A Broken Family

During the 1980's, the mixing of politics and religion assumed new heights.  Through such organizations as the "Christian Coalition," fundamentalist clergymen like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson attempted to convince anyone who would listen that Ronald Reagan stood for "family values" and was a bastion of virtue.  However, the reality was quite different.  Ronald Reagan was America's first and only divorced president.  He was married to two different Hollywood actresses and he was part of the Hollywood culture, anathema to family values.  The Reagan family itself could best be described as dysfunctional.

"As uncomfortable as it is to talk about, and write about, abuse is part of this story.  I first remember my mother hitting me when I was eight.  It escalated as I got older and became a weekly, sometimes daily, event.  The last time it happened was when I was in my second year of college."
--Patti Davis (formerly Patricia Ann Reagan), talking about her mother Nancy Reagan, The Way I See It

"I laughed and was only sorry she wasn't in it."
--Michael Reagan, describing his delight as a teenager when Nancy's Lincoln Continental rolled down a hill and was totaled, On the Outside Looking In

"I confronted her about listening in on one of my phone calls.  She raised her hand to hit me, and I blocked her hand with my arm.  She's never tried to hit me before, but I have all these memories of watching her do it to you.  I used to look in your room and see her slapping you, and I remember thinking that I was never going to let that happen to me."
--Ron Reagan, Jr., explaining to his sister why he ran away from home after a confrontation with his mother, The Way I See It

"My mother chose to make the anti-drug issue her campaign.  I always felt that it was a subconscious cry for help."
--Patti Davis (formerly Patricia Ann Reagan), regarding the irony of her mother's "Just Say No" campaign against drugs.  Patti Davis claims that Nancy was heavily dependent on prescription tranquilizers, The Way I See It

"Can you see how embarrassing this is?  We have to try to explain to the press why our son got married without letting us know."
--Patti Davis (formerly Patricia Ann Reagan), describing her mother's reaction about not being told of Ron Reagan, Jr's wedding, The Way I See It

"My parents have never gone for simple, state-of-the-art lies.  They weave bizarre, incredulous tales and stick by them with fierce determination."
--Patti Davis (formerly Patricia Ann Reagan), regarding what her parents told her about the circumstances of her birth seven months after her parents were married, The Way I See It

The Ronald Reagan Years - The Real Reagan Record
Copyright 2003 by Mark Tracy