Former President Ronald Reagan Dies at 93

[anonymous individual]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&e=1&u=/ap/20040605/ap_on_re_us/reagan_obit


Former President Ronald Reagan Dies at 93

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By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Ronald Reagan (news - web sites), 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 (news - web sites). He was 93.


AP Photo


AFP
Slideshow: Former President Ronald Reagan Dies at 93




Reagan's 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.


The family had turned to making funeral arrangements, a friend of the family said.


In Paris, White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said President Bush (news - web sites) was notified of Reagan's death in Paris at about 4:10 p.m., EDT, by White House chief of staff Andy Card, who learned of the death from Fred Ryan, Reagan's former California chief of staff.


The United States flag over the White House was lowered to half staff within an hour.


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


The president planned to participate in D-Day ceremonies in Normandy on Sunday and then fly back to the United States for an international economic summit in Georgia.


She said it was not known at this point whether Bush would change his travel plans because of Reagan's death.


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 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 (news - web sites) 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."


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 single-minded 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.


At the time of his retirement, his very name suggested a populist brand of conservative politics that still inspires the Republican Party.


He declared at the outset, "Government is not the solution, it's the problem," although reducing that government proved harder to do in reality than in his rhetoric.


Even so, he challenged the status quo on welfare and other programs that had put government on a growth spurt ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal strengthened the federal presence in the lives of average Americans.





In foreign affairs, he built the arsenals of war while seeking and achieving arms control agreements with the Soviet Union.

In his second term, Reagan was dogged by revelations that he authorized secret arms sales to Iran while seeking Iranian aid to gain release of American hostages held in Lebanon. Some of the money was used to aid rebels fighting the leftist government of Nicaragua.

Despite the ensuing investigations, he left office in 1989 with the highest popularity rating of any retiring president in the history of modern-day public opinion polls.

That reflected, in part, his uncommon ability as a communicator and his way of connecting with ordinary Americans, even as his policies infuriated the left and as his simple verities made him the butt of jokes. "Morning again in America" became his re-election campaign mantra in 1984, but typified his appeal to patriotism through both terms.

At 69, Reagan was the oldest man ever elected president when he was chosen on Nov. 4, 1980, by an unexpectedly large margin over incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter.

Near-tragedy struck on his 70th day as president. On March 30, 1981, Reagan was leaving a Washington hotel after addressing labor leaders when a young drifter, John Hinckley, fired six shots at him. A bullet lodged an inch from Reagan's heart, but he recovered.

Four years later he was re-elected by an even greater margin, carrying 49 of the 50 states in defeating Democrat Walter F. Mondale, Carter's vice president.

[MARINO]

RIP

[tuckerhat]

Rest in Peace

[California Joe]

Fair Winds and Following Seas for the Gipper.

[Fargin]

Being a kid durring the coldwar Ronald Regan will always be the President of the United States of America for me. Political views put aside, I salute him as he rides into the sunset.

http://www.mountainscenes.com/Images/Glacier%20National%20Park/Sunset%20from%20Boulder%20campground%20%20GLA.246.15.H.SUNSET.jpg

[SiFiOn]

http://cache.*****images.com/comp/1762245.jpg?x=x&dasite=MS_GINS&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=E2399169AC85D6DEB6A7AA3B6F4D8A13BE3B44DD275A6985

RIP

[BlackRain]

Thanks for the service to your country! You will not be forgotten!

[Damian]

RIP and God Bless You.

[AFG]

Sad to see him go... he lived a good life, dying at a old age. too bad he had alzhiemers...

[seruriermarshal]

God bless you

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/photos/large/c5165924.jpg

[ZeroPositive]

RIP
That Old cowboy finally rode into the sunset.

[Aussie E]

RIP
Great Man!

[anonymous individual]

Rest in Peace

[Milkman]

Truly one of our greatest presidents.

RIP :(

[Operation Ivy]

RIP Man

[HonduranGuy87]

He lived a pretty long life though of 93. Rest in Peace.

[California Joe]

When I was in cop school way back when, I had a couple of pals that were former uniformed Secret Service. Said their first day on the job they were in the hallway at the White House and reagan came by and stopped in front of the one guy and said..."You're new here aren't you? Know any good jokes?" Hehe. I always thought that was cool of him to notice.

[Sir Zach of R.]

Heaven is more beautiful than ever before. Rest in Peace.

[Hawaii_Light]

i never new to much about Regan, but what i did now about him is coming back.

hes acomplished alot in his life, an actor, statesman, president.
hes done more then some could even wish to do, yet from what i hear he was humble to the end.

though i would be lying to say that i will miss him, and im not religous enough to say anything about heavan, i will say this.



when our time comes, and we shall be seen no more, let us rest in peace, and hope we shall be remebered.

he will be remebered.

[Midav]

A good man and a sad shame his last years were spent with alzheimers.

RIP President Reagan.

[Dennis G]

Rest in Peace

[Vance]

RIP.

[Early Chow Recruit]

His likeness should be placed on Mount Rushmore. I count myself as fortunate to have been around to witness his leadership.

Sempre Fidelis Sir,
God Speed

[California Joe]

No it shouldn't.

[seruriermarshal]

Great man ......

[SwissGrenadier]

RIP :|

[Uncle Sam]

Rest in Peace.

[scm77]

RIP :(

[Fintin]

rip....altough when did he ever get me a new bottle...i wasnt a fan of him back in the day....needless to say....

[MetalBoy]

I was too young to remember his Presidency but he did so much good for the world, he'll be missed. Rest in Peace.

[n_shanygin]

rip

[UkrainianAmerican]

Rest in peace.

[Laconian]

Rest in Peace, Sir.

[usa320]

My prayers are with him and his family. May he rest in peace. Not only did he bring hope to this country in a time of need, but he brought hope and freedom to millions around the world. The world is undoubtably a safer and more prosperous place because of the determination and motivation of Ronald Reagan.

We should not mourn his passing. Instead we should be greatful that men such as him are placed on this earth to serve the people and make life better.

[MEGR]

It must of been painful to see him with his alzheimers.. He's not suffering anymore. He's lauging it up with Lincoln, and Washington now.. RIP.

[Ichhabe]

Being a kid durring the coldwar Ronald Regan will always be the President of the United States of America for me. Political views put aside, I salute him as he rides into the sunset.

http://www.mountainscenes.com/Images/Glacier%20National%20Park/Sunset%20from%20Boulder%20campground%20%20GLA.246.15.H.SUNSET.jpg

Yeah! Finally he could mount his horse and ride in to eternity. A great statesman, and a great man in all his doing. From his early years as a Life Guard to taking the highest office in the United States of America.

Rest in peace and hope you have a good time wherever you are.

[Mudcat]

Rest in Peace, Mr. President.

[usa320]

"I did turn 75 today -- but remember, that's only 24 Celsius."


"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."



"Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."



"Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it's not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work -- work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it."



"Above all we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."



"Politics is a very rewarding profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book."


"America is too great for small dreams."



We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we can always be free."

[German_American]

RIP

[digrar]

A man who had a great love for his country. Rest in Peace.

[RomanS]

Rest in Peace

Was a great leader.

Thanks for helping to change Russia. no more commie regime.

[Sir Zach of R.]

http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/tew/mosaic/sunset.jpg

[AFACadet]

http://roadrunnersinternationale.com/image/missing_man_formation.gif

[obd]

The King is dead.....long live the King!

[RavenW]

A whole era just ended... He was a great man.

Rest in Peace.

[budanski]

Unguarded Moments (http://www.musarium.com/stories/reagan/index.html)

[Dennis G]

^ Great photos

[Dennis G]

"There is no question that we have failed to live up to the dreams of the founding fathers many times and in many places. Sometimes we do better than others. But all in all, the one thing we must be on guard against is thinking that because of this, the system has failed. The system has not failed. Some human beings have failed the system."
- June 21, 1973



"The work of volunteer groups throughout our country represents the very heart and soul of America. They have helped make this the most compassionate, generous, and humane society that ever existed on the face of this earth."
- Oct. 16, 1973



"We are the showcase of the future. And it is within our power to mold that future-this year and for decades to come. It can be as grand and as great as we make it.
No crisis is beyond the capacity of our people to solve; no challenge too great."
- January 5, 1974



"In America, our origins matter less than our destination, and that is what democracy is all about."
- August 17, 1992



"This country was founded and built by people with great dreams and the courage to take great risks."
- January 26, 1983

"We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look."
- January 20, 1981



"It is up to us...to work together for progress and humanity so that our grandchildren, when they look back at us, can truly say that we not only preserved the flame of freedom, but cast its warmth and light further than those who came before us."
- 1982



"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever."
- January 20, 1981



"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
- June 12, 1987

[AFACadet]

"I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself."

"I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency — even if I'm in a Cabinet meeting."


"My fellow Americans. I'm pleased to announce that I've signed legislation outlawing the Soviet Union. We begin bombing in five minutes." –joking during a mike check before his Saturday radio broadcast THE BEST!!!

"I don't know. I've never played a governor." –asked by a reporter in 1966 what kind of governor he would be

"They say hard work never hurt anybody, but I figure why take the chance."

"There is absolutely no circumstance whatever under which I would accept that spot. Even if they tied and gagged me, I would find a way to signal by wiggling my ears." –on possibly being offered the vice presidency in 1968

"You can tell a lot about a fella's character by whether he picks out all of one color or just grabs a handful." –explaining why he liked to have a jar of jelly beans on hand for important meetings

"I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." -during a 1984 presidential debate with Walter Mondale

"Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his."

"I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born."

"I'm afraid I can't use a mule. I have several hundred up on Capitol Hill." –refusing a gift of a mule

"What does an actor know about politics?" –criticizing Ed Asner for opposing American foreign policy

"How can a president not be an actor?" -when asked "How could an actor become president?'

[Trigger]

Rest In Peace Mr. President.
God bless you.

You'll always be 'in the club' ;)
http://umd.labrinidis.org/hoff/movies/1998/feb/Bonzo.jpg

[Kilgor]

"Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his"

Love it :D

[Flagg]

"Facts are stupid things." –at the 1988 Republican National Convention, attempting to quote John Adams, who said, "Facts are stubborn things"


"My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes."


"I hope you're all Republicans." -speaking to surgeons as he entered the operating room following his assassination attempt


"I was still working at Harley-Davidson the day Ronald Reagan came," said Malcolm Wendt, 67, a retired tool and die inspector from York, Pa. "We were almost bankrupt, and Ronald Reagan put a tariff on small cycles coming into the country until we could get back up on our feet. He saved us."

He stared down the Soviet Union, took the piss out of himself repeatedly, helped Americans find their self-respect again, took a bullet for the team from a certified nutjob, single-handedly saved Harley-Davidson(a big part of my livelihood), and shares his birthday with me and Bob Marley.....the Gipper will always be "good people" as far as I'm concerned.

[Javehn]

RIP :( .
Shows that good presidents are not former millitary ones ...

[mack pl]

RIP :(

[Tengu]

RIP

[Fredd00]

Rest in peace
http://www.reagan.navy.mil/

[-Max2-]

RIP

[sethen]

Incompetent, figure head, hollywood pretty face. You were a great flunky for the Bushs, the British and of course our Israeli, "Friends."

Gaddafi sends his condolences that you couldn't be tried for his daughters death before you died. :petting:

[Fredd00]

Incompetent, figure head, hollywood pretty face. You were a great flunky for the Bushs, the British and of course our Israeli, "Friends."
Gaddafi sends his condolences that you couldn't be tried for his daughters death before you died. :petting:


Just go **** yourself - this is a hero, I am Pole and Mr Reagan did a lot to my country.

[Tane Angle]

I have no great love for the man either (I can picture everyone turning around and saying "no duh, Tane, we hadn't noticed!"), he certainly made some bad calls, but I have no hate for him either. I don't know if this is the right thread to bash him in. If you really feel a need to, perhaps a new thread would be better? I'm sure everyone would be happy to read it, and I'm sure they would behave. Thank you.

Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[MaDuce]

Incompetent, figure head, hollywood pretty face. You were a great flunky for the Bushs, the British and of course our Israeli, "Friends."

Gaddafi sends his condolences that you couldn't be tried for his daughters death before you died. :petting:
Remember kids don't feed the trolls.

[admar2]

RIP

a great man, a great leader, the great communicator.

[JiJoMacLE45]

RIP, I always liked the man and had a great deal of respect for him.

[He219]

Another quote:

A friend of mine was asked to a costume ball a short time ago. He slapped some egg on his face and went as a liberal economist.

Great pic's in your link, budanski!

Hard to forget this image; The White House in 1985
http://www.musarium.com/stories/reagan/images/small/princess-di-w-travolta.jpg
John Travolta and Princess Diana

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20040607/amdf588395.jpg
RIP Dutch

[Old300]

President Reagan saved the world (with help, in descending order of importance, from Margaret Thatcher, the Pope, and Mikhail Gorbachev).

He rescued the American economy (the prime lending rate was 22.5% when he began his term. Think about that. If in the unlikely event you had enough money to buy a house in 1980, a $150,000 mortgage that at today's rate would cost you less than $1,000 per month would have cost you almost $4,000 then) and made us feel good about being Americans again.

I was only 4 years old at the time, but I remember him getting shot and my Dad - a good old Southern Democrat - praying that he'd get better.

He was a good, simple, strong, smart man. Requiescat in pacem.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Reagan was a true giant. He belongs on Mt. Rushmore (isn't there already a movement afoot to get him on there?). You'd be hard pressed to find another postwar president who did so much.

That being said, he did have his detractors, and many disagreed with his policies. But hey, you can't please everybody. And IMHO, as a political leader, you shouldn't even attempt to please everybody. The fact that he accomplished so much in spite of the solidly Democrat House & Senate (complete with the likes of Tip O'-freekin-Neil in charge) is a testament to the power Reagan's message & force of will.

RIP Dutch

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Heh heh I just caught this on Foxnews;


Cuba: Reagan Should 'Never Have Been Born'

Monday, June 07, 2004

HAVANA — Cuba harshly criticized former President Ronald Reagan (search) and his policies on Monday, saying he should "never have been born."

In the first reaction to Reagan's death from the communist government, Radio Reloj (search) said:

"As forgetful and irresponsible as he was, he forgot to take his worst works to the grave," the government radio station said.

"He, who never should have been born, has died," the radio said.

The statement did not mention Cuba's relationship with the United States under Reagan, a staunch foe of communism.

It also did not mention Reagan's decision to order U.S. forces to invade the tiny Caribbean country of Grenada on Oct. 25, 1983, because Washington feared the island had grown too close to Cuba.

Since the early 1960s, Cuba and the United States have been without diplomatic relations, and Cuba has been under a U.S. trade embargo. But relations between the two countries were especially tense when Reagan was in office from 1981-1989.

Radio Reloj lambasted Reagan's military policies, especially the "Star Wars" anti-missile program (search). The initiative, launched when the Soviet Union still existed, rejected a long-standing doctrine built on the idea that neither superpower would start a nuclear war out of fear of annihilation by the other.

The radio also criticized Reagan's policies in Central America, where Washington backed a counterrevolutionary rebel army that fought against the leftist Sandinista government in Nicaragua. The United States also supported a conservative government that battled Marxist guerrillas during El Salvador's civil war.

"His apologists characterize him as the victor of the Cold War (search)," the radio said. "Those in the know knew that the reality was not so, but rather (he was) the destroyer of policies of detente in the overall quest for peace."

I think Reagan would have loved to hear this. You can judge people not only by who their friends are, but by who their enemies are.