I remember when I met Ronald Reagan. It was the summer of 1986 and I was 18 and working in the office of our local Chamber of Commerce. Two weeks before his arrival, the Secret Service used the Chamber of Commerce office as their command center. For two weeks, our office was in total upheaval. The media were swarming, radio stations calling hourly and the Secret Service just took our offices over and we couldn’t get a thing done.
Various motorcade route maps were pinned up all over the walls and the Secret Service were crawling all over the place. One afternoon, one of the Secret Service guys took me on his ’rounds’ of our downtown area, walking along the rooftops of the buildings - he pointed out all the areas of vulnerability and explained the procedures they take to secure these areas. Then we went up to the lake and watched a practice landing and take off of the Presidential helicopter on the bluffs in Port Washington.
The day came for the President’s arrival and at the last minute - the head of the Secret Service invited all of us who worked in the office to the luncheon that the President would be speaking at. President Reagan was speaking in front of the Rotary Club - which, back then, was an all male organization. We were allowed into the club - however, we weren’t allowed to sit down and partake of lunch - us women had to stand along the back wall and watch the Rotary Club members and the President and his guests eat - then were able to listen to his speech.
Today, I look back on that and I can’t fathom women being required to stand along the back wall while the men ate - - not in this day and age. However, back then - we were all pretty thrilled to have the opportunity to see the President and listen to him speak, we didn’t think twice about it. Afterwards, I was able to walk up and shake his hand and let him know how much I admired him.
His handshake was firm. His eyes sparkled as his eyes made contact with mine - and his smile, genuine and warm as he thanked me for all the hard work of making his visit possible.
To me, Reagan was a political giant — and one of my heros. I was saddened the day I found out he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease - - as a nurse, I’ve seen all too many times the affects of that disease. He handled his discovery of the diagnosis with such class and grace.
Today, my hero, President Ronald Reagan died. The legacy of this great man lingers everywhere in the world. May he rest in peace and may his family find comfort in his legacy and all that he gave to his country, and the world.
Rest in peace, Mr. President.
America Mourns The Loss of The “Great Communicator”
Love Story: The Reagan Letters
Ronald Reagan Library and Museum
** Update **
Blog Tributes:
James has some great Reagan pictures.
Politburo Diktat has a great blog round up of posts throughout the blogosphere.
Jay feels the same way I do with My Hero, Rest In Peace
Joe’s post over at Dean’s World pays a nice tribute.
Read Robert’s thoughts.
Mickey remembers his seven-year old naivite regarding Reagan - his father corrected his misconceptions.
After a year of retirement, I had the opportunity to...
4:41 pm on June 5th, 2004
Well said, Lisa. He was an amazing man.
5:05 pm on June 5th, 2004
Ronald Reagan Passes - R.I.P. Gipper
Our enemies always thought Ronald Reagan was a little crazy. “Who know what he might do,” they asked. I liked that. Reagan, the cheerful crusader who devoted his presidency to winning the Cold War, scaling back government and calling for “morning ag…
5:16 pm on June 5th, 2004
Farewell, Ronald Reagan
Only minutes after our radio show ended, I found out that President Ronald Reagan had passed away after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. While not unexpected, the news of his passing stunned me in a way I had not…
5:31 pm on June 5th, 2004
Ronald Reagan Has Died
And we have lost one of the great men of American politics. “The Gipper” was, it can be safely said, a leader of modern fiscal and social conservatism and did much to bring both back to the forefront of American politics.
5:32 pm on June 5th, 2004
Ronald Reagan Has Died
And we have lost one of the great men of American politics. “The Gipper” was, it can be safely said, a leader of modern fiscal and social conservatism and did much to bring both back to the forefront of American politics.
6:52 pm on June 5th, 2004
President Ronald Reagan, 1911 - 2004
ABC just broke into normal programming to announce that President Ronald Reagan passed away. He was 93 years old. Sam Donaldson called him “an eternal optimist.” The news strikes a sad core in me. I was a young man,
6:53 pm on June 5th, 2004
Thanks for sharing your story so vividly. He will be missed.
7:37 pm on June 5th, 2004
Have collated some Reagan tributes over on my blog.
8:34 pm on June 5th, 2004
I think the thing that sums it up best for me is what my girlfriend, who was born and raised in the former East Germany, said when I told her Reagan had died.
“Oh no!” she cried, “He’s the man who freed us.”
8:42 pm on June 5th, 2004
Thanks for the mention. … uh … that’s “Diktat.”
Unless you meant it, of course. I’ve been called worse.
10:37 pm on June 5th, 2004
Ronald Reagan, 1911 - 2004
I was going to write on today’s happenings at the final day of the Texas Republican Convention. But, at approximately 4:15 this afternoon, State Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville), the Convention Chairman, called the body to order and announced that Pre…
11:55 pm on June 5th, 2004
Beautiful post Lisa. He was my hero too. You are so lucky you got to meet him. RIP Gipper.
12:13 am on June 6th, 2004
Gone To That Shining City - The Gipper
President Ronald Reagan died today. My first thoughts were he’s gone to a better place, released from the prison of Alzheimers. I feel no sadness that the man who has done so much for our country, who brought an end to the cold war, advanced the cause…
5:13 am on June 6th, 2004
[...] d God bless the United States.” Lisa has some of her favorite quotes, memories of meeting him and a roundup of links. General | so says mog @ 22:04 [...]
11:16 pm on June 6th, 2004
Reagan Tributes Worth Reading
Outside the Beltway has an excellent roundup of media tributes. Being American in T.O. covers the Canadian perspective quite well. A Little More to the Right posts the entire text of Reagan’s farewell address, while American RealPolitik chose to post …
5:23 am on June 13th, 2004
Phooey! What a lot of utter rubbish. The man was useless and one of the worst presidents ever. Wake up!
8:00 am on June 26th, 2005
genocidal bigoted fuck.very very happy he’s dead