Author
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Topic: Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. President (1911-2004)
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Rob Joyner Member Posts: 1308 From: GA, USA Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 06-05-2004 07:19 PM
Just saw the news: Ronald Reagan died Saturday (June 5) of pneumonia at age 93 and was the longest living U.S. President. In a statement relayed by chief of staff Joanne Drake, who represents the family, Nancy Reagan said: "My family and I would like the world to know that President Ronald Reagan has passed away. We appreciate everyone's prayers." |
sts205cdr Member Posts: 649 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 06-05-2004 07:41 PM
Part of my memory of President Reagan will always be his enthusiasm for the space program. He was a genuine fan.Happy Trails, Mr. President. |
fabfivefreddy Member Posts: 1067 From: Leawood, Kansas USA Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 06-05-2004 10:33 PM
The speech he gave after the Challenger disaster "...touched the face of God," was truly one of the top speeches ever given by a U.S. President. May God bless Ronald Reagan and his family. |
seattlemariner Member Posts: 49 From: Seattle, WA USA Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 06-05-2004 10:43 PM
I was in high school and college during his administration. I'll never forget where I was when I heard of the Challenger and I will never forget this great President. He came at a time when American needed him most. |
DC Giants Member Posts: 135 From: Kansas City, MO USA Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 06-05-2004 11:48 PM
After the Challenger accident, President Reagan comforted us all and more importantly showed genuine warmth and compassion for the families of the fallen astronauts. For that and many other reasons he was my favorite president. May God bless President Reagan and his family. |
spaceflori Member Posts: 1499 From: Germany Registered: May 2000
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posted 06-06-2004 02:12 AM
I agree with Tahir, his speech after the Challenger accident was one of the best I ever heard from anybody. |
ASCAN1984 Member Posts: 1049 From: County Down, Nothern Ireland Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-06-2004 06:51 AM
I agree. The speech was something special. I remember seeing his speech launching the Teacher in Space program. That was a great speech also. President and actor will be missed. |
Scott Member Posts: 3307 From: Houston, TX Registered: May 2001
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posted 06-06-2004 12:03 PM
He was a great President. I didn't agree with some of his domestic policies at times when he was President, but looking back he was definitely one of our best. Also this is somewhat of a blessing because now he is at peace and I can only imagine the difficulties Nancy and her family have had in the last 10 years. I understand that it is very difficult for the family of an Alzheimer's patient. |
gliderpilotuk Member Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-06-2004 01:30 PM
I'm proud to say that the coverage of the passing of President Reagan has been extensive here in the UK — front page news and leads on the TV. He had a unique relationship with the UK and with Gorbachev was responsible for bringing the Cold War to an end. A man of conviction, sincerity and optimism.Sad to see him go, but in his own words since the terrible onset of Alzheimer's he had "begun the journey that would take him into the sunset of his life." Farewell President Reagan. |
Captain Apollo Member Posts: 260 From: UK Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 06-06-2004 05:18 PM
"High Flight" by Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee, No 412 squadron, RCAF: Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high unsurpassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. |
Mike Isbell Member Posts: 551 From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 06-06-2004 08:20 PM
President Reagan approved that Space Station project during the Mid 1980's which evolved into the ISS during the Clinton Administration. Gerald R. Ford is the only living former President to have reached the age of 90. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-07-2004 08:32 AM
A few articles about Reagan's space legacy: |
CJC Member Posts: 95 From: Ireland Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 06-07-2004 10:37 AM
Rest in Peace Mr. President, You saved us and gave us hope in times of darkness.For those who have never read or heard Reagan's Challenger address here it is. Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss. Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But we've never lost an astronaut in flight; we've never had a tragedy like this. And perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle. But they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together. [To] the families of the seven: we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, "Give me a challenge, and I'll meet it with joy." They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us. We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for 25 years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers. And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them. I've always had great faith in and respect for our space program, and what happened today does nothing to diminish it. We don't hide our space program. We don't keep secrets and cover things up. We do it all up front and in public. That's the way freedom is, and we wouldn't change it for a minute. We'll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. Nothing ends here; our hopes and our journeys continue. I want to add that I wish I could talk to every man and woman who works for NASA or who worked on this mission and tell them: "Your dedication and professionalism have moved an impressed us for decades. And we know of your anguish. We share it." There's a coincidence today. On this day 390 years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and an historian later said, "He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it." Well today we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete. The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God." |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-07-2004 04:49 PM
NASA release NASA Remembers the Legacy of President Ronald ReaganThe NASA TV "Video-File" (Newsfeed) will feature "A Tribute to Ronald Reagan" beginning today, June 7, at 6:00 p.m. (EDT). The 6-minute, 45-second package includes historical footage, audio tracks and still images of President Reagan making space-related announcements and speeches. It also features his participation in NASA related events during his presidency. Among the tribute's highlights: Reagan's directing NASA in 1982 to build an international space station; his eulogizing of the Challenger astronauts in 1986; and Reagan's Earth-to-Space Shuttle phone call congratulating Guy Bluford on becoming the first African-American in space in August of 1983. |
micropooz Member Posts: 1512 From: Washington, DC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 06-08-2004 06:32 PM
Wow, the National Guard just practiced their 21 airplane salute for the funeral procession tomorrow. Came right over the house. F-15 jets, about 1000 feet up, nine groups of two and a final group of three where the middle guy nosed straight up into a viking departure right over Pennsylvania Ave. I've still got chills five minutes later... |
Nessa Member Posts: 19 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 06-08-2004 06:56 PM
I went to the Memorial in Simi Valley last night, it was an unforgettable experience - people from all walks of life, all cultures, assembled in a quiet, California comaraderie. God Speed, Ron Reagan. |
Mike Isbell Member Posts: 551 From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 06-09-2004 02:42 PM
I watched NASA TV's 'A Tribute to Ronald Reagan' and was very moved by the memories from the 1980's - but still not so long ago. I had forgotten that it was during his 1984 State of the Union Speach that President Reagan set forth the goal of placing a permanetly manned space station in orbit. Thank you for the memories Mr. President. |
paul prendergast Member Posts: 429 From: crawley west sussex UK Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 06-09-2004 02:47 PM
Have just seen the footage of the late president's flight to Washington to lay in state on the UK news, it was quite moving to witness the procession and motorcade. |
pokey Member Posts: 361 From: Houston, TX, USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-09-2004 05:36 PM
I saw Reagan in person when he came to Johnson Space Center for the Challenger service. Then again at a send off for the STS-26 Return to Flight crew. It was good to see him way off in this corner of the country. It was even better to hear his words of support for what we do out here. I remember us cheering at the STS-26 send off when someone hung the presidential seal on the front of the podium! After all of our waiting, he was finally going to come on stage. Hauck and the rest of the crew looked glad to see him also. His support for space station won't be forgotten either. There's a copy of Magee's Hight Flight etched in brass in my office. Every now and then when I look at the plaque I think of Reagan also. The story of Magee is worth a whole thread unto itself. On edit: Forgot about this until about an hour after the original post, I lived in some apartments that were on the route that Reagan's limo would take when he visited JSC. I would put a sign out in the morning on the little hill near the street that read WE [heart] YOU RONNIE! Or something like that. Always wondered if he saw it. |
collshubby Member Posts: 591 From: Madisonville, Louisiana Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-09-2004 05:36 PM
I watched the ceremonies of President Reagan leaving the Presidential Library and then later depart for Washington early this morning, Australian time. It was very moving to watch, and it made me proud to be an American.I was only ten years old when Mr. Reagan left office. At such a young age, I knew him as the President but not much more, as I was not interested in politics. But I do have vivid memories of two things. One, was watching the news with my father early one morning, and they talked about a major nuclear arms agreement being reached during a summit between Mr. Reagan and Soviet President Gorbachev. I asked my dad "Does this mean there will be no nuclear war?" and he replied "Yes." And I was so happy. The other memory was listening to the BBC one night with my dad on his shortwave when the first reports of the Berlin Wall being torn down came in. I remember my dad saying "Well, it looks like Gorbachev is finally tearing down that wall." Even though I was young, I understood the significance of what was happening. Thank you, Mr. Reagan, for everything you did for the world. You are truly one of our greatest Presidents. I would also like to send out special condolences to Mrs. Reagan. It takes a person with a strong heart, mind, and soul to so lovingly take care of a spouse like she did in his last days. I know, because my grandmother was such a woman as she took care of my grandfather in his dying days. I have the highest respect for Mrs. Reagan. God bless her, and God bless Ronald Reagan. May he rest in quiet peace. |
Mike Isbell Member Posts: 551 From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 06-12-2004 01:02 PM
On Wednesday, June 9, I took the Washington, DC metro to the stop at Union Station and then walked the five city blocks to the corner of 1st Street and Constitution Ave., NW. At about 6:30 P.M. the police motorcycles appeared followed by a band and then military contingents alternating from Army, Navy, Coast Gaurd. Air Force and Marine. A second band followed followed playing 'God Bless America' (the first was playing the hymn 'Faith of Our Fathers'). A single fighter jet then flew almost directly overhead at a altitude of 1000 feet and was followed by five formations of four fighter planes. In the last formation, one of the planes seperated and climbed sharply to a much higher altitude in the "Missing Man Formation." The color gaurd then appeared and was followed by the horse drawn cassion bearing the casket of President Reagan covered by the flag that flew from the Capital Building on Jan. 20, 1981 — the day that Presindent Reagan became our 40th President. A colorguardsman followed holding the flag of the President of the United States. A black riderless horse followed with the boots that President Reagan had worn when he went horseback riding turned backwards in the stirrups. I could see the procession turn into the Capital grouds one block away. Because of the trees I was unable to see the procession after they turned into the Capital but I stayed hoping to hear the band play as the three teams of honor guadsman carried President Reagan up the steps and into the rotunda of the Capital. However the sound from the band did not carry far enough for me to do so. The four artillery canons were one block from where I stood — by the Robert Taft Memorial — and I could easily hear them and see the flames and smoke coming from them as they fired a 21 gun salute. On Friday morning at the Capial building, after having spent the early hours of the morning waiting to file past his casket in the rotunda, I wrote in the condelance book, that the public were invited to sign, my gratitude. |
eurospace Member Posts: 2610 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 06-14-2004 04:30 PM
quote: Originally posted by pokey: His support for space station won't be forgotten either.
While Reagan propagated a space station, his administration never succeeded in getting it off the ground. If we talk legacy, I think a distinction between "propagating" and "getting it done" is not entirely unimportant. Perhaps Reagan was a good presenter, a good policy salesperson. But else? |
Captain Apollo Member Posts: 260 From: UK Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 06-14-2004 07:05 PM
I'd say that in space as in so many things, Reagan talked the talk wonderfully, but didn't really walk the walk. |
Aztecdoug Member Posts: 1405 From: Huntington Beach Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 06-16-2004 06:31 PM
Happy trails, "Dutch." Rest in peace. |
Rodina Member Posts: 836 From: Lafayette, CA Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 06-18-2004 01:24 AM
Is it too early to tell Reagan's legacy? Perhaps, but certainly his space policy will ultimately be judged on how we reacted to the loss of Challenger. Yeah, sure, we were back in space 2.5 years later, but more importantly, we gave up on the silly notion that NASA was could or should be in the commercial spaceflight business. I'm guessing without that, NASA would be just as much of a disaster on the commercial payload business as it is on the space station. |
Glint Member Posts: 1040 From: New Windsor, Maryland USA Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 06-18-2004 09:37 AM
Below is NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe's closing remarks as he remembered the legacy of President Ronald Reagan: As President Reagan said, "Our progress in space, taking giant steps for all mankind, is a tribute to American teamwork and excellence. Our finest minds in government, industry and academia have all pulled together. And we can be proud to say: We are first; we are the best; and we are so because we're free.May God bless President Ronald Reagan. We are indebted to him for his visionary and persistent leadership. On behalf of all members of the NASA family, we offer our condolences to the Reagan family in their time of reflection on his contributions to them and, indeed, all Americans. On the military side, the Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site of Kwajalein Atoll located in the Republic of the Marshall Islands bears the name of the President in honor of his initiative toward combating threats from the non-peaceful usage of space. |
star51L Member Posts: 340 From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 06-24-2004 06:04 PM
I thought this was a very nice touch. Finally winning the battle over Florida's summertime weather after three earlier losses, a Boeing Delta 2 rocket roared to space Wednesday and deployed a Global Positioning System military navigation satellite in a mission dedicated to the memory of President Ronald Reagan. ...the pad's umbilical tower featured a sign reading "Launch One For 'The Gipper'" in remembrance of President Reagan. The 40th president of the United States passed away June 5. |