President Reagan's 93rd Birthday

(First published February 6, 2004)

Happy birthday, President Reagan! February 6, 2004, is number 93, which makes you not only the oldest living president, but the oldest president ever. Fox News online has a short article on Reagan's birthday. The end of the article reminds readers that Reagan has lived longer than any other president. (Here's an interesting historical note that comes to mind as we think of presidents who lived a long time. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the same day: July 4, 1826. Adams was 90 years old, Jefferson was 83.)

Reagan talked about his own birthday on page one of his memoir, Where's the Rest of Me? "The story begins with the closeup of a bottom in a small town called Tampico in Illinois, on February 6, 1911." To read the rest of Reagan's account, scroll to the bottom of TLJ's quotations page.

We should remember Nancy's difficult situation on the anniversary of her husband's birth. She turns 83 on July 6 of this year. A tabloid or a magazine occasionally carries a story about how she's getting along. Caring for her husband hasn't been so easy. She has some help, of course, but it's difficult for Nancy to get out and stay in touch with people. If you'd like to send the Reagan's a birthday message, the Reagan Foundation has posted a form that makes it easy. (It's also easy to get on the foundation's mailing list, if that's what you'd like.) Click the link above to open the message form in your browser.

That's enough for today. Stand by for more thoughts on Reagan and his politics. Do visit the TLJ website when you have a chance. It's much expanded since the fall. Also, please forward this newsletter to people you know who might be interested in it.