By: Michael Reagan- Ronald Reagan: An Essay on the Legacy of an American Icon

Son of Ronald Reagan

Most people in America and around the world are remembering my father on this day as a governor and a great president. But on the 20th anniversary of his passing, I remember him as a great father.

As I said when I eulogized him 20 years ago, my father never forgot about my sister Maureen and me. Though he was divorced from my mother, he stayed close to us as we grew up in the 1950s.

We were with him on weekends. On Saturday mornings he’d pick us up and drive us out to the ranch. Sitting in the right-front seat of his station wagon, I learned about the greatness of America and heard stories about how our country was built. I listened to my father sing “America the Beautiful” and the official songs of the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard.

When we hit the ranch, we’d ride horses or go ground-squirrel shooting. Or go swimming. Or cut firewood. We’d be together all day. On Sunday morning he’d drop us off at Grandma’s and we’d go to church and Sunday school with her. Then he’d come back, and we’d all have brunch at Grandma’s house. Those are some of the greatest memories I have of my father.

When he ran for governor and ran for president, it was amazing to be able to watch history being made from close-up.  But the best times I had with my father were either before politics or after politics.

The demands of politics tend to take a politician away from family. But my father never forgot his. When he was with us, he was with us 100 percent.

My father was famous for being likable and for embracing everybody. He made people who met him for the first time feel like they were old friends. And the family? He always embraced usno matter what the political dynamic was and we would always look forward to all of us geting together at the ranch on Thanksgiving.

I witnessed history being made and I’m grateful for that. But I’m more grateful that I was brought into a good family. Not only was I blessed with a great mother. I was blessed with an unbelievable father who, while embracing the world, also embraced me.

Thank you, Dad.