Salon: Ron Reagan talks about his father's Alzheimer's...and responds to Michael Reagan

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Tuesday, Jan 18, 2011 15:01 ET
War Room
Ron Reagan talks about his father's Alzheimer's
By Niall Stanage

http://www.salon.com/news/ronald_reagan/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/01/18/ron_reagan_interview



Seven years after his death, the name of Ronald Reagan is still capable of provoking serious arguments -- including within his own family.

The former president’s son, Ron Reagan, has just released "My Father at 100," a book about his father’s life. (The younger Reagan resists calling it a memoir.) The book’s revelation that Ron now believes his father had Alzheimer’s disease while in office has already elicited a furious response from Michael Reagan, the son adopted by Ronald Reagan and his first wife, Jane Wyman.

Michael Reagan has not only denied the Alzheimer’s-while-in-office suggestion; he has accused his brother of wanting to "sell out his father to sell books" and suggested, via Twitter, that people need to "pray" for Ron. But in an interview with Salon on Tuesday, Ron Reagan showed no signs of backing down from the fight.

"He seems to be dedicated to selling more of my books," he said about Michael. "I think he has made this a much bigger story than it would have been if he had just kept his mouth shut."

[Joanne98]

1. Michael Reagan is the one making money off his dead dad's name.

[hlthe2b]

4. I could almost feel sorry for Michael, given that

he must have always harbored some insecurity and resentment for being the "adopted" son in contrast to Ron. But, what a horrid person he tuned out to be. Just a "hanger on," it would seem.

[bulloney]

5. Michael knows that if chinks develop in the Reagan legacy armor, he'll go down with it.

Gotta keep the myth going.

The whole Reagan legacy is built on a foundation of myths. If Reagan was given a litmus test on conservatism by today's conservatives, he'd go down in flames. But, if not Reagan, what president can conservatives hang their hat on?

Reagan myths:
1. Reagan was a fiscal conservative
2. Reagan reduced the size of government
3. Reagan was responsible for the end of the Cold War
4. Reagan's life reflected conservative family values

[TlalocW]

2. Considering that Ronald didn't even recognize Michael at Michael's college graduation

(or some such event, so the story goes), methinks Michale needs to open his eyes to reality.

TlalocW

[hlthe2b]

3. Good on Ron....

Michael is an ass and an idiot to think that Nancy would not be firmly behind her son, Ron.

[emulatorloo]

7. "Nancy Reagan 'Loved' Ron Reagan's Book; Is 'Proud' of Him, Son Said"

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2011/01/nancy-reagan-loved-ron-reagans-book-is-proud-of-him-son-said.html


Despite the family feud that has unfolded over the past few days between Ron Reagan and his half-brother Michael, Nancy Reagan said she is very proud of her son for writing his new book "My Father at 100."

“She was worried about me. She said ‘Are you alright?’ I said ‘Yeah mom, I’m fine... but they are going to ask me what you think of the book. So what should I say to them,’” Ron Reagan said on “GMA.” “And she said, ‘You tell them that I’ve read it, I loved it, it made me cry and I’m very proud of you.’”

[Gman]

6. I detect a subtle but obvious "Mike, you're just the step-son

and mom (my mom) is on my side. Just ask her... but oh... you can't because you don't call, you don't write..."

Mike Reagan is such an ass and he showed his true relationship again with his family.

[Angry Dragon]

8. I notice that bush sr. and others in the admin

are not denying the story at all ........curious

[Monsoon]

9. What is it with polishing this turd?

Didn't the Reagan family quash some docu-drama recently because it didn't make St. Ronnie look perfect. And now we get the whole 100 year bull crap.