Movie Nights with the Reagans

by Mark Weinberg

  V. Nancy Reagan with Novak, My Turn, 125.

  VI. Ronald Reagan with Hubler, Where’s the Rest of Me?, 250.

  VII. Ronald Reagan with Hubler, Where’s the Rest of Me?, 250.

  VIII. “George Burns, Quotes,” Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/43259.George_Burns.

  IX. Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of George Burns, NBC-TV, May 17, 1978, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qt5BD6ANqk.

  X. Author conversation with Dr. Richard Davis via phone, summer 2016.

  XI. Roger Ebert, review of Oh, God! Book II, January 1, 1980, RogerEbert.com, www.rogerebert.com/reviews/oh-god-book-ii-1980.

  XII. “Patti Davis Delivers Heart-Rending Eulogy at her Mother Nancy Reagan’s Star-Studded Funeral,” New York Daily News online, March 11, 2016, www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/patti-davis-moving-eulogy-mom-nancy-reagan-funeral-article-1.2561715.

  XIII. Stuart Taylor Jr., “Hinckley’s Mother Tells Jury of Forcing Son from Home,” New York Times online, May 7, 1982, www.nytimes.com/1982/05/07/us/hinckley-s-mother-tells-jury-of-forcing-son-from-home.html?pagewanted=all.

  XIV. Gregory Gordon, United Press International online, “Breaking into Tears, John W. Hinckley Jr.’s Father Told . . . ,” May 12, 1982, www.upi.com/Archives/1982/05/12/Breaking-into-tears-John-W-Hinckley-Jrs-father-told/3366390024000.

  XV. Judi Hasson, United Press International online, “John W. Hinckley Jr. Rushed Out of the Courtroom . . . ,” May 12, 1982, www.upi.com/Archives/1982/05/12/John-W-Hinckley-Jr-rushed-out-of-the-courtroom/8690390024000.

  3. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

  I. Ronald Reagan, Reagan Diaries, 55.

  II. “The Opening of the Academy Awards in 1981,” 53rd Annual Academy Awards, ABC-TV, March 31, 1981, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4jfI-ItAU.

  III. American Experience, PBS online, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/reagan-hinckley/.

  IV. Annelise Anderson, “Killing the Reagan Legacy,” review of Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency, by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard, National Review, September 26, 2015, www.nationalreview.com/article/424663/killing-reagan-legacy-annelise-anderson.

  V. Author conversation with Ron Reagan via email, summer 2016.

  VI. Ibid.

  VII. “People in the News: Reagan Always Dreamed of Swashbuckler-Type Roles,” Eugene (OR) Register-Guard, January 28, 1985, 2A, www.news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19850128&id=E9tVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ieEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6454,6178278&hl=en.

  VIII. Ronald Reagan with Hubler, Where’s the Rest of Me?, 95.

  IX. Ibid., 96.

  X. Ibid.

  XI. “People in the News: Reagan Always Dreamed of Swashbuckler-Type Roles,” Eugene (OR) Register-Guard, January 28, 1985, 2A, www.news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19850128&id=E9tVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ieEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6454,6178278&hl=en.

  XII. Ibid.

  XIII. Gary Susman, “Ronald Reagan’s Five Most Memorable Movies,” Entertainment Weekly online, last modified June 7, 2004, http://ew.com/article/2004/06/07/ronald-reagans-five-most-memorable-movies.

  XIV. Ronald Reagan with Hubler, Where’s the Rest of Me?, 38.

  XV. “Harrison Ford Reveals the Truth About That Famous ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ Scene,” news.com.au, accessed September 15, 2017, www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/harrison-ford-reveals-the-truth-about-that-famous-raiders-of-the-lost-ark-scene/news-story/a43b77b997ae3d2cbe9ac6c109f2ea59.

  XVI. “People in the News: Reagan Always Dreamed of Swashbuckler-Type Roles,” Eugene (OR) Register-Guard, January 28, 1985, 2A, www.news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19850128&id=E9tVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ieEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6454,6178278&hl=en.

  4. ON GOLDEN POND

  I. Ronald Reagan, Reagan: A Life in Letters, eds. Kiron K. Skinner, Annelise Anderson, and Martin Anderson (New York: Free Press, 2003), 44.

  II. David Sheff, “A Reagan by Any Other Name, Star-Elect Patti Davis Hopes for Her Own Landslide,” People online, last modified January 12, 1981, http://people.com/archive/a-reagan-by-any-other-name-star-elect-patti-davis-hopes-for-her-own-landslide-vol-15-no-1.

  III. Albin Krebs and Robert McG. Thomas, “Notes on People: The President’s Daughter Puts In a Long Day,” New York Times online, May 20, 1981, www.nytimes.com/1981/05/20/nyregion/notes-on-people-the-president-s-daughter-puts-in-a-long-day.html.

  IV. Ibid.

  V. Sheff, “Star-Elect Patti Davis.”

  VI. Ibid.

  VII. Ronald Reagan to William F. Buckley Jr., July 15, 1981, in Ronald Reagan, Reagan: A Life in Letters, p. 63.

  VIII. Ibid.

  IX. Ibid.

  X. Reagan to Buckley Jr., A Life in Letters, 63.

  XI. Nancy Reagan with Novak, My Turn, 79.

  XII. Author conversation with Dr. Richard Davis via phone, summer 2016.

  XIII. Ibid.

  XIV. Bob Colacello, Ronnie & Nancy, Their Path to the White House—1911 to 1980 (New York: Warner Books, 2004), 186.

  XV. Nancy Reagan with Novak, My Turn, 78.

  XVI. Nancy Reagan with Novak, My Turn, 79.

  XVII. Ibid.

  XVIII. “On Golden Pond,” Jane Fonda Official Web Site and Community, accessed September 16, 2017, www.janefonda.com/on-golden-pond.

  XIX. Eleanor Quin, “On Golden Pond,” Turner Classic Movies online, accessed September 16, 2017, www.tcm.com/this-month/article/161287%7C0/On-Golden-Pond.html.

  XX. Stacy Wilson Hunt, “Jane Fonda Opens Up About Her Father, Her Return to Acting, and the Lesson She Learned from Warren Beatty,” Hollywood Reporter online, last modified December 7, 2011, www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jane-fonda-warren-beatty-women-entertainment-268529.

  XXI. Quin, “On Golden Pond.”

  XXII. Ronald Reagan to Patti Reagan, July 12, 1954, in Ronald Reagan, Reagan: A Life in Letters, 52.

  XXIII. Albin Krebs and Robert McG. Thomas, “Notes on People: Two Actresses Discuss Life with Fathers,”New York Times online, August 28, 1981, www.nytimes.com/1981/08/28/nyregion/notes-on-people-two-actresses-discuss-life-with-fathers.html.

  XXIV. Quin, “On Golden Pond.”

  XXV. “Patti Davis Delivers Heartrending Eulogy at Her Mother Nancy Reagan’s Star-Studded Funeral,” New York Daily News online, March 11, 2016, www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/patti-davis-moving-eulogy-mom-nancy-reagan-funeral-article-1.2561715.

  XXVI. “Patti Davis Delivers Heartrending Eulogy.”

  5. CHARIOTS OF FIRE

  I. Ronald Reagan, Reagan Diaries, 71.

  II. Ibid.

  III. Hugh Pym, “Margaret Thatcher: How the Economy Changed,” BBC News online, last modified April 8, 2013, www.bbc.com/news/business-22073527.

  IV. Charles Moore, “Margaret Thatcher’s First Visit to Washington of the Reagan Presidency,” Huffington Post, accessed September 16, 2017, www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-moore/margaret-thatchers-first-_b_3308679.html.

  V. Ibid.

  VI. Ibid.

  VII. Moore, “Margaret Thatcher’s First Visit to Washington.”

  VIII. Ronald Reagan:“Toasts of the President and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom at the State Dinner, February 26, 1981,” American Presidency Project, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=43466.

  IX. Ibid.

  X. Ronald Reagan, “Toasts of the President and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.”

  XI. Moore, “Margaret Thatcher’s First Visit to Washington.”

  XII. Associated Press, “Papers Reveal Thatcher Kept Reagan’s Doodles,” CBS News online, March 16, 2012, www.cbsnews.com/news/papers-reveal-thatcher-kept-reagans-doodles.

  XIII. Lou Cannon, President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991), 407.

  XIV. Ibid.

  XV. Joan Goulding, United Press International online, “Queen Dines at Trader Vic’s,” March 3, 1983, www.upi.com/Archives/1983/03/03/Queen-dines-at-Trader-Vics/7330415515600.

  XVI. Ibid.

  XVII. James F. Clarity and Warren Weaver Jr., “Briefing: Reagan the Reciter,” New
York Times online, October 6, 1985, www.nytimes.com/1985/10/06/us/briefing-reagan-the-reciter.html.

  XVIII. Ronald Reagan, “Remarks at the Annual Conservative Political Action Conference Dinner, March 2, 1984,” American Presidency Project, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=39591.

  XIX. Ronald Reagan, “Remarks to Members of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, June 3, 1988,” American Presidency Project, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=35906.

  XX. Ibid.

  XXI. David Von Drehle, “The Funeral: Reagan Hailed as Leader for ‘the Ages,’ ” Washington Post online, June 12, 2004, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35593-2004Jun11.html?nav=headlines.

  7. RETURN OF THE JEDI

  I. “March 8, 1983: ‘Evil Empire’ Speech” (transcript), University of Virginia Miller Center online, https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-8-1983-evil-empire-speech.

  II. “March 23, 1983: Reagan Proposes ‘Star Wars’ Missile Defense System,” New York Times Learning Network, last modified March 23, 2012, http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/march-23-1983-reagan-proposes-star-wars-missile-defense-system/?_r=0.

  III. White House Briefing Paper, June 10, 1983.

  IV. Henry Schipper, “Christopher Reeve,” Playgirl, December 1982, www.chrisreevehomepage.com/sp-playgirl1982interview.html.

  V. Ibid.

  VI. Norman D. Sandler, “Politics Ignored in White House Guest List,” United Press International online, June 12, 1983, www.upi.com/Archives/1983/06/12/Politics-ignored-in-White-House-guest-list/6639424238400.

  VII. Kyle Smith, “How ‘Star Wars’ Was Secretly George Lucas’ Vietnam Protest,” New York Post online, September 21, 2014, http://nypost.com/2014/09/21/how-star-wars-was-secretly-george-lucas-protest-of-vietnam.

  VIII. Mathis Chazanov, “Reagan as Darth Vader,” United Press International, June 12, 1983, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/06/12/Reagan-as-Darth-Vader/1123424238400/.

  IX. Schipper, “Christopher Reeve.”

  X. Charlie Jane Anders, “How Star Wars Helped Create President Reagan,” i09 (online blog), last modified December 7, 2015, https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-star-wars-helped-create-president-reagan-1746708591.

  XI. Lily Rothman, “This Is the Ronald Reagan Speech That Just Showed Up on The Americans,” Time online, last modified April 22, 2015, http://time.com/3831400/ronald-reagan-the-americans-speech.

  XII. “Interview with Garry Clifford and Patricia Ryan of People Magazine, December 6, 1983,” American Presidency Project, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=40876.

  XIII. Ronald Reagan, Reagan Diaries, 273.

  10. GHOSTBUSTERS

  I. Elizabeth Wasserman, “After Dallas, Republicans Get Student Support,” SUNY-Stony BrookStatesman, September 19, 1984, https://ir.stonybrook.edu/jspui/bitstream/11401/63713/1/Statesman%20V.%2028,%20n.%2009.pdf.

  II. Ed Hogan, “Ray Parker Jr.,” Billboard online, accessed September 17, 2017, www.billboard.com/artist/364688/ray-parker-jr/biography.

  III. James Barron, “Young Fritzbusters Are Reined In,” New York Times online, October 4, 1984, www.nytimes.com/1984/10/04/us/young-fritzbusters-are-reined-in.html.

  IV. Barron, “Young Fritzbusters.”

  V. Jeremy Kirk, “36 Things We Learned from the ‘Ghostbusters’ Commentary Track,” Film School Rejects, last modified August 9, 2011, https://filmschoolrejects.com/36-things-we-learned-from-the-ghostbusters-commentary-track-423ccf3ca5c3/#.biizamujj.

  VI. Steven F. Hayward, “#10: The Best Conservative Movies of the Last 25 Years—Ghostbusters (1984),” The Corner (blog), National Review online, last modified February 12, 2009, www.nationalreview.com/corner/177234/10-best-conservative-movies-last-25-years-steven-f-hayward.

  VII. Thomas Frank, “Baby Boomer Humor’s Big Lie: ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Caddy shack’ Really Liberated Reagan and Wall Street,” Salon, last modified March 2, 2014, www.salon.com/2014/03/02/baby_boomer_humors_big_lie_ghostbusters_and_caddyshack_really_liberated_reagan_and_wall_street.

  VIII. David Sirota, Back to Our Future: How the 1980s Explains the World We Live In Now—Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Everything (New York: Ballantine Books, 2011), 89.

  IX. Jeff LaBrecque, “Ivan Reitman Revisits ‘Ghostbusters,’ ” Entertainment Weekly online, last modified September 12, 2014, http://ew.com/article/2014/09/12/ivan-reitman-revisits-ghostbusters.

  X. Sidney Blumenthal, “The G.O.P. ‘Me Decade,’ ” New Republic, September 17, 1984, in Blumenthal, Our Long National Daydream: A Political Pageant of the Reagan Era (New York: Harper and Row, 1988), 111–12.

  XI. Ronald Reagan, Reagan Diaries, 368.

  XII. Andrew Glass, “Ferraro Joins Democratic Ticket, July 12, 1984,” Politico, last modified July 12, 2007, www.politico.com/story/2007/07/ferraro-joins-democratic-ticket-july-12-1984-004891.

  XIII. “Radio Address to the Nation on Environmental Issues, July 14, 1984,” Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum online, www.reaganlibrary.archives.gov/archives/speeches/1984/71484a.htm.

  XIV. United Press International, “ ‘Purple Rain’ Ousts ‘Ghostbusters’ as No. 1,” New York Times online, August 1, 1984, www.nytimes.com/1984/08/01/movies/purple-rain-ousts-ghostbusters-as-no-1.html.

  XV. Barron, “Young Fritzbusters.”

  XVI. Ibid.

  XVII. Ibid.

  XVIII. Jane Perlez, “Michigan School Crowd Rallies for Bush,” New York Times, September 28, 1984, www.nytimes.com/1984/09/28/us/michigan-school-crowd-rallies-for-bush.html.

  XIX. Ira R. Allen, United Press International online, “ ‘Fritzbusters’ Spoofing Mondale,” September 13, 1984, www.upi.com/Archives/1984/09/13/Fritzbusters-spoofing-Mondale/3762463896000.

  12. ANTI-COMMUNIST FILMS—ROCKY IV

  I. Letter from attorney Timothy B. Anderson to White House deputy chief of staff Michael Deaver, May 10, 1983, from archives at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

  II. Jacqueline Trescott and Donnie Radcliffe, “White House Starscape,” Washington Post online, October 9, 1985, www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/10/09/white-house-starscape/2c60e9f1-5695-4384-ac5c-68663137e219/?utm_term=.838edd704bd7.

  III. Helen Thomas, United Press International online, “Actor Sylvester Stallone Promised Tuesday to Give President Reagan . . .” October 8, 1985, www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/08/Actor-Sylvester-Stallone-promised-Tuesday-to-give-President-Reagan/1721497592000.

  IV. Ibid.

  V. Ronald Reagan, telegram to Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen, December 13, 1985.

  VI. White House memorandum on Michael Jackson visit, from James K. Coyne (special assistant to the president) to White House deputy chief of staff Michael K. Deaver, on May 2, 1984, from archives at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

  VII. Tom Redburn, “Gorbachev Is ‘Different,’ Reagan Asserts,” Los Angeles Times online, December 2, 1987, http://articles.latimes.com/1987-12-02/news/mn-17267_1_president-reagan.

  VIII. Will Robinson, “Rocky IV Turns 30: Here Are 4 Things You Never Knew About the Film,” Entertainment Weekly online, last modified November 27, 2015, http://ew.com/article/2015/11/27/rocky-iv-30th-anniversary-things-you-didnt-know.

  IX. Ronald Reagan,“Remarks to Citizens in North Platte, Nebraska, August 13, 1987,” American Presidency Project, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=34695.

  X. Philip Klein, “Rocky IV Turns 20,”American Spectator online, last modified November 28, 2005, https://spectator.org/47738_rocky-iv-turns-20.

  XI. Thom Patterson, “Top Five ’80s Cold War Movies,” CNN online, last modified April 21, 2016, www.cnn.com/2016/04/21/entertainment/eighties-80s-cold-war-movies.

  XII. Klein, “Rocky IV Turns 20.”

  XIII. Roger Ebert, review of “Rocky IV,” November 27, 1985, RogerEbert.com, www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rocky-iv-1985.

  XIV. Philip Taubman, “Societ Pans ‘Rocky IV’ and ‘Rambo’ Films,” New York Times online, January 4, 1986, www.nytimes.com/1986/01/04/world/societ-pans-rocky-and-rambo-films.html.


  XV. Ibid.

  XVI. Ibid.

  XVII. Ibid.

  XVIII. “Ronald Reagan Talks about ‘Rocky IV,’ ” February 1, 1986, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCLFheknZEY.

  XIX. Author conversation with Tom Carter via email, November 2016.

  XX. “Ronald Reagan Talks about ‘Rocky IV.’ ”

  XXI. Patterson, “Top Five ’80s Cold War Movies.”

  XXII. Deborah Solomon, “Questions for Warren Beatty: In the Picture,” New York Times Magazine online, October 1, 2006, www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/magazine/01wwln_q4.html?ex=1317355200&en=e77f4eba98ee2c09&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss.

  XXIII. Roger Friedman, “Beatty: Reagan Wanted Happy Ending for ‘Reds,” Fox News online, last modified October 5, 2006, www.foxnews.com/story/2006/10/05/beatty-reagan-wanted-happy-ending-for-reds.html.

  XXIV. Marty Graham, Reuters, “Actor Beatty Shadows California’s Schwarzenegger,” Washington Post online, November 5, 2005, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/05/AR2005110501651_pf.html.

  XXV. Associated Press, quoted in “ ‘Red Dawn’ May Benefit from Renewed Patriotism,” Ocala (FL) Star-Banner, August 24, 1984, 12B.

  XXVI. Ibid.

  XXVII. Ibid.

  XXVIII. Ibid.

  XXIX. Ibid.

  XXX. Elizabeth Kastor, “The Night of ‘Red Dawn,’ ” Washington Post online, August 9, 1984, www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1984/08/09/the-night-of-red-dawn/cca31591-5559-491b-9127-6fd853ae94cf/?utm_term=.882f7d96470c.

  XXXI. Kastor, “The Night of ‘Red Dawn.’ ”

  XXXII. Ronald Reagan, Reagan Diaries, 379.

  XXXIII. “Informal Exchange with Reporters on Domestic Issues, September 7, 1984,” Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum online, www.reaganlibrary.archives.gov/archives/speeches/1984/90784b.htm.

  XXXIV. “Radio Address to the Nation on Education, September 8, 1984,” Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum online, www.reaganlibrary.archives.gov/archives/speeches/1984/90884a.htm.

  XXXV. Ronald Reagan, Reagan Diaries, 380.