RSSJanuary 31, 2008
Quick Quiz: Ronald Reagan
With each of the Republican candidates desperate to be seen as the new Ronald Reagan, Paul Slansky looks back at the presidency of the old one, whose senility clearly set in at least a decade before he acknowledged it in 1994.
1) Where was President Reagan when he proposed a toast to his hosts, "the people of Bolivia"?
Brazil.
Argentina.
Bolivia.
2) False or true? President Reagan failed to recognize his Housing Secretary, Samuel Pierce, at a White House reception for big-city mayors and greeted him, "How are you, Mr. Mayor? I'm glad to meet you. How are things in your city?"
False. It was actually his attorney general, William French Smith - a friend of many years - whom he failed to recognize.
True. Pierce was black and Reagan - having no idea who he was - took his hue as a clue and just naturally assumed that he must be one of the mayors.
3) How did President Reagan introduce Liberian head of state Samuel Doe at a Rose Garden photo opportunity?
"The mayor of Liberia, John Doe."
"Sambo."
"Chairman Moe."
4) What did President Reagan say would be a funny joke to play on reporters covering his Santa Barbara vacations?
Suddenly clutching his chest and falling off of his horse.
Placing burning bags of manure on their doorsteps and ringing their bells.
Pretending not to know the answers to their questions until his wife mutters them to him under her breath.
5) What did President Reagan tell reporters his dog Millie's name was?
Snoopy.
Lassie.
Rin Tin Tin.
6) What did President Reagan say when Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill showed him a desk that had been used by Grover Cleveland.
He said, "Did you say Grover? With a 'V'? I always thought it was Grocer Cleveland."
He instantly identified him as the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and went on to display an astonishing command of the details of Cleveland's presidencies.
He claimed to have played him in a movie, though in fact he played Grover Cleveland Alexander, the baseball player, not Grover Cleveland, the president.
Filed under: Quick Quiz, Ronald Reagan, Grover Cleveland
