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Ocelot II

(128,730 posts)

12. Kind of like Edith Wilson.

Reply to ananda (Reply #9)

Wed Dec 10, 2025, 12:02 PM

Wednesday

At least in his second term, in public appearances Reagan often seemed vague and somewhat befuddled, but he never came across as completely barking mad like Trump. He never went on word-salad rants, made up obviously crazy stuff, or insulted reporters or most of the rest of the world. I was not and am not a fan of ol' Ronnie - he did enormous damage, especially to US economic policy. But he was only borderline senile, not absolutely and dangerously nuts.

In 1986 SNL did a clever skit about Reagan pretending to be clueless and confused while he was actually an evil genius mastermind.

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milestogo ananda Coldwater MustLoveBeagles

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Highlight:

How many years was Reagan in office with Alzheimers? [View all] milestogo Wednesday OP

Officially, they insisted he didn't have it until a year out of office. unblock Wednesday #1

He was out of it during his 1984 debate with Walter Mondale synni Thursday #31

Yes, there were signs even in his first term. unblock Thursday #32

Imagine if we'd had social media then leftstreet Wednesday #2

At least two years. Emile Wednesday #3

Reagan wasn't that far along, though. haele Wednesday #4

And Reagan NEVER gave a speech or address that sounded anything like ..... -(nt)- stopdiggin Wednesday #6

It was pretty gradual - not very obvious to the public until the last couple of years Ocelot II Wednesday #5

I was 7 in 1981 when he took office ABC123Easy Wednesday #7

Reagan had Nancy, not Melania. quaint Wednesday #8

Melania is a PAID ESCORT. She sees $$$$$$$$$$$$ for her bank account! ProudMNDemocrat Thursday #26

Bet he wishes he could upgrade to an English-speaking wife now! Maru Kitteh Friday #34

Also, Nancy was running things anyway. ananda Wednesday #9

In college we always thought she was BlueKota Wednesday #11

Kind of like Edith Wilson. Ocelot II Wednesday #12

Which is why I think there's more than just age-related decline with Trump Tommy Carcetti Wednesday #13

He was always an awful person, but dementia is removing whatever flimsy filters he might once have had. Ocelot II Wednesday #16

It started being noticeable to me in '84 indusurb Wednesday #10

That's the year I noticed he was no longer good at "off the cuff" remarks and needed more prepared lines. /nt artemisia1 Thursday #21

Except Reagan Mossfern Wednesday #14

Reagan was a real piece of shit Skittles Thursday #23

True, but Mossfern Thursday #25

it was an open secret in d.c. his whole 2nd term. mopinko Wednesday #15

Even in his first term. chowmama Wednesday #17

I don't believe Reagan actually "had Alzheimers" before he was out of the White House, Jack Valentino Wednesday #18

We're going to beat this dead horse again? Xolodno Wednesday #19

Most of his second term IMO. nt Raine Thursday #20

Eight. BlueTsunami2018 Thursday #22

All eight of them. He was a good enough actor he could follow a script and fooled a lot of people. mucholderthandirt Thursday #24

* Ding, ding, ding! * Winner, winner, chicken dinner! /nt bucolic_frolic Thursday #27

From what I remember Coldwater Thursday #28

At least 6, but it was not really observable by everyone until soon after the second term began ms liberty Thursday #29

Republicans don't care WmChris Thursday #30

I don't know about Alzheimer's but there was an incident in 83 or 84 MustLoveBeagles Thursday #33