2.06.2012

Happy Birthday Mr. President! (and Governor)

Ronald Reagan, California’s 33rd governor and the 40th President of the United States, was born in Tampico, Illinois 101 years ago on February 6. 

A number of books have been written about the actor-turned-politician. Among the best are those by Reagan biographer Lou Cannon

Rather than rehash territory well covered by others, here’s a brief Reagan anecdote from February 1981, upon the occasion of his 70th birthday:

Speaking to a Washington Press Club dinner on February 4, the GOP president noted that the group was founded by six Washington newspaperwomen in 1919. After a slight pause: “Seems like only yesterday.”

As for middle age: “(It’s) when you’re faced with two temptations and you choose the one that will get you home by 9 o’clock.”

And, finally:

“Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.’ Ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.”

-30-

Filed under: California History



2 Comments »

  1. Not only is it the Reagan birthday, but it is also the birthday of Babe Ruth, Tom Brokaw and, drum role, my wife, Karen Brokaw.

    Comment by Barry Brokaw — 2.06.2012 @ 3:36 pm

  2. By today’s standards, a decent, moderate Rwpublican president. That said, as Agent T-10, Hoover played him……..

    Comment by Pat Henning Sr — 2.06.2012 @ 8:35 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Leave a comment