A Summary of "The Reagans" Script (Pt. 2)

(Note: If you haven’t done so already, you might want to read Part 1)

(Pgs. 39-49)

Nancy gives birth to Ron, Jr. “I have a son,” says Ronnie, forgetting that he already has a son named Michael.

GE thinks Reagan’s speeches are getting too extreme. He’s told that he is starting to sound like a “right-wing reactionary nut and that “Democrats buy GE products too, so lay off the Commie-thing.” (Note for the kids: In the 1950s Democrats were commie loving toaster buyers.)

Patti the Brat almost gets slapped by Nancy. Instead, Nancy just screams.

Ronnie quits GE to go back to making monkey movies. His agent won’t take his call. He’s been black-listed, or is that red-listed, by the commie-loving, light bulb-using, Hollywood Democrats.

1963: Kennedy’s funeral is shown on TV. Ron, Jr. sees Jon, Jr. salute the coffin and little Ron salutes too. “Don’t do that,” says Nancy. (Saluting dead democrats will not be tolerated in her house.)

Michael Reagan, age 18, returns home. “So this is it,” says Mikey, “I sleep on the sofa like a dog?” (Um, no Michael, the dog has his own bed.) Michael the Ungrateful.

Patti the Brat, age 11, discovers she has another brother and a sister, Maureen. Half-sister, Nancy tells her. Patti the Brat leads a sheltered life.

Ron, Jr. finds a copy of Playboy in Michael’s backpack. Michael the Ungrateful Perv.

Reagan is giving a speech for Goldwater. He’s interrupted by a voter registrar who asks if he’s a Republican yet. When he says no she signs him up right there. Republicans are impatient.

A Republican cabal decides to run Reagan for governor. Since he’s already a monkey-movie star it will be cheaper, they decide.

(Pgs. 50-61)

Year: 1964 — Some guy named Holmes Tuttle says, “Nancy , we want to put your husband in the Governor’s seat, and keep him there for 8 years. Then we’re going to put him in the Presidency for another 8 years. By the time he’s done, Communism will be dead, the Republican Party reunited, and “conservative” won’t be a dirty word anymore.”

Holmes Tuttle is a prophet.

Tuttle: “Sure, it’s nice being the wife of a movie star. But think what it would be like to be the Governor of California. (pause) First lady of California – sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? There you’ll be, in the Governor’s mansion – “
Maria: “It’s a dump.”
Tuttle: “Then we’ll get you someplace nicer, somewhere in Sacramento—
Maria: I hate Sacramento

Article Author: J.P. Carter

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