Son Suggests Reagan Had Alzheimers While President
- Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:46am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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NEW YORK (AP) — Ronald Reagan‘s son suggests in a new book that his father suffered from the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease while he was still in the White House.
The memoir quotes excerpts from Ron Reagan’s book “My Father at 100,” published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA).
Reagan’s son writes that he believes his father would have left office before his second term ended in 1989 had the disease been diagnosed then. U.S. News & World Report was the first to break the publishing embargo.
“I’ve seen no evidence that my father (or anyone else) was aware of his medical condition while he was in office,” Reagan writes. “Had the diagnosis been made in, say 1987, would he have stepped down? I believe he would have.”
Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1994, five years after leaving office. The popular Republican president died in 2004 at age 93 from complications of the disease.
The younger Reagan recalls how his father became uncharacteristically lost for words and looked “lost and bewildered” during the 1984 presidential debates with Democratic rival Walter Mondale. He says his father may have suspected the onset of Alzheimer’s in 1986 when he was flying over familiar canyons north of Los Angeles and became alarmed that he could no longer remember their names.
But Reagan says the issue of his father‘s health should not tarnish his legacy as the nation’s 40th president.
“Does this delegitimize his presidency? Only to the extent that President Kennedy‘s Addison’s disease or Lincoln’s clinical depression undermine theirs,” Reagan writes. “Better, it seems to me, to judge our presidents by what they actually accomplish than what hidden factors may be weighing on them.”
He continues: “That likely condition, though, serves as a reminder that when we elect presidents, we elect human beings with all their foibles and weaknesses, psychological and physiological.”
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Comments (135)
Maji
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:36pmThats like saying Steve McQeen was gay!!!
Ain’t True!!!!!
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:35pm.
Alzheimers robs one of his or her treasured memories.
Liberalism, in contrast, is a mental disease that robs the hardest-working people of their treasure, and their freedom and also robs all of our children of their future opportunities…
I’ll take a president with full-blown Alzheimers over a president and congress suffering from Liberalism every time.
Report Post »Maji
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:33pmHe gave this interveiw while preparing to dance in the “Sugar Plum Fairy”!!
Report Post »This guy was a little “sweet biscuit” till his daddy (The Prez) gave him some credibility.
His “Pop” probably hurt his femine feelings!!
BeingThere
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:33pmDON’T BUY THIS BOOK! I’ll take Ronald Reagan with alzheimers over the un-American POS in the white house now!!!
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:22pmStop shooting the messenger. Ronald Reagan‘s Alzheimer’s is a documented fact. Like the son said, judge him by what he accomplished while President. And we all know he was a historic great president.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:22pmAnd tell us, little Ron, what mental disorder do you have? I haven’t been able to figure it out.
Report Post »demsrjackwagons
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:46pmHe was concieved on the backstroke!
Report Post »suzy000
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:19pmThere is little doubt that implementation takes time. I am talking about the policies implemented by Reagan. More than half this country gives Clinton credit for the ninties….WRONG. The Reagan years started in the ninties…that was when his policies bloomed. In 1999, Clinton signed into act one of the worst pieces of legislation. It came home to roost in 2006 and brought one of the worst recessions in 2008. This was Clinton’s true legacy. I sincerely hope that history get that right.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:11pmYou know, when I began reading this story my first thought was: hatchet job by Ron Jr. who certainly wasn’t in step, I don’t believe, with his dad’s political views. Having read it though, it seems fair and objective. That’s all we can ask!
Report Post »puck30
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:10pmMaking money off your dead dad to sell a book, and embarrass his Mom. Stay classy Little Ronnie, At least Patti keeps things to herself these days and is taking care of Mom. Get a clue Little Ronnie.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:17pmMaybe they need the money from the book to continue caring for Nancy. Remember, although the Reagans certainly weren’t broke upon leaving office, Ronnie and Nancy never cashed in on it like Clinton, even Gore. When Obama leaves office, hopefully on January 20th 2013, he too will clean up and rake in the cash. Liberal politicians, darlings of publishing and literary circles as they are, do very well with whatever “fiction” they churn out after leaving office………..the Reagans, not so much!
Report Post »Traveller Lee
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:05pmWhy would anyone believe this bitter girly-boy? He hated his father.
The ingrate should thank his lucky stars every day because he had Reagan for a Dad. If it wasn’t for his Dad, he wouldn’t have gotten that job hosting dog shows on Animal Planet — and he couldn’t even do that right. He stinks at everything he does.
What a loser!
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:04pmWith all that said Reagan is still better than Carter or Obama. I think Obama is running a race with Carter to see who can be the worst President.
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:00pmLittle Ron has been trying to destroy his father for decades – he just can’t let it go. Pathetic – Obsessed – Disgusting – Sad. Even in death, Ronald Reagan is more of a man than Little Ron can ever hope to be.
Report Post »AriBenTZion
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:00pmOn a PBS interview/documentary, Ron Reagan commented that he and his father never had a real conversation. Now I know why.
What a vile and tawdry sycophant this guy Ron is.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:35pmYou posted “What a vile and tawdry sycophant this guy Ron is.”
I think that is being generous to the revolting son he turned out to be; guess even a great father type cannot always result in a great son. More is the pity, so much good could have been wrought.
Report Post »badswing
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:59amand look at the comments so far!!!!!!! ‘he was ’still’ one of our greatest….and yet he still won….still even with…. look deeper into headlines people!!!!!!!!!! look at the interviews with people not trying to sell a book. sorry i am so pissed but i truly loved ronald reagan and to smear him with untruths disgusts me. and to look at these comments it makes me more frustrated how the news we read is so dishonest.
Report Post »Vince Foster
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:55am.
Report Post »Michael Reagan released the following statement to FoxNation.com: “Ron was an embarrassment to his father when he was alive and today he became an embarrassment to his mother.”
.
AMEN
Highmiles
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:04pmPerfect !
Report Post »McGarrett
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:19pmOne word sums it up,“Bravo”!
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:40pmThank you for keeping the memory of Vince Foster alive too!
Report Post »Cliff
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:57pmVINCE!!!!
Report Post »So sorry you were murdered!!!
badswing
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:55amso frustrating when we see headlines like this. THEY WONDER WHY WE WANT TO SCREAM. everyone but this scum says there was NO evidence of this. but what gets reported? anything but the truth. even david gergen , by no means a conservative, denounces the son. look at the interviews with those close to him, even at the end of his second term and they will tell you differently. FRUSTRATING.
Report Post »klevalt
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:55amI believe that those who can accomplish things through their weakness are the better for our nation… not those who make excuses
Report Post »frogxx
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:53amI do think President Reagan had a dibilitating , dangerous and destructive disease … it was his coward son Ron.
Report Post »djeffcoat
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:52amAnd FDR was crippled. So what?
Report Post »TX Progressive
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:47pmwow, dude, very stupid comment. One is a physical limitation the other a mental limitation. very different.
Report Post »LSX
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:51amHe is still one of our greatest presidents.
Unlike the current one.
Report Post »hkyfan36
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:51amThe younger Reagan recalls how no one listens to his radio show and he is a rich spoiled dirt bag.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:05pmLOL .. yes!
Report Post »Dstarr55
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:34pmI agree HKYFAN36 – no one listens to a bitter man that can never live up to the greatness of his father. He has some deep seeded issues and I wish he would just keep them to himself. Even if he thinks his father was starting in the stages of Alzheimers while he was in the White House, what could possibly be gained to say such a thing except to try and sully the reputation of one of the greatest presidents ever to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I know Ronald Reagan loved his children but it appears not all loved him back – only a vicious spoiled brat would do to his father what Ron, Jr. attempts to do to his. I try to be fair to even those I do not agree with and to keep the tone of my debate civil but sometimes you need to get down to the level of your opponent and Ron, Jr. is as low as you can get. I can’t stand the man and any time I see him on a show I admit, I turn it off before his voice offends my ears.
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:51amand yet he still won the debate and handed Mondale his a$$. Just shows what it takes to stop a lib.
Report Post »Cliff
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:50amStill even with Alzheimers… he is one of the best presidents and speakers of the US history!!!
Report Post »God Bless Ronald Regan!
ceili
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:53amIf I remember right, at the end of his presidency he started showing the first signs.
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 4:47pmHey Cilff: I love telling libs that R.R. was the greatest actor ever. I‘m told I’m an idiot by them. Then I tell those libs that he played his greatest hollywood role ever when R.R. was president.
Report Post »Takeoutthegarbagenov2
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:50amI wouldnt believe anything ARon or Maureen said. They were both on drugs at the time, what would they know?
Report Post »what4
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:00pmThis so called son is a POS! Proof that the faries of the world are unstable individuals!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:04pmNot Maureen .. she passed away and was “normal” it is Patti Davis who is blood sister to Ron and another nut case … Maureen deceased and Michael (adopted by Ron Sr. and 1st wife Jane Wyman) are the only ones I would give any credence to what they say.
Report Post »MiketheTrucker
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:05pmARon obviously is either a liberal, or did not know his father.
I listened to a speech(live) and met Reagan in 1990, he was not suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia either.
Report Post »myfamily04
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:07pmI can not believe that…go back and listen to all that Reagan said; if he had Alzheimer then it must have been very mild or he had some good meds for it.
Report Post »He was one of the greatest presidents of all time and should be on the mountain in SD
God Bless you Mr. Reagan!
knotaclu
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:23pmWhy you people freaking out? Whats up with the name calling? My dad had this disease bad when he died but there were signs of it years before that. I think it is quite possible Reagan had early signs. Nothing wrong with that. And yes, Reagan was the best President in my lifetime and what we wouldnt do to have somone like him step to the plate today…
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:47pm@knotaclu
My dad has the stuff, and I understand truly, it was several years after the initial diagnosis before the alzheimers began to noticably – on a regualr basis now – to change him.
Report Post »clockn63
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:43pmHow sad Snowleopard. Your family is in my prayers. As for Ron Jr. he is a disgrace to the name Reagan!!!!
Report Post »Paul G
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:57pmMy mother had dementia…but whether sissy boy is right or wrong….he just shouldn’t have said ANYTHING! My mother RIP, (and she wasn’t the President of the USA) still DESERVES respect!
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:47amIt is a slowly progressive disease.
Report Post »Huevos Tibios
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:19pmJr. is the one suffering from progressive disease.
Report Post »orkydorky
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:33pmEven if he had the disease in the latter stages, he was still ten times better than Barry! Is junior looking for a little cash for drug money by trying to sell a few more books to the lefties? I’m sure his father loved him, but it really would have been hard!
Report Post »LVMerrily
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:34pmHe has an agenda with his liberal views. He has made the news before because of his name. Guess he was a failure in his dancing career and has taken to making snarky remarks to get attention.
IF Reagan was at all incompasitated he would have stepped down, but instead leaves a legacy of great honor and deeds.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:40pmYeah, I saw him on 20/20 last night and had to turn it off. I feel bad Ronald Reagans son has turned out to be a progressive, thats a shame.
Report Post »billmahersux
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:42pmWhat‘s Obama’s excuse then?
Report Post »123gone
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:42pmIt doesn’t matter – he was still one of the best presidents this country ever had. God rest his soul.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:45pmMy dad’s mother died from it, and now he has the early stages of it as well. I can see it killing him by inches, and by memories; it is not only the slow degeneration of one you care about, it is the death of the loved ones personality at the same time – memory by memory.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:00pm@ Snowleapard
My grandfather in law also had it, and your right, its very sad and I think it may be harder on the family then on the one with the disease. He is passed now, about a year. He and his wife were married 60+ years and I thought she was going to die right along with him of a broken heart. Your dad is in my prayers.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:03pm@billmahersux
Should not Pelosi, Reid, and the others of the administration – including all the czars, be added to the list as well? Be sure they get sent to the nursing home and receive the Obama cares finest of end of life counseling as well…hope they have enough clarity to understand the irony of that happening.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:03pmYour right, Truthtalker, it sure is a “progressive” disease. Thats how the “progressives” are destroying America, as Snowleapard said, inch by inch and memory by memory.
beckisnuts
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:06pmRon Jr. is bitter and resentful, spoiled and a wannabe. Any comments coming from him are therefore suspect.
CatB
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:07pmMichael Reagan released the following statement to FoxNation.com: “Ron was an embarrassment to his father when he was alive and today he became an embarrassment to his mother.”
Report Post »Kalish
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:19pmHuevos Tibios said :
Jr. is the one suffering from progressive disease.
Touche !
Report Post »Paul G
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:35pmWhen I saw/ read this story last night….I just shook my head. So sad that Jr would do this.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:02pmthe more I hear from this “son” the more I don’t like him…and I don’t think his dad would be very proud of him either..
davecoolworld
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:51pmJr. Probably needs money. He only has his father as a topic to write about. If he was any kind of real writer, he could find another topic. He has no respect for the Best President in modern times. He has no respect for his father. Senior probably couldn’t understand jrs. lifestyle and jr is still resentful. Spoiled and broke=defamation of a dead man. Sad.
Report Post »Reagan’s face should be added to Mt. Rushmore.
grandmaof5
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:57pmWhat a low life! He hasn’t said a kind word about his father in as long as I can remember and now he says he had Alzheimers to explain the things he did while president…the sad thing is, he fathered such an unAmerican son who has ridden on his father’s coattails all his life.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:04pmwow..love the spin from-AP…the younger Reagan is the liberal ****** that hated his father.no matter what these aholes do…they will not destroy his legacy.Dad must be spinning in his grave…pox on you..younger Reagan…
AzDebi
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:21pmIs there nothing that is sacred anymore?
Sledgehammer
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:31pmAs sad as this is, even if it were so, this man stand out among the leaders of the last 130 years! What does that say about those who served during that time frame! Threr is only one President Reagan, the right man at the right time!
Lucy Larue
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 4:35pmTruthtalker,
Report Post »You’re correct.
While I really do not think much of Ron Reagen(kind of a loser). I must say that I read the excerpt where he wonders about his father showing signs of Altzheimer’s while President. It’s pretty tame.
This is a non story.
easyed598
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 4:53pmReagan had more common sense about him with ahlziemers than Obama has with his supposedly “full wits”
Report Post »Mister President
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 5:25pmIf anything, it‘s just more of a testament to President Reagan’s greatness. As his son points out, President Lincoln (a Republican) dealt with clinical depression while preserving the Union. Even if President Reagan was dealing with this terrible disease during his last few years in the White House, he was still able to expedite and secure the unequivocal defeat of the Evil Empire and the fall of the Berlin wall and lived to see it.
Ronald Reagan was a man destined for greatness, no doubt.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 6:11pmWith a Son like this to Defend his Fathers Name and Reputation.
Report Post »Who Needs Enemies
oldguy48
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 8:38pmThis is the son that is a true believer in the Marxist theory. As per anything said by one of his ilk you must always remember that “the end justifies the means”. Slur his father, whatever, it is all good in their minds.
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 8:51pmRonnie knows ‘Progressive’, that’s for sure. How many years did he go w/o speaking to his dad? Probably no connection….
Report Post »jzs
Posted on January 16, 2011 at 1:03amI suspect his son’s motives as well. But whether true or not, what does it matter? Reagan surrounded himself with the best and brightest, which is what great leaders do. A guideline that exceptional of leaders follow is to choose advisor’s who are smarter and more knowledgeable than they are in a given area. The exceptional, the people that make history, aren’t intimidated by people who know more than they do, or who are smarter than them, because they have confidence in their ability understand the issues, their instinct to see the big picture, and their ability to make good decisions. Reagan had that, and if he was carried along for a year or two by advisors, it doesn’t matter and is hardly unique. His legacy is what it is.
One more comment: I don‘t think it’s a big revealation that Reagan wasn’t quite all there the last year or two of his administration. As I recall there were questions about that at the time. Yes, I’m that old.
Report Post »LadybugsTX
Posted on January 16, 2011 at 2:59amThis is not news. I guess Ronnie Jr’s tired of being a commentator at dog shows and wants a seat at the big boy table.
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