Reply #110: Well, yes, he IS Reagan's real son. He's RR's real, adopted son.

[calimary]

But that's real, nonetheless. I think it's a matter of terminology here, as an adoptee, myself. You're every bit their real child. You're just not their BIOLOGICAL child. Michael Reagan was adopted by Ronald Reagan and his then-wife Jane Wyman. Their marriage also produced Maureen Reagan, who's been dead for a little while now.

Interesting that you can see, however, where the thread of hereditary eloquence went. The only speeches that really made any difference were Ron Junior's and Patty's. Michael's was nice, and sweet, but a little heavy on the religioso stuff.

I LOVED Ron Junior's speech. A speech that he would NOT have made, in so public and momentous a forum as that, at his father's gravesite no less, out of respect for his mother, if he thought for an instant that she wouldn't have approved. He's a thoughtful man. He would NEVER EVER EVER EVER have done anything in a situation like that to dishonor her. It's implicit in what he did - that she approved. He may, in fact, have spoken FOR her.