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Grins

(8,728 posts)

59. Friend of mine had a friend in Reagan's White House...

Mon May 19, 2025, 01:33 PM

May 2025

At dinner a couple years ago and we’re talking about Trump dementia. I bring up Reagan. He brings up his friend (whom I HATE!) who worked in Reagan White House, admitting to him Reagan was off the deep end as Pres.

Me: Yes, his 2nd term.

Friends: No; his first. They knew in his first term he was ‘off.’

Particularly in his disastrous 1984 first debate with Mondale who ridiculed his memory. And it showed!

But before that, his WH staff avoided mentioning his time as governor - and to NEVER - say the words “file cabinets!” because that would trigger Reagan to go off on a tangent.

At that 1974 debate - Reagan was age 73!

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Didn't Reagan have dementia during his presidency? [View all] milestogo May 2025 OP

100 percent yes in my view BannonsLiver May 2025 #1

Friend of mine had a friend in Reagan's White House... Grins May 2025 #59

Yes, Nancy was the real President, kind of like Stephen Miller is now. surfered May 2025 #2

I'd say Nancy's astrologer was acting president. DBoon May 2025 #20

But that was the best part of his presidency. carpetbagger May 2025 #32

Lol Joinfortmill May 2025 #50

His son says yes. Blue Full Moon May 2025 #3

Remember Nancy Telling Ronnie What to Say? Chasstev365 May 2025 #4

Can you make that into its own post and share it far and wide? sunflowerseed May 2025 #8

Just tap the 3 dots in the upper right cornor Chasstev365 May 2025 #13

That's a great example. milestogo May 2025 #15

True Regan was a genial dolt while the current one is a raging criminal monster. ShazamIam May 2025 #62

My father used to refer to her as Edith - err, Nancy Reagan. haele May 2025 #49

He was showing signs in his second term. Ocelot II May 2025 #5

Reagan's experience as a B-Grade actor came in handy. Pinback May 2025 #51

Probably true, but Trump's experiences as a B-grade game show host Ocelot II May 2025 #53

The way ForgedCrank May 2025 #6

Some of the media kept Reagan's dementia from the public. Lonestarblue May 2025 #18

Analyses show he was in decline while still in office. suegeo May 2025 #7

Just another example of an unending double standard. (nt) Paladin May 2025 #9

Just another example of why we need age limitations for presidential eligibility. calimary May 2025 #40

Yes n/t malaise May 2025 #10

Is the Pope Roman Catholic? ZDU May 2025 #11

Yes. One time when it should have been clear was his comments on the Contras karynnj May 2025 #12

I remember it vividly... Moostache May 2025 #52

Submerged most of his life, overt the 2nd term UTUSN May 2025 #14

If Biden was president when this happened, at Baitball Blogger May 2025 #16

Exactly right.... FalloutShelter May 2025 #22

Attempts at concealing the illnesses of presidents is a long-standing American tradition. Ocelot II May 2025 #17

When someone has power they want to hold on to it. milestogo May 2025 #21

Yes, and it was reported upon at the time, but the stories got little traction. (Jane Mayer and Doyle McManus) Midnight Writer May 2025 #19

Found this- Ronald Reagan had Alzheimer's while president, says son malaise May 2025 #23

Actors don't fumble for words, even if they are B-list actors. milestogo May 2025 #28

I've heard from sources that while a bit out here, have been accurate 90% of the time, Ronnie started smearing shit ... marble falls May 2025 #30

I think that's worse than throwing ketchup. milestogo May 2025 #34

I believe given that malaise May 2025 #36

But he did give us the F-35. which the US military did not want. marble falls May 2025 #64

it was an open secret in d.c. by the end of his 1st term. mopinko May 2025 #24

Another case of iokiyar ( It's ok if you area Republican] syndrome kimbutgar May 2025 #25

Wilson, FDR and JFK downplayed and concealed their illnesses, too. Ocelot II May 2025 #33

and Wilson and who knows how many others? Garfield, after being shot, was often out of it. Wonder Why May 2025 #44

Yes Picaro May 2025 #26

From what I've seen and heard, yes. Yes indeed. calimary May 2025 #54

My mother spotted it in 1982 Warpy May 2025 #27

His progress was likely exceptionally slow Polybius May 2025 #57

There is no set timetable for Alzheimer's Warpy May 2025 #66

And President Wilson was enfeebled after his stroke and his wife, a serious racist, took over. The armed forces ... marble falls May 2025 #29

Obviously IOKIYAR aocommunalpunch May 2025 #31

The reality was DENVERPOPS May 2025 #35

Reagan's decline almost certainly began during his presidency. Here's some science: Tranquil72 May 2025 #37

Anyone could see he was suffering from dementia in his 2nd term. patphil May 2025 #38

Reagan was declining but hadn't completely lost his shit the way Trump has. Ocelot II May 2025 #43

Yeah, they're not going to go easily, because a lot of them know they'll be replaced if Vance is President. patphil May 2025 #46

I remember when it was finally admitted, after he left office, calling a friend niyad May 2025 #39

Yep. Nancy would stand right next to him and coach him on what to say. Vinca May 2025 #41

They Rebl2 May 2025 #42

Don't forget tfg's dad had it too. multigraincracker May 2025 #45

Reagan had Alzheimer's disease. n/t Jacson6 May 2025 #47

Yes, but he was a republican SocialDemocrat61 May 2025 #48

Amen BaronChocula May 2025 #56

I think that he showed some signs since 1984, but his case was an unusually slow progress Polybius May 2025 #55

The GOP had an excellent PR team that worked to keep Reagan sanitized. hadEnuf May 2025 #58

And they never did figure out what was wrong with W. Sneederbunk May 2025 #60

Different media environment fujiyamasan May 2025 #61

This started up as early as 1984. Angleae May 2025 #63

I think this is a pointless debate and is just fodder for having some hate for a moment. Xolodno May 2025 #65