Ron Reagan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Reagan
|
|
|---|---|
Reagan in 2008
|
|
| Born |
Ronald Prescott Reagan
May 20, 1958 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|
| Education | Yale University (1 semester) |
| Occupation |
|
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Parent(s) | |
| Relatives |
|
Ronald Prescott "Ron" Reagan (born May 20, 1958) is an American writer, TV host, and radio personality. He is known for sharing his opinions on politics and current events. Ron Reagan is the only biological son of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his second wife, Nancy Reagan.
Unlike his father, who was a conservative and a Republican, Ron Reagan holds liberal views. He has often spoken out about his different political ideas.
Early Life and Education
Ron Reagan was born on May 20, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. His father, Ronald Reagan, later became the Governor of California and then the U.S. President. His mother was Nancy Davis Reagan.
Ron has an older sister named Patti Davis. He also has an older adoptive brother, Michael Reagan, who was adopted by his father and his first wife, Jane Wyman. Ron also had two half-sisters from his father's first marriage: Maureen Reagan and Christine Reagan, who sadly died shortly after birth.
From a young age, Ron had different ideas from his family, especially about politics and religion. When he was 12, he told his parents he was an atheist, meaning he did not believe in God.
Ron attended The Webb Schools but was asked to leave. He later explained that the school thought he was a "bad influence" on other students.
In 1976, Ron decided to leave Yale University after just one semester. He wanted to follow his dream of becoming a ballet dancer. He joined the Joffrey Ballet, a famous dance company, and trained with their group for new dancers. Even though his parents were very busy, they did go to see him perform ballet in 1981. His father, then President, wrote in his diary that Ron's performance was "darn good."
Ron was 22 years old and married when his father became president. He never lived in the White House. He also chose to stop having Secret Service protection about a year and a half after his father became president.
Career in Media
Ron Reagan has had a varied career in media, including television, radio, and writing. In February 1986, he hosted an episode of the popular comedy show Saturday Night Live.
After his father left the White House in 1989, Ron became more active in sharing his political views. He explained that he didn't speak out much before because the media was only interested in his opinions as they related to his father. He didn't want to create problems between them.
In 1991, Ron hosted his own late-night talk show called The Ron Reagan Show. It discussed political topics of the day. However, the show was canceled after a short time because it couldn't get as many viewers as other popular shows.
Ron has also worked as a journalist for magazines. He has hosted talk shows on cable TV networks, including the Animal Planet channel. In Britain, he was known for co-presenting Record Breakers, a show based on The Guinness Book of Records. He would send reports from the United States for the show.
From 2005 to 2005, Ron co-hosted a talk show called Connected: Coast to Coast with Monica Crowley on MSNBC. He also hosted The Ron Reagan Show on Air America Media from 2008 until the network closed in 2010.
In 2011, Ron published a book called My Father at 100: A Memoir. In the book, he shared his thoughts and memories about his father.
Political Activities
Ron Reagan is not officially a member of any political party, but he usually votes for Democratic candidates.
In July 2004, Ron spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He talked about his support for embryonic stem cell research. He believed this research could help find cures or new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's disease, which his father had suffered from. He urged people to support science and progress. His mother, Nancy Reagan, also supported this cause.
Ron has often shared his strong opinions about politics. In 2004, he said that he felt the George W. Bush Administration was "hijacking" his father's good name. He also wrote an essay for Esquire called "The Case Against George W. Bush by Ron Reagan." He voted for Democratic candidate John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.
In the 2008 presidential election, Ron supported Barack Obama for president. Later, in 2015, he endorsed Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Party nomination in the 2016 primaries.
In 2020, Ron Reagan stated that he believed his father would not have supported Donald Trump. He expressed concerns about the direction of the Republican Party under Trump's influence.
Personal Life
Ron Reagan lives in Seattle. He married Doria Palmieri, a psychologist, in 1980. They did not have any children. Sadly, Doria passed away in 2014 from a neuromuscular disease. Ron married Federica Basagni in July 2018.
Ron has openly stated that he is an atheist. In a 2004 interview, he mentioned that he didn't follow any specific religion, but he felt a connection to Buddhism, and his first wife was a Buddhist. In a 2004 interview on CNN's Larry King Live, he explained that he couldn't run for political office because polls showed that people are often unwilling to elect an atheist.
In 2010, Ron was named to the Honorary Board of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. This organization supports the separation of church and state and promotes the views of non-religious people. In 2014, he appeared in an advertisement for the foundation, where he proudly declared himself "an unabashed atheist." This ad gained more attention when it aired on CNN during political debates in 2019 and 2020.
