Happy Birthday Mr. President! (and Governor)

Ronald Reagan, California’s 33rd governor and the 40th President of the United States, was born in Tampico, Illinois 101 years ago on February 6. 

A number of books have been written about the actor-turned-politician. Among the best are those by Reagan biographer Lou Cannon. 

Rather than rehash territory well covered by others, here’s a brief Reagan anecdote from February 1981, upon the occasion of his 70th birthday:

Speaking to a Washington Press Club dinner on February 4, the GOP president noted that the group was founded by six Washington newspaperwomen in 1919. After a slight pause: “Seems like only yesterday.”

As for middle age: “(It’s) when you’re faced with two temptations and you choose the one that will get you home by 9 o’clock.”

And, finally:

“Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.’ Ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.”

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