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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBiographer Insists Reagan Left Office 'As Sharp As The Day He Went In'
TOM KLUDT MAY 15, 2014, 12:36 PM EDT
A conservative writer strongly disputed on Thursday the suggestion that Ronald Reagan was already mentally diminished before he left office.
During an appearance on "Morning Joe," Craig Shirley, the author of two books about Reagan, pushed back after co-host Mika Brzezinski said that even White House insiders acknowledge that the late president "certainly suffered from the effects of age in office."
No, no, absolutely not, Shirley said. No, he did not suffer from the effects of age. If youre talking about Alzheimers or mental deterioration, no.
Brzezinski shot back, saying she "knew people that were in the room with him and he definitely had effects of age in office, especially in his second term," but Shirley indicated that he's heard different from Reagan's staff.
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ronald-reagan-alzheimers-craig-shirley
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,501 posts)NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)He was a senile puppet on day one and day (how many days in 8 years?) when he left.
HughBeaumont
(24,461 posts)I think I'll take the word of the world leaders, the White House insiders, the correspondents and the son. We had someone who was physically incapable of running a nation in his second term, and that's damned frightening.
Of course, "as sharp as he went in" could be all relative, right?
hatrack
(59,587 posts).
Old Codger
(4,205 posts)He went out the same as he went in,dumber that a sack of hammers...all he ever had at all was the ability to act a little and be able to memorize lines and fake all else.
Sen. Walter Sobchak
(8,692 posts)And they made it sound like he spent most of his time in meetings just staring into space and had to be hounded by aides and cabinet members just to express an opinion on anything.
Turbineguy
(37,343 posts)exactly a genius.
lpbk2713
(42,759 posts)And enjoy a nice Kool-Aid while you're thumbing through the selections.
EC
(12,287 posts)that believes he had Alzheimer's when he went in too. So I'm sure he was "just as sharp as the day he went in".
mindem
(1,580 posts)NV Whino
(20,886 posts)Given that he wasn't the sharpest tool in the box in the first place.
Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)he was like sharp tacks being placed in a person's seat right before they sit down.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,330 posts).... but he still wasn't as sharp as he used to be, fit to drive a car, OR run the US Military during the height of the Cold War.