May 17, 1981: Reagan at Notre Dame

 

The Reagan Foundation has a great section in which you can access the personal diary of President Ronald Reagan.  Here is his diary entry from forty years ago:

Change signals on Prince Turki—he left for Saudi Arabia today by commercial plane. An easy morning with the Sunday papers—my exercises and then boarded the chopper & Air Force 1 for South Bend Ind. Had lunch on board with Walter & Lee Annenberg. Father Hesburgh met us at the airport and we drove to Notre Dame. It was commencement for 2000 graduates but there must have been 15,000 all told in the auditorium. Pat O’Brien was there also to get an honorary degree. It really was exciting. Every N.D. student sees the Rockne film and so the greeting for Pat & me was overwhelming. Speech went O.K. and I was made an honorary member of the Monogram Club. When I opened my certificate I thought they’d made 2 copies—they hadn’t, the 2nd was to “The Gipper.” He died before graduation so had never been made a member. Got back to the plane wringing wet—Cap & Gown plus an “iron” vest makes for heat. Discovered a service I hadn’t been aware of—a change of clothing is always carried when I go on a trip. Change in this case meant a welcome dry shirt. Dinner on T.V. in front of “60 Minutes”—oh yes—on the plane called Bob Dole re our tax plan. He’s having breakfst with Rep. Rostenkowski, Sen. Long & Rep. Barber Conable.

The best President of my lifetime.  May he now be enjoying the Beatific Vision.

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BPS
BPS
Monday, May 17, AD 2021 7:18am

“May he [Reagan} now be enjoying the Beatific Vision”
AMEN!!!

Philip Nachazel
Philip Nachazel
Sunday, May 17, AD 2026 6:24am

A 2026 Notre Dame honoring a 1981 President Reagan to give the commencement speech. It wouldn’t happen. Nancy Pelosi, yep. Barack Obama, no problem.

CINO Universities. What a stomp on the head of innocent children in the womb. Norte Dame should consider placing a black full-length cape to cover the Madonna at the top of the dome, at least until they become Catholic again.

Frank
Frank
Sunday, May 17, AD 2026 9:37am

Well said, Philip.

Bob Emeery
Bob Emeery
Sunday, May 17, AD 2026 2:40pm

Let’s face it: Pres. Reagan was an extremely intelligent person with strong moral values and a real sense of style. The present president, Trump, is an incompetent, immoral oaf. Why cannot people admit this?

Philip Nachazel
Philip Nachazel
Sunday, May 17, AD 2026 5:16pm

Do we honestly need a reminder?

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-13659517/watch-kamala-harris-embarrassing-public-blunders.html

I’ll take the Oaf all day over the Salad Queen.
Women who don’t want to share the stalls with bearded “women” that have deep voices may wish to thank God that Giggles lost.

Bob Emery
Bob Emery
Monday, May 18, AD 2026 7:27am

I grant that Trump is a clever businessman in a scummy environment (note his strategic bankruptcies); but do you really class him as a constructive statesman in the rank of, say, Marshall, Eisenhower, or Reagan?

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