitz]

What, you don't see some irony that the guy who kills funding to stem-cell research, would have been helped by it latter in his life, and then his wife appeals to open stem-cell research back up again only for her husband to pass away a few days later. The big question is what happens now with Nancy's crusade and all the GOP members she got on board in the last few weeks. Does it all just drop out of sight in order to make sure it doesn't hurt Jr.'s re-election campaign by antagonizing the religious-right?

If it'll do me good, let's go for it. If it'll hurt my political career but help others, let's not. That does epotimize the 80s. Let's put "me" first.

There are plenty of other threads to discuss this legion, you should try and be respectful in this one. A man just died. He may not have been perfect, but try and take your political comments to another thread please.

[NusuniAdmin]

I saw this last night on yahoo and again today on the front page. I am sad that he died but very sad that is was because of Alzheimer's disease, I wonder if scientists are going to start working harder on a cure? I never knew this until today, that he won all 50 states...just amazing.

he is probably one of the few actors that had any brain at all after retiring from acting.

[Chip NoVaMac]

There are plenty of other threads to discuss this legion, you should try and be respectful in this one. A man just died. He may not have been perfect, but try and take your political comments to another thread please.

It is hard to stifle some criticism, when so many others will want to gush endlessly. So where are political comments OK? Only in support? Maybe legion's comments were over the top; but there are some wounds (along with some successes) for this country from Reagan's eight years, and the legacy left behind.

At least now Ronald Reagan is now at peace. Having relatives with this dreaded disease, I understand the pain that Nancy went through. And given the deep love they had for each other, I do hope that she will have the strength to continue onward with her work for stem cell research.

[Les Kern]

Yeah, nothing like spying on your fellow actors while working for the CIA as President of SAG. He also was a tool for McCarthy (a willingful-participant to that debacle in order to further his career)

I wonder if everyone will forget Iran-Contra? Or his curtailing funding for medical research using stem-cells (which in retrospect holds a great deal of irony) or his lack of action to fund research into AIDS that the CDC was calling for at the time-- all because he didn't want to seem politically sympathetic to the "wrong type of people"?

I remember the 80s.. remember "Greed is Good."

At least God has a sense of humour...
:(

Yeah, when someone dies, like a notable president, it's time to put all the old animosities to bed, for just a bit. I think the "6 month rule" is in effect... Six months of mourning, then we can begin to talk about all the decietful things he did.
As horrible as he was, Reagan was light-years better than the current bone-head.
Potted Plant (http://68.250.73.234/Letterman1.mov)
Fool Me Once (http://68.250.73.234/foolbush.mov)

[Abstract]

Nice comments may be as justified as the criticisms when concerning his presidency, but this thread (and news) is about a man's death. Ever heard of being "tactful"? And yes, this is coming from a man with very little tact.

[Les Kern]

Nice comments may be as justified as the criticisms when concerning his presidency, but this thread (and news) is about a man's death. Ever heard of being "tactful"? And yes, this is coming from a man with very little tact.

May he rest in peace.
See you in six months.

[kuyu]

I wasn't old enough to know much about his presidency and poliitics. But, I see in Reagan a kind of leadership we're not likely to see again for some time. It's a dark day in America. May his family find peace.

Politics aside, Reagan was a remarkable man. We should all hope to be half the person Reagan was. I'm glad to see our nation united again, at least for one day. God Bless President Reagan, his family and friends, and most of all the United States of America.

Rest in Peace, and in the words of his surgeons, "today, Mr. President, we're all Republican's."

[wdlove]

i just hope we can sing Bye Bye Bush in November.

Ronny was much nicer than the current.......

I don't think that comment was called for in this thread. It has nothing to do with honoring Ronald Reagan. :(

[Chip NoVaMac]

I wasn't old enough to know much about his presidency and poliitics. But, I see in Reagan a kind of leadership we're not likely to see again for some time. It's a dark day in America. May his family find peace.

Politics aside, Reagan was a remarkable man. We should all hope to be half the person Reagan was. I'm glad to see our nation united again, at least for one day. God Bless President Reagan, his family and friends, and most of all the United States of America.

Rest in Peace, and in the words of his surgeons, "today, Mr. President, we're all Republican's."

He was a man of his convictions, I'll agree. Many of us lived Ronald Reagan's "history" first hand. For people like yourself, now is a good time to "catch up" on that not so distant part of our history. If you have the opportunity, the Washington Post has a number of great articles (both positive and not so positive) on the Ronald Reagan political life.

And you are right about asking for God's Blessings, yet I would say that for most of all that God (or the Deity of your chosen Faith) Bless the world during these troubled times.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I don't think that comment was called for in this thread. It has nothing to do with honoring Ronald Reagan. :(

Maybe it was about honoring Ronald Reagan. For he and Jimmy Carter may have been some of the last people to run for the Office of the President of the US for personal conviction, not for personal ambition.

Reagan may not have been perfect, but he and his administration knew a thing or two about winning the hearts of the nation; not dividing it.

It is a shame that Alzheimer's robbed him and us of his vision that created the current Republican Party. I doubt that he would have approved of his Party's direction over the last twelve years.

For he was a man of character. Something lacking in many of our nation's political leaders today. And those with character can't survive the TV sound-bites, negative campaign ads, and the money that drives politics.

[LaMerVipere]

What horrible timing.

The man is barely "living" if you can even call it that for 10 years and then he dies on the weekend anniversary of D-Day and now his funeral services and all of these "remembrance" shows are going to steer the media's high powered critical eye away from very important issues; the so-called "handover" in iraq, various bush adminstration scandals in progress and in the making. And instead we will have weeks of lovie-dovie sentimental crap which only gives countless republicans a media free-for-all chance to have almost all the talking time. I am sure bush and his cronies and underlings in his administration will find a sneaky way to use this to their political advantage. I think I have heard more than enough already on TV about how greay reagan was, and how he saved the world, and how he really made people's lives oh so great and how it REALLY was "morning in america!" YAY!

But what REALLY is his legacy? More like his disastrous foreign, domestic, economic, and social policies. Not to mention the birth of the neo-con movement, what's so great about that? Making tax cuts "cool" again? Ending the Cold War? More like going insane with spending and just happening to be around when the USSR collapsed under its own weight. Then there were the countless scandals...ugh what a depressing week this will be. Ugh, now they are just giving these republicans countless hours on TV to compare reagan to bush, trying to meld to the two in the american people's minds, about how they are both such men of character and conviction, give me a break..."It's Reagan In America Again..." we had more than enough the first time.

[MacNut]

That last post was a little out of line don't you think.

[Pegano]

Well I can't say I agreed with this guy on much of anything, but my best wishes to his family.

[MacNut]

I would of taken Reagan in his last years over Mr Ketchup man Kerry :rolleyes:

[Pegano]

I don't know about that, MacNut, but I think Les Kern got it when he said we should follow the "6-month rule." Tasteful, but honest.

[Penman]

I don't think that comment was called for in this thread. It has nothing to do with honoring Ronald Reagan. :(

Reagan's dead and honor is earned by living. If a Mac users forum's going to discuss politics at least let it be discussion. Though many supporters of Regan seem to be posting it's equally fair (and far more American in my view) to dissent.

Any valid criticism of the living applies equally well to the dead. As Reagan's death is stirring interest let's discuss his legacy honestly. His immediate family isn't reading this and if they did, are far too intelligent and experienced to let public discourse affect their feelings for their relative.

May his legacy be true.

[voicegy]

*sigh* Well, I can see where this thread will end up before too long. Laying down swords and paying respect for a former President whose last years were something I'd never wish on anyone is all I really wanted to see. Granted, the title of this post doesn't provide guidence one way or the other; indeed, it is generic enough, I suppose, to garner all sorts of open dialogue and opinion. Perhaps there could be other threads started in the political forums to discuss what he did/did not do for better or worse. Here, I felt, was just a place to recognize his passing.

LaMerVipere, don't worry about all the media coverage this week - you know as well as I do the attention span of the masses. It'll be over all too soon - Farenheit 9/11 will open nationwide on the 25th - I promise a shift in attention then.

Until then, I've already made my comment and paid my respects. Although I will TRULY mourn when Jimmy Carter dies (mainly because of his outstanding humanitarian efforts since leaving the Presidency) I do shed a tear or two for Ron Reagan, Democrat that I am.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Reagan's dead and honor is earned by living. If a Mac users forum's going to discuss politics at least let it be discussion. Though many supporters of Regan seem to be posting it's equally fair (and far more American in my view) to dissent.

Any valid criticism of the living applies equally well to the dead. As Reagan's death is stirring interest let's discuss his legacy honestly. His immediate family isn't reading this and if they did, are far too intelligent and experienced to let public discourse affect their feelings for their relative.

May his legacy be true.

The legacy that I spoke of was meant in away for each of us to understand the impact reagan made to history. The legacy can be both good and bad. And as left leaning as the Washington Post is said to be, their coverage of his life and times has been very well balanced in my mind.

What i was disturbed by here was the "gushing" done; and what appeared to be a request to honor him in his passing. What is needed is more time to determine whether he was "the Greatest President of our times". But we are too divided a nation to even to begin thinking that way.

[tpjunkie]

I can't say that I remember much of Ronald Reagan as president; although the first major international event I can remember is the Berlin Wall coming down...of course I couldn't comprehend the full significance of that at the time. Still, the fact is Ronald Reagan was one of the more interesting presidents we have had in recent times.

[pooky]

Well, I must say that, as sad as it is when anyone dies, I am happy that his suffering, and the suffering of his family, are over. No one should have to live through his disease, and no family member should have to watch a loved one degenerate so. I just hope that if the same should happen to me, I'll have enough wits about myself to end it before I'm no longer able.

As to those who would politicize Reagan's death: One of our leaders has died. Whether you think he was great or terrible, he WAS a leader, and a few days of respectful silence are called for before jumping back onto the politics-as-usual bandwagon. Democrats, I don't ask that you pretend Reagan was fabulous, I ask that you leave the poor man and his family alone for a few days out of respect for the dead. Republicans, don't use this as a call to arms to get your goldenboy reelected while your opponents are quiescent due to tact. Pardon the crudeness of the expression, but both sides ought to shut the hell up and mourn with the rest of the country, and at least let his family and friends see him buried before you wave whichever flag you care to bear.

[wdlove]

Mountain may be renamed for Reagan


By Emily Anthes, Globe Correspondent *|* June 7, 2004

In five years, one of the mountains in New Hampshire's 12-mile long Presidential range may be renamed in honor of President Reagan, who died at his Los Angeles home Saturday.

Reagan would join presidents Washington, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Pierce, and Eisenhower. He and Eisenhower would be the only two 20th-century presidents to have a peak named after them.

After sailing through New Hampshire's Republican-dominated Legislature, the renaming of Mount Clay in northern New Hampshire was signed into law last year by Governor Craig Benson. Benson called the change ''a fitting tribute to the man who won the Cold War and almost single-handedly caused the dramatic decline of Communism."

But federal approval for the name change wouldn't occur for at least five years, according to the regulations of the US Board on Geographic Names, which controls the naming of natural features. The board, which works with the federal secretary of the Interior Department to establish official names, will not consider proposals for commemorative names until the individual has been dead for at least five years. State and local feedback on the proposed name is solicited before the board makes a final decision.

If Reagan gets his peak, it would mean Henry Clay -- the senator and secretary of state of Kentucky who became known as the ''great compromiser" when he negotiated tenuous agreements between the North and South before the Civil War -- would lose his spot on the range. Clay is not the only nonpresidential statesman to have a peak among presidents; others include Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock.*

© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Mountain may be renamed for Reagan


By Emily Anthes, Globe Correspondent *|* June 7, 2004

In five years, one of the mountains in New Hampshire's 12-mile long Presidential range may be renamed in honor of President Reagan, who died at his Los Angeles home Saturday.

Reagan would join presidents Washington, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Pierce, and Eisenhower. He and Eisenhower would be the only two 20th-century presidents to have a peak named after them.

After sailing through New Hampshire's Republican-dominated Legislature, the renaming of Mount Clay in northern New Hampshire was signed into law last year by Governor Craig Benson. Benson called the change ''a fitting tribute to the man who won the Cold War and almost single-handedly caused the dramatic decline of Communism."

But federal approval for the name change wouldn't occur for at least five years, according to the regulations of the US Board on Geographic Names, which controls the naming of natural features. The board, which works with the federal secretary of the Interior Department to establish official names, will not consider proposals for commemorative names until the individual has been dead for at least five years. State and local feedback on the proposed name is solicited before the board makes a final decision.

If Reagan gets his peak, it would mean Henry Clay -- the senator and secretary of state of Kentucky who became known as the ''great compromiser" when he negotiated tenuous agreements between the North and South before the Civil War -- would lose his spot on the range. Clay is not the only nonpresidential statesman to have a peak among presidents; others include Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock.*

© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.

Not to go OT, but this may only be the tip of the iceberg. Reagan was still alive when an airport, two buildings, and and aircraft carrier were named after him. I am sure that the five year process for Mt. Clay will now be sped up.

[gwuMACaddict]

to all of you that couldn't keek your politics out of this thread- whether right or left- thats total bull****. john kerry had the decency to call off campaigning for the week- why can't you!? :confused:

we haven't seen a national funeral for a president since kennedy. i'll be out taking pictures, i'll post them when i get a chance.

i wish that we could all take the time to remember this man for his visions, goals, and dreams. he wanted america to be a city on a hill. i sure as heck respect him wanting to do the best for america. he was a man of conviction, a man who wanted to make america a better place.

all the respect in the world, God bless him and his family

[Chip NoVaMac]

to all of you that couldn't keek your politics out of this thread- whether right or left- thats total bull****. john kerry had the decency to call off campaigning for the week- why can't you!? :confused:

<snip>

i wish that we could all take the time to remember this man for his visions, goals, and dreams. he wanted america to be a city on a hill. i sure as heck respect him wanting to do the best for america. he was a man of conviction, a man who wanted to make america a better place.



I understand trying to keep the political rhetoric down, but your praise could be considered political also. :confused:

It depends on how you define "greatness". There are those of us that questioned Reagan when he held office. But even now, some of us can see that there were aspects to be admired.

As i have said before, it was a shame that Ronald Reagan's voice was silenced so many years ago. I am sure he would have been saddened by the division that separates us as a nation along political lines.

I encourage those that haven't to try and read the many pieces in the papers on Ronald Reagan. I think that then we could see that everything is not just seen through rose colored glasses. And at the same time Reagan was not the total right hard-liner either.

You are right, he may have been the last of the politicians that were driven by conviction, rather than ambition.



we haven't seen a national funeral for a president since kennedy. i'll be out taking pictures, i'll post them when i get a chance.



Actually the last Presidential funereal was for President Lyndon Johnson.



all the respect in the world, God bless him and his family



Amen, and at this time Nancy Reagan needs our prayers and thoughts. For one truth is seen, that their love was one of the strongest that we have seen between two public people.

[rotorblade]

As a former helicopter mechanic and Marine One Crew Chief for President Reagan, some of my most memorable years were those spent with the Reagan's at Camp David, their California ranch and various trips throughout the world. I only wish that more people could have got to know him the way I did. He was one of the kindest men I have ever had the pleasure to know.

Though I'm am saddened by his passing, I'm relieved the years of
suffering are now over for him, his family and friends.

To one of the greatest men I have ever known, I salute him one final time.

[Rower_CPU]

Since some involved in this discussion seem not to be able to avoid political commentary, please continue the discussion in the appropriate forum in an ongoing thread:
Politics: Reagan (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=74335)

Thanks :)