A Tangled Web

RONALD REAGAN - IN HIS OWN WORDS.



My bookshelf contains the wonderful title "Dear Americans - letters from the desk of Ronald Reagan." The sheer goodness, humility, humour and vision of the man shines through. Try these excerpts.



To Andy Smith (a seventh grade student whose mother declared his bedroom to be a disaster area May 11 1984.



"Your application for disaster relief has been duly noted but I must point out on etechnical problem; the authority declaring the disaster is supposed to make the request. In this case, you mother!"



To Judge Leonard McDevitt, July 17 1986.



"I understand your situation because in my mothers' latter years in a nursing home she no longer recognised me or my brother. Sometimes she would tell me incidents about her son Ronald as if I were some new acquaintance. But as I look back at those days, I wonder if this wasn't something of a God given mercy. She was apparently contented in that little world into which she had retired. She would have been miserable if she had retained all her faculties and awareness and yet been physically helpless and restrained, no longer bale to do the things that she enjoyed."



To Mrs Beverly Straitiff November 29th 1983



"Thank you for telling me about your (ninety-year old) mother's plans to run for President..I can't subscribe to all the plansk in her platform but am in agreement on several. If my decision is to seek re-election, maybe we'll meet on the campaign trail. There is just one thing - I hope she won't make my youth an issue. I'll be 73 on Feb 6th"



Ronald Reagan was a great man, vilified by the rancid UK media. Along with Margaret Thatcher, he saw off the evil empire of the USSR and he put the pride back in the USA.



His death at this time of tribute to the D Day landings brings to mind this speech that he made at the World War II Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument, which overlooks Omaha Beach in Normandy. It was the 40th anniversary of the attack made by the 2nd Ranger Battalion led by Lt. Col. James E. Rudder up the steep cliffs at the beach on that momentous day. Loss of life was very high. Such eloquence.





My sincere condolences go to his wife, Nancy, his children, and the people of the United States who have lost a favourite son. Rest in peace.