Ron Reagan Jr on his father.

“Dad was also a deeply, unabashedly religious man. But he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage. True, after he was shot and nearly killed early in his presidency, he came to believe that God had spared him in order that he might do good. But he accepted that as a responsibility, not a mandate. And there is a profound difference.”

-- Reagan republican (vivaronnie@yahoo.com), June 13, 2004

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-- Reagan republican (vivaronnie@yahoo.com), June 13, 2004.

I had heard that RR attended services regularly before and after his 8 years in office. During his 8 years, though, he decided not to go to services - except for holidays - because it caused too much of a mess (security, press, etc).

I don't know what to make of that. If he really was a devoutly religious man, you'd think he would have figured something out, right?

Anyway, Bless his soul, he was truly one of the greatest presidents.

-- John (John@hotmail.com), June 14, 2004.

I once lived some 40 miles from San Clamente, and whenever the president was going to be there it caused massive problems in traffic, police, telephone service, emergency services priority, and on and on .... When ever I hear of a president visiting a disaster scene, I feel for the people who have to put up with the hassles that a presidential tour causes. Although I shook hands with JFK when he was campaigning in 1960, I would not want my own kids around a presidential detail of the 21st century

-- Bob Hennessy (bobhenn@hotmail.com), June 14, 2004.

a responsibility, not a mandate

Actually, the way his Dad approached it, it was both.

It is to bad his son is an atheist. I am sure it pained his father greatly.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@Hotmail.com), June 14, 2004.

Yes, it’s unfortunate that such a massive cordon is thrown around a President that he has virtually nil chance of actually meeting an ordinary person. No wonder they’re so out of touch. This process really accelerated with Reagan who didn’t mind being confined to his anecdotes, slogans, sound-bites and off-color “jokes”. Unfortunately Ron Junior wouldn’t have any idea about his father’s religious attitudes during his term of office, as they weren’t even on speaking terms then, and indeed for most of his life, despite his professed adherence to “family values”.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), June 14, 2004.

Every remark you make is supercilious, Steve. It's chilling to observe your low level of Christian charity.

First off, you're repeating mere hearsay; allegations to supposed Reagan dirty jokes. You weren't present; and you never saw anything. But you sit at the safety of your keyboard & judge.

Secondly, Ron Reagan Jr. is just an atheist to your understanding. Even if he is, it's not ours to judge the man. That's detraction, and he isn't here to rebut you.

Besides, his life isn't over. Ron Jr. may yet find God. He's a pilgrim in the present life. Ours is to pray for his conversion. To pray for everybody.

I truly think Reagan Sr. was an upright Christian. His invincible ignorance/protestant upbringing notwithstanding, he loved God; had faith in Jesus Christ. Our hope for the President's eventual salvation is justified. He may be in Purgatory but I feel he's saved. I'll pray for his soul as long as I live. Just as I hope and pray others will pray for me.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), June 14, 2004.

Wow. To be accused of being “supercilious” and having a “low level of Christian charity” by Eugene of all people. I guess I’ll take that as a compliment then.

I judge no-one and I have no idea what Ron Junior’s religious persuasion is. Nor do I listen to hearsay much less repeat it. Reagan’s offensive “jokes” are on the public record. His religion appears to have been a hypocritical chauvinist fundamentalism like the Puritans he professed to admire. I pray God may have mercy on his soul.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), June 14, 2004.

Well, for all that I tried, it went over your head. Instead of considering what is charitable, you went all the way and pronounced Reagan no good. A fine Catholic you are.

You've gradually exposed yourself here, Steve.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), June 14, 2004.

Unlike you I try to see the good in all. “Charity” to you is just another word to use as a weapon. It was Bill who said that Junior is an atheist. But of course you won’t unleash your foul mouth on him because he has the “right” political views (though unlike you he expresses them with Christian charity).

I never realized that “Reagan is good” is a dogma of the Catholic faith. You’ve well and truly “exposed yourself” for what you really are behind your fake piety.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), June 15, 2004.

I don't have a foul mouth, Steve.

You are very uncharitable; and haven't even got proper respect for the dead. You seem to think it's OK to launch on Reagan mercilessly: ''Reagan’s offensive jokes are on the public record. His religion appears to have been a hypocritical chauvinist fundamentalism--'' That's a disgusting way to talk about him. Nothing is on ''public record'' except detraction and hearsay. And, FYI, many atheists have converted to the faith. We've had one or two ex-atheists (now Catholics) right here in our forum. So, you cynically dismiss Reagan Jr. Totally uncharitable.

Didn't Mama teach you, Stevie, ''When you can't say something good don't say anything at all?''

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), June 15, 2004.

May Ronald Reagan rest in peace.

It is so easy to slander others when they are not around to defend themselves. However, Ronald Reagan does not need any defending.

They say you can tell the kind of person you were and how you lived your life by the number of people who attend your funeral. I think the numbers of people paying their last respects to this wonderful and kind human being, speaks for itself.

Ronald Reagan had a great sense of humor and would most likely laugh at some of the things being said about him now - he would take the comments with a grain of salt. No matter how we try, we just cannot please everyone - I think Ronald Reagan wanted to please God and I think he did.

His son, Michael, has a talk-radio show in California and I listen to him every afternoon. This past week was devoted to his father, especially the funeral and all of the events surrounding it.

Ron and his sister did not talk to the President because they were jealous of the time he gave to his political life - they rebelled in a horrible fashion and it broke Ronald Reagan's heart. They did manage to make peace when he became ill. It is not Ronald Reagan who was not a good family man, it was his children who broke up the family. Despite Ronald Reagan's efforts to bring peace to his family, Ron and Patti wanted nothing to do with their parents. They continually lived out their own lives in a fashion that was not accepted by their parents.

Michael came to understand the role his father played in this world and that God led him onto a particular path. Ron and Patti may understand that now, but they did not understand it as youngsters.

Listen to what Michael has to say about his father and you will hear quite the opposite of what Steve has to say. I believe Michael.

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), June 17, 2004.

Eugene, I repeat what I said on another thread, You pretend to want a serious discussion of an issue but all you want is a verbal fist- fight. It is impossible for any of us to achieve any growth in knowledge or faith when your only aim is to distort others’ posts to create straw-men for you to knock down.

Reagan's "jokes" are recorded in radio and television broadcasts in his own voice, and in direct quotes in printed reports which neither he nor anyone associated with him ever made any effort to refute. If you choose to believe they are somehow just a vast conspiracy, I can't do anything about your living in a state of denial of the facts. Nothing I have said is uncharitable, disrespectful, merciless, disgusting, cynically dismissive, or a "launch on Reagan". I repeat I have made no criticism at all of Ron Junior - only Bill, MaryLu and your good self have done that.

Reagan repeatedly spoke in chauvinist quasi-religious terms of "the light on the hill" which he related to the Puritans - a group of extreme fundamentalist fascists, compared to whom the Taliban are moderates, and their much-maligned contemporaries in the Spanish Inquisition were bleeding-heart liberals.

These are historical facts, not opinions. Don't unload on me just because you find these facts uncomfortable.

MaryLu, I have made no "slander" or "attack" on Reagan. If he doesn't need defending, why are you doing just that?

"They say you can tell the kind of person you were and how you lived your life by the number of people who attend your funeral. I think the numbers of people paying their last respects to this wonderful and kind human being, speaks for itself. "

How many millions have attended Lenin's funeral and respectfully filed past his coffin? MaryLu must think Lenin was a REALLY good guy. It's not how popular you are that counts in the end, MaryLu.

"It is not Ronald Reagan who was not a good family man, it was his children who broke up the family. "

That's a pretty tough call on his children who were only infants when Reagan divorced his legitimate wife and ceased contact with them.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), June 17, 2004.

Ceased contact with them? Have you listened to Michael Reagan lately? Check out his talk show and hear him talk about his childhood, and his love for his father...Maureen and Michael were very close to their dad - closer, in fact, that Patti and Ron..

When it comes to the Reagan family facts, I will listen to Michael Reagan. I think Michael is more knowledgeable on this subject than you Steve.

You are a very sarcastic person, Steve....very sarcastic and very nasty and mean-spirited.

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), June 18, 2004.

MaryLu, if you could possibly point out anything in what I said which is "sarcastic, nasty and mean-spirited", I would gladly apologize for it. As I said I merely state the facts; don't blame me if you find the facts uncomfortable. I made absolutely no comment on how much or how little Reagan's children loved him. In fact I have made no comment about the junior Reagans' attitudes at all; but for some reason you and Eugene want to pretend that I am somehow attacking them. I merely pointed out the falsity of your cruel and unfair claim that the children were responsible for breaking up the family.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), June 20, 2004.

Steve,

Maybe it's me and I am misreading the way you express yourself. Please accept my apology for calling you nasty and sarcastic.

I just finished reading my second book on the Reagan Family and have a better perspective on things - the children felt left out because of their father's political life and the time it took away from them. It is really a lot more complex than that, but Ronald Reagan was a good man and a good President.

Life is complicated at times, families can be complex, and the Reagan family had their problems - for sure. But, he was a good man who knew Our Lord and was a good President.

Actually, there was a lack of communication between Ronald Reagan and his children. In the end, peace was made - thank you, Lord and may Ronald Reagan rest in peace.

As for me, enough on the Reagan family. He has made a great contribution to this country, made peace with his family, may he rest in peace and may his family be comforted during this difficult time.

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), June 20, 2004.