| Michael Edward Reagan | |
|---|---|
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| Born | March 18 1945 Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Radio Talk Show Host |
| Spouse | Colleen Sterns (1975-) |
| Parents | Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) Jane Wyman (1917-2007) |
Michael Reagan is an American radio host and author. His nationally-syndicated radio show, The Michael Reagan Talk Show, airs on stations across the US through Radio America. Despite his successful media career, Reagan is perhaps best known as the adopted son of the late President Ronald Reagan.
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Early life
He was born in California to Irene Flaugher, a single woman from Kentucky[1] who became pregnant through an affair with an army corporal named John Bourgholtzer (died 1993), and was adopted by Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman shortly after his birth. Reagan grew up in Beverly Hills, California and later nearby Pacific Palisades. One childhood story he has told that introduced him to politics was how he at the age of eight asked his father for a raise in his allowance. At the time, around 1953, his allowance was $1.00 a week. His father told him since 90 percent of his earnings were taxed by government, he wasn't able to increase Mike's allowance. His adoptive father further said that when the President of the United States would give him a tax cut, then he could give his son an increase in his allowance. This, according to Michael Reagan, was how he was introduced to the subject of tax cuts and how that affected people.[2] In 2006 in reacting to the Mark Foley scandal Reagan said, "Any member of Congress who was aware of the sexual emails and protected the congressman should also resign effective immediately. I was sexually abused by a day camp counselor at age eight and also made to be part of child pornography."[3]
Entertainment career
In his early adult years, Reagan raced boats and later also sold them at a California boat dealership. He set world records in power boat racing [4] and raised more than $1.5 million for charities like the United States Olympic Team, Cystic Fibrosis and Juvenile Diabetes Foundations and the Statue of Liberty Restoration Fund through his race team. His efforts were recognized when he became a recipient of the Victor Award for outstanding sports and humanitarian achievement. His first entertainment broadcast job was as a game show host, in charge of the original syndicated version of Lingo, which was taped in Canada but broadcast in the United States. The show lasted only for the 1987-1988 season, and Reagan left the show before its demise in the wake of financial problems with the show's producers. His talk radio career started in the Southern California local market as a guest host for Michael Jackson's[5] talk radio show slot on KABC-AM in Los Angeles. After this beginning, he landed a talk show spot on KSDO radio in San Diego, California. Reagan's rating success in the San Diego market gave him the opportunity to take his talk show nationwide in 1992. Reagan continues to host his four-hour talk show, and also does public speaking to groups. He also delivers conservative commentary from time to time on cable television news programs such as the Fox News Channel as well as on the Internet for websites such as NewsMax.[6][7] He also wrote a book titled Twice Adopted in 2004. Reagan's radio program is aired via syndication in the United States through terrestrial radio outlets and the Patriot Talk channel 144 on Sirius Satellite Radio. He is also on XM radio channel 166.
Marriages and family
In 1970, Reagan announced his engagement to Pamela Gail Putnam (born 1952), an aspiring dental assistant and the daughter of Duane Putnam, who was then the Atlanta Falcons football line coach. Reagan was then a director of special events catering at Michaelson Food Service Company in Los Angeles. Previously he had worked as a salesman for the clothing company Hart, Schaffner & Marx.[8] The couple married later that year, but were divorced in 1971. He married Colleen Reagan (neé Sterns) in 1975, an interior decorator.[9] Together, they have two children, son Cameron and daughter Ashley, and reside in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles, California.[7]
References
- ^ http://kydgi.ky.gov:2005/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/ORP&CISOPTR=614&REC=2
- ^ Reagan, Michael; Hyams, Joe. Michael Reagan: On the Outside Looking In. Kensington Publishing Corporation, 1988.
- ^ "Conservatives also seek Hastert's resignation", February 15, 2007.
- ^ Biography of columnist Michael Reagan http://www.townhall.com/columnists/MichaelReagan
- ^ Not to be confused with the recording artist of the same name.
- ^ NewsMax Pundits. NewsMax.com.
- ^ a b premierspeakers.com
- ^ "Michael Reagan, Governor's Son, to Marry Miss Pamela Putnam", The New York Times, 22 September 1970
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,922301-2,00.html
External links
- Michael Reagan's website
- Tough Love Reminisces of his childhood and his mother
