The Real Reagan
Think you know what made him tick? His letters may surprise you

Lonely Actor, Chilly Scene
A window into Reagan's movie career
His Start in Radio
Reagan's look back at overcoming obstacles
Finding Love after a Loss
Advice on life, love and sex
Liberal Voter to Anticommunist
A letter to Hugh Hefner
Dirty Words Tell the Truth
On the movie Patton
Against Big Government
Reagan to Richard Nixon
Appeal to Russia
Letter to Leonid Breshnev
On Star Wars
The Strategic Defense Initiative
On Honesty
Advice to a Daughter
On A Happy Marriage
To his son Michael
On Hard Work
Making the Grade
On A Messy Room
Advice to a 7th grader
A Fading Voice
Birthday wishes to George Bush, Sr.


Can He Recover?
Hugh Sidey on whether or not Reagan can cope with his job
[3/9/1987]
Ronald Reagan
Memoirs: "An American Life"
[11/5/1990]
View All Reagan Covers
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BARRY THUMMA/AP
Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Sr. in 1984


The Voice Fades Out
In the early 1990s, Reagan wrote less frequently. In a letter dated June 12, 1994, he sends birthday wishes to former President Bush. Five months later, Reagan disclosed that he had Alzheimer's disease.

Dear George:

Happy Birthday, young fellow! I know this is a big one for you. It's hard to believe that a couple kids like us are "maturing" so rapidly . . . I mean so well!

Heck, at seventy you're practically still a kid. I began a new career at your age . . . what have you got planned? . . .

Nancy joins me in sending our very best wishes on your special day.

      Sincerely,
      Ron









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QUICK LINKS: Cover Story | Lonely Actor | Love after a Loss | Hugh Hefner | Appeal to Russia | Back to TIME.com Home
FROM THE SEPTEMBER 29, 2003 ISSUE OF TIME MAGAZINE; POSTED SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2003

Excerpts from REAGAN, A LIFE IN LETTERS, edited by Kiron K. Skinner, Annelise Anderson and Martin Anderson.
Copyright 2003 by The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.
To be published by The Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster

Copyright © 2003 Time Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

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