Reagan’s Birthday, How He and Trump Helped Make America Great Again

Above, President Reagan's Labor Day campaign kick-off
 in Fountain Valley, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is Ronald Reagan's birthday.

There are a number of articles on the former President being posted today. Probably the most prominent one is an opinion piece on how Reagan and President Donald Trump helped to make America great again by Peggy Grande at Fox News.

It starts with:

Every February 6, America celebrates the birthday of President Ronald Reagan — a president whose optimism, eloquence and unwavering love for his country defined an era. We not only loved him, we loved ourselves and who we were as Americans when he was president. He made us patriotic and proud, courageous and optimistic, and gave deep meaning to our values as we shone the torch of freedom all over the world under his leadership, inviting others to follow. And they did. 

We miss Reagan and have missed those feelings of pride and optimism in America these past few years. But since January 20, it feels like Morning in America Again and as the sun is rising on the second term of President Donald Trump, there are similar emotions being evoked. Americans are celebrating. 

Having worked for both presidents, I know well that Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump are two very different men with vastly different leadership styles, yet they share one love for America. And Americans. All Americans. 

To read more, go here. 

Happy Labor Day

Today is Labor Day. I plan on spending the day at home and driving either the Jeep or the mini-bike.

After being around nearly 70 years, past Labor Days are all a blur to me. Except one.

That would be Labor Day of 1984 when friend Paul Evans and I went to Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, California for the kick-off rally of President Ronald Reagan's general election re-election campaign. 

Above, President Reagan addresses the rally in Fountain Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There were a lot a people at the campaign rally (50,000 and 15,000 more who couldn't get in) and joining the Reagans on the platform included Charlton Heston, Johnny Grant, Gov. George Deukmejian, Sen. Pete Wilson, Campaign Director Ed Rollins, Rep. Robert K. Dornan, Maureen Reagan and her husband Dennis Revell.

Here's a video of Reagan's speech:

Happy Labor Day!

Reagan's Birthday

Above, President Reagan at Fountain Valley, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it."  - Ronald Reagan.

"The Ten Commandments" (1956)

Last night, I was changing stations on my television to see if there were anything interesting to watch (I miss TV Guide magazine) and came upon the1956 Cecil B. DeMille-directed epic, The Ten Commandments. It is the life of Moses, starring Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Rameses.

It was broadcast by ABC.

There were a number of other stars in the movie such as Edward G. Robinson, Debra Paget, Anne Baxter, John Carradine, Vincent Price, John Derek and Yvonne DeCarlo.

This is probably the movie that Heston is best known for. Years ago, I heard a story of Heston that took place during the filming. Allegedly, he was at either at the Paramount studio commissary or restaurant nearby in full Moses costume and had to go to the men's room. As he walked to it, someone yelled, "Look! It's Moses!"

Above, Charlton Heston (to the right of Nancy Reagan) at a 1984 Reagan
campaign kick-off rally in Fountain Valley, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I hadn't seen the movie in ages and this time it was a special treat, for it was in widescreen. I managed to start watching just before the plagues began, to force Rameses to free the Hebrew slaves. Of course, I managed to see the parting of the red sea and Moses on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments. 

The special effects were good for its day, but looked to me more cartoony today. 

Still, I enjoyed watching it. 

Tonight's Trump MAGA Rally In Albuquerque

In under two hours from now, President Trump will be holding a MAGA rally in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Already, people are heading to the venue. Traffic is expected to be a big mess, coming and going.

I have a ticket for the event, in case I decided to head 120 miles to Albuquerque (Rio Rancho is a suburb). After a long drive, I really didn't relish the thought about fighting heavy traffic. Fellow Jamestown neighbors said that there's only two two-lane roads to the Santa Ana Star Center. Ouch! Plus, even ticket-holders aren't guaranteed getting into the building.

The rally will likely be live streamed, so it won't be as if I'll be missing anything the President says tonight. But, I plan on also watching part two of Ken Burns's documentary, "Country Music" on PBS. So I will stream the rally on my phone while watching the documentary. Ah, modern technology!

I have been to presidential rallies before. The one that immediately comes to mind was the Labor Day campaign kick-off for President Reagan's re-election in 1984. The crowds were huge then as well, but a friend and I made it in. One group that was bused in by the Los Angeles County Republican Party made it to the parking lot, but the people inside weren't allowed into the rally that was held at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, California.

Above, President Reagan's campaign kick-off rally in Fountain Valley, California in 1984. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hopefully, there won't be riots at tonight's rally. A rally was held by the Trump Campaign in 2016 and leftists started rioting, embarrassing New Mexico.

As the Albuquerque Journal wrote:

Reports indicate crowds will close in at Santa Ana Star Center before noon. We caution patience and chivalry while finding your spot to park. 

Whatever your viewpoint and stance on the nation’s issues and the man that personifies them, we only have one chance to get this right; there are no do-over’s. 

Let’s travel back to the first time Trump came to New Mexico for a campaign rally. Some of us were there, when what was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration turned into a free-for-all. 

We can only imagine what the nation thought of us New Mexicans the morning after. Tomorrow we have a chance to start changing that image. 

If history repeats itself, then we have learned nothing about how the system of politics works. Sure, people were mad at Trump for what he stood for, but in the end, we looked bad for breaking our own property and beating up each other.

Two words: Behave yourselves! 

Fourth of July

Above, President Reagan in Fountain Valley, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

“Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15.” ― Ronald Reagan

How To Get To Reagan's Rancho Del Cielo

Above, President Reagan addresses the campaign kick-off rally in Fountain Valley, California in 1984. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wondered how to get to Rancho Del Cielo, President Reagan's ranch near Santa Barbara, California?

Here's a hand-drawn map on how to get there by President Reagan:

Image: Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.

The ranch is currently owned by the Young America's Foundation and the ranch house is being preserved as it was when the Reagans used to spend time there.