Ronald Reagan's Last Public Speech (Feb 1994) | 9 Months Before Alzheimer's Diagnosis | 83rd B-Day

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[@zomadee1007]

Even at this advanced age, he could still use his head movements and body language to accent his message. I never agreed with many of his policies, but it’s understandable to me how an intelligent, eloquent man was elected President.

[@ernestodelaserna9494]

LOL! He was a B movie actor that could barely read a cue card and appealed to the very worst in human nature.

[@capoislamort100]

@@ernestodelaserna9494I don’t think he/she knows what “intelligent” and “eloquent” really means. The man was a disaster for poor people and so-called minorities.

[@ernestodelaserna9494]

@@capoislamort100 Thomas Sankara FOREVER!

[@DebunkPropaganda]

​​@@capoislamort100 You say Reagan was "awful" but yet you do not even bother explaining which policies specifically, and how. I see you're subscribed to Karine Jean Pierre, that tells me pretty much all I need to know. You must also think Obama was the best president in history, want Kamala Harris to run in 2024, and probably think Thomas Sowell is a "racist". People like yourself are a godsend to the establishment, all they need to do to garner your vote is virtue signal, blame things on white people & republicans, and emotionally manipulate you, and you'll vote without hesitation. Thankfully more and more black people are starting to wake up in 2024, in record numbers, and aren't falling for the propaganda anymore. But sadly those like yourself remain subverted & social engineered. You must think LBJ was a better president than Reagan, and think that great society program was the best thing ever. Man, I might as well just tell you to take out $500 from your wallet and give it to me 😂

[@edoardopesce9226]

​@ernestodelaserna9494 you know nothing about him. Your short sentence is completely mistaken, as you would recognize if only you knew a little about his life.

[@shadowferas]

We can all disagree on politics and what not, but as a history buff, I absolutely love watching these older videos that involve our former presidents!

[@MaddogU9]

100% agree

[@ezcleghorn4025]

I was 1 pound at birth. It was a giant international news story. We don’t know to this day how he found out but probably because it was all over CNN, but Mom got a beautiful letter when he was still in the White House essentially saying that life is not given lightly, and that I had been left here for a purpose. I have tried all my life to live up to that. And even in our struggles, with the optimism and the faith in America, that this man always had, we can make it through anything.

[@Pharoset]

Huh? Your blurb makes no sense.

[@MillerTimeWORLD]

@@Pharoset it makes absolute perfect sense if you know how to read

[@mr_reborn]

Isn’t that wonderful. ❤

[@ДмитрийОсипов-м9д]

​@@MillerTimeWORLD dude got his own mental deficiency, it seems.

[@jackturner8472]

@@Pharosetlearn to read.

[@norbertrichard7926]

He was one of the greatest leaders. His last public speech, he opened up about his Alzheimer only nine month later. After this speech, at the hotel, he did not know where he was and Thatcher had to tell him.

[@phinsup49]

What was so great? Raising taxes in the middle class to cover the deficit he created for cutting taxes on the rich? The illegal activity he did? Approved of killings in foreign countries by the Cia? He used a horoscope and astrological signs to plan meetings lol guy was brilliant at playing the political game but he wasn't a great president. Character wise he's like Carter but his administration sucked. Not as bad as Carter but it was bad lol and I'm a life long conservative

[@michaelhungate7506]

I've heard that story before. People around him knew something was off.

[@thomasgraf1986]

Is this story told in a book or just from person to person? Watching my grandparents age, it does not surprise me. One minute they seem like their old selves, the next they are confused on where they are and what they are doing.

[@rmd9746]

where did you hear this story?

[@stephenguppy7882]

He was still brilliant here and his sincere tributes to Mrs Thatcher are good to hear.

[@alextepe4309]

“God, I miss voting for that man.” - Hank Hill

[@ezcleghorn4025]

@@alextepe4309 June 2, 1986 Dear E.Z.: It's not often that I have the opportunity to write to someone so young as you. It is even rarer that I have the opportunity to write to someone who has lived so short a span but fought so long a fight for life. I am sure that when you are a little older your parents will tell you what your homecoming meant to your family. Perhaps words will fail them -- that wouldn't be surprising. The more important thing is not what others can tell you about the first days of your life, but what those days tell us about life itself. God planted in you something special, a will to live, a mighty hope in such a tiny heart. When God gives life, He does not give it lightly. And when He gives it to one like you, He does it so that not only those closest to you, but your neighbors and fellow citizens as well, will be struck by the wonder and beauty of His creation. Few of us can say that our lives and deeds have inspired others, but you have made such an impression in your first days and weeks among us. May God bless you and strengthen you, and may He grant all of us the wisdom to hold beyond price the dignity and worth of every human life. Sincerely, Ronald Reagan Who’s lying again? You can call the presidential library if that did not convince you because they have copies. Sit down. K. Thanks.

[@1977TA]

I like to think some of his cognitive difficulty was simply because he was 83. He has not been officially diagnosed when this event took place. He was still in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and was still able to keep his thoughts together. Things got much worse several months later and he eventually had to go see his doctor and get the bad news. I miss him so much and there has never been another president like him and there never will be. He is the GOAT. RIP 🇺🇸

[@DorvellTStewart]

Weren’t there speculations that he began to show signs of it during his second term in office? Alzheimer’s and other related neurological diseases tend to be very slow progressing.

[@DrCasey]

@@DorvellTStewart There's speculations, but they exist on very shaky ground. To quote Snopes "However, the physicians who directly attended Ronald Reagan while he was president agreed unanimously that he never displayed signs or symptoms of dementia the whole time he was in office, the New York Times reported in 1997. Even with the hindsight of Mr. Reagan's [Alzheimer's] diagnosis, his four main White House doctors say they never detected any evidence that his forgetfulness was more than just that. His mental competence in office, they said in a series of recent interviews, was never in doubt. Indeed, they pointed out, tests of his mental status did not begin to show evidence of the disease until the summer of 1993, more than four years after he left the White House. "There was never anything that would raise a question about his ability to function as President," said Dr. Lawrence C. Mohr, one of Mr. Reagan's physicians in his second term. "Ronald Reagan's cognitive function, belief structure, judgment, ability to choose between options, behavior and ability to communicate were totally and completely intact." He "never forgot appointments, misplaced or lost things, where he put his glasses, never forgot to put his hearing aids in, never forgot to put his contact lenses in, and these are things he did for himself," Dr. Mohr said. "I saw him saddle and bridle horses at the ranch and later put things back exactly where they belonged." And Mr. Reagan, the doctors stressed, was punctual, never depressed and had no difficulty with language or understanding what was going on around him. Although no cognitive tests were administered to Reagan during his time in office (his doctors saw no need for them), he did begin receiving annual mental and psychological assessments in 1990, after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain. The four-hour battery of tests, which would have detected signs of dementia, found nothing amiss for the first three years they were administered. "All parameters for his age absolutely were within the normal range," one of Reagan's doctors said." Personally I'm of the opinion that he was simply normal throughout all of the 1980s, but I'm not averse to the idea that he started showing some mild changes during the latter half of the 80s. There's that one study which claims that his word choice while speaking was less varied in the late 80s than the early 80s, which is a subtle enough change that I can buy it - almost every health problem, whether that be heart disease or even things like balding, has a long period of build-up before it really becomes a problem. I think the idea some peddle that he was a drooling invalid during the 80s is completely unfair nonsense, though, and I find it utterly infuriating that so many people spread the myth that Reagan had severe cognitive problems back then as though it's simply a self-evident statement of fact. I don't believe that he had cognitive decline of any real significance until around 1992.

[@EddieHenderson92]

@@DorvellTStewart He started showing early signs in late 1992. People saying that he started losing it as President are taking cheap shots.

[@bradyfry8031]

Though not everyone agreed with Reagan's policies, you can't deny that he was a very charismatic and popular president and well liked by many.

[@actownsend7288]

A hot blonde nurse told me that and Ronald was funny!! I’ll give him that and I’m not a Republican. Sweet man

[@bradyfry8031]

@@actownsend7288 same I'm an independent. He was certainly a unique president.

[@EddieHenderson92]

Reagan and Clinton are the two Presidents in my lifetime that had off the chart's charisma. No other Presidents come close in my lifetime.

[@hankgarza4975]

It takes a Communist to not agree, that's for sure.

[@CRTAfterglow]

@@EddieHenderson92 I think you are forgetting President Obama. Love him or hate him, that man has major charisma.

[@santiagoortiz3665]

If only he where here today. He could tell us a joke to break up the reality we live in. He will always be one of my favorite presidents.

[@billyw5260]

It's sad, but you can see a pretty rapid decline in his speaking compared to some of his speeches and interviews even from 1991.

[@DrCasey]

In 1991 he seems completely normal to me. Basically just 1980s Reagan. In 1992 something feels a bit off to me, but it's so mild I'm unsure if it's just my imagination. In 1993 something definitely seems off but it's not nearly as bad as it is here.

[@DrCasey]

@my_oppas_oppais Not sure what you mean? Reagan's decline began long after he left office. He was still normal in 1988, the last year he was president.

[@JitteryGoblin88]

You can see the old reagan coming back if only for a brief moment

[@TwoGrainsOfGold]

What an absolute gem! 💎 Thank you!

[@michaelhungate7506]

Once he got going he did pretty good but I can tell he's struggling. I miss the ole guy. He was one of the best Presidents ever.

[@nicklekan5644]

Indeed...win one for the Gipper!

[@bibianaguadalupeislasherre9880]

@@nicklekan5644 This video was from the RCN gala, it was recorded in February of 1994 and Mr. Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's on November 5 of that year.

[@ronaldrothchild4068]

Prob got alltimers from the thrilling life of actor pres than it all stopped

[@MarshaLuebbers]

If only we had a man in the White House like him again

[@kmartradio]

"Worst"

[@bibianaguadalupeislasherre9880]

And Mr. Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in November of 1994 in a handwritten letter. On June 5, 2023, it's gonna be 19 years since Ronald Reagan died in 2004. Fun fact: President Reagan visited the city of Mexicali, Baja California in 1986.

[@lucask4377]

RIP

[@jetstar1011]

I was born in the city of Mexicali, in 1999, the same day that Pope St. John Paul the second visited Mexico in January, four days before his final visit to the US, in St. Louis Missouri.

[@billgorman481]

I remember this like it was yesterday! I instinctively reached for my veto pen and thought: go ahead, make my day.

[@kevinheard8364]

A true American icon... so grateful for these videos; and humbled by the onset of age (me now in my late 60's) and the horrible specter of Alzheimer's... sincerely saddened.

[@gregladd9584]

These were the good all days. He always had a great sense of humor...and class.

[@dinoduderocket]

"until we meet again, God bless you my friends"❤️

[@leequigley5702]

Loved that man! Never be another Ronald and Nancy Reagan! The world is full of clowns now in 2024

[@psymi-hk1fp]

20:15 "every night for four years he just sat on the edge of the bed and told me how good it was going to be" GOAT

[@BAR787]

What an incredible leader! My gosh you're missed!!

[@nicklekan5644]

As Hank Hill from King of the Hill said "I tell you what. I miss voting for that man."

[@malcolmpalmer569]

His final public appearance was at Nixon's funeral.

[@KLanz123]

I didn’t agree with him a lot but I voted for him. I had the feeling that should anything extreme happen the country was in good hands. I had the same feeling with Clinton and Obama. I don’t have the same feeling with either of the current candidates.

[@bigtommy9715]

First 50 seconds he struggled pretty hard Really botched the first punchline and almost immediately after he hit a stride God bless

[@AustinHollingerOfficial]

he somewhat stumbled on the 96 joke. But overall he did pretty well here considering what we now know

[@KobaAM]

If closing with him talking about cherishing a memory forever is brutal

[@tms8260]

I concur with many. Reagan. The last American president who lived when America was great. Miss this guy!

[@thomasjust2663]

It's interesting, at moments he shows significant cognitive decline were he seems to really struggle but also has burst's or moments, that looks like the old Reagan shows up, its like the brain is fighting hard to perform and can at moments show less cognitive decline or close to normal

[@sammontano5109]

That ebb and flow is odd, huh. Like a switch turns on. Then fuck. Dead lights. It's common to all chronic illnesses. That ebb and flow. But disconcerting when seeing it happen to language and personality. It awes me too when I see it.

[@NYG5]

Eh, honestly can you remember a 20 minute speech and recite it all, especially after having not had to do it for about 4 or 5 years?

[@AustinHollingerOfficial]

@@NYG5 pretty sure his last speech before this one was in 1993

[@bigtommy9715]

Seems the more the crowd responded the fresher he got

[@stephentaylortexas]

we miss you Ronnie and need your leadership once again.

[@johnfury6481]

God bless Ronald Reagan.

[@pontusjonsson3846]

Here's a GIANT of a human being ♥

[@mariolaimejr03]

This has to be one of the coolest videos ever of 1994 before his diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Ronald Reagan was the greatest man ever!

[@AustinD45]

He is only a few months older than Biden in this video.

[@11sfr]

And he had been out of office and retired for 5 years already and was still 9 months away from a dementia diagnosis

[@Josh-179]

And Biden acts and looks 10 years older and is still President!

[@puppergump4117]

@@Josh-179 Are you sure about that

[@dmer-zy3rb]

he seemed relatively normal here still (i mean the guy was 83 and looked great for his age) certainly better than thatchers last speech where she read everything from sheet only looking briefly up every few seconds.

[@jeffsmith3392]

Reagan and Thatcher… what an unbelievable team 💯👍🏻

[@DISCODAN1]

I remember listening to this live, or at least very fresh on the this still fairly new thing called cable TV! 😱 Suddenly there was so much to watch and so much information! I cherished this man and campaigned for him as part of the “Young Republicans” movement! At first, I was terrified as he began to speak… but a little applause after his opening joke which he didn’t pull off very well, suddenly sparked the old Reagan right back into existence! It’s like someone snapped their fingers and poof, there he was again! I remember canceling a date and the gym just to stay home and watch him speak! Funny how relevant his speech still is today! Humans have amnesia and we never seem to learn the mistakes we make as a species and we are still grappling with most of the same damn problems 30 years later!

[@TheSignofJonah777]

Glad God preserved him through the presidency.

[@JimJones-zc9mk]

Wonder if any home movies after the diagnosis will ever surface, it would be interesting to see how he was in the year 95 or 96.

[@TCBElvisAPresley]

Like others said, he did good considering his age, and I sure miss Reagan -- those were my halcyon days. And considering the choice of which candidate to vote for this year, we sure could use someone from the mold of Pres. Reagan or Pres. Kennedy right now.

[@DrCasey]

There's plenty of eloquent and well-spoken people in their 80s. He did do very well for someone with early dementia though.

[@jakevalentino7179]

My Uncle Clarence was one of Ronald Reagan’s White House aids. He said he never saw any signs of mental decline while he was in office. Uncle Clarence was an officer in WW2, and he died at 97 years old. He never had any cognitive decline either. It’s certainly possible that Reagan had the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s or Dementia in the early 90’s before his diagnosis, but he still did an amazing job as president.

[@janawilkerson27]

President Reagan was the best. RIP, sir.

[@xdjamesboond9351]

Man this is far before my time and i still wished he was still here with us, he has such a charm to him that we heavily lack today in our government. Rip to one of the best presidents ever

[@Wahinies]

Good reminder of what a great leader can be.

[@ernestodelaserna9494]

More like a good reminder of a terrible actor and a guy who actually had Alzheimers.

[@TheSignofJonah777]

@@ernestodelaserna9494what did he do to hurt you?

[@ernestodelaserna9494]

@@TheSignofJonah777 you mean why did he destroy the middle class so the 1 percent could pay less taxes?

[@TheAxelay]

He was a great POTUS and represented possibly the last great era/decade that was the 1980's. There is something very warm and genuine about him, a certain kind of comfort that his voice brings that even the current or past presidents can't emulate. I miss him and I shudder to think what he'd think of the US or the world right now. Back to reality.

[@jtaiv2798]

He fucked the economy for good

[@godsspace5265]

One of the best

[@User-5amk1m0]

Amazing to see the past. Seems like a simpler time.

[@CRTAfterglow]

The past always seems simpler with the benefit of hindsight.

[@owieri]

@@CRTAfterglow maybe so, but in the past i didn't have that feeling that nothing good is ever going to happen anymore

[@CRTAfterglow]

@@owieri I believe that's called depression.

[@renealexander2703]

I miss the 80s and 90s.

[@ChoooChooo]

Optimism is at an all time low. That's not depression. The world actually was simpler.

[@anthonyvulgamore9416]

Miss him so much

[@KingoutlawLXXII]

I miss President Reagan he was a great president 🙏

[@MyTVTUNES]

CRT Afterglow is an awesome channel name.

[@CRTAfterglow]

Thanks!

[@Bishop-ci4mc]

I was 2 years old when he gave this speech

[@greekenderman2005]

Thing is that that meeting most likely didn't stay in his memory until he died as he promised he most likely didn't even remember his name by then

[@danielraiter]

Absolute legend

[@robmelus1]

Even with Alzheimer's Reagan would run circles around Biden in any debate. Reagan was one hell of a speaker and gave picture perfect speeches without teleprompters. Great leader and great man, America misses leadership like Reagan demonstrated.

[@samuelhebert4687]

Greatest president ever 🥹

[@Progressive2024]

One of the worst actually

[@Gudi102]

How did we get from Reagan, to this orange clown??? What an elegant, classy, warm and eloquent man. We miss him dearly...

[@TheSignofJonah777]

The difference is that trump is a terrible speaker. A good speaker but a terrible communicator I should say.

[@bradcooke5383]

Old Rawhide. I miss his wit. 🇺🇸

[@jochimbenschneider1915]

Best President of the 20th besides Coolidge and Harding.

[@2H2521]

Harding wasn’t one of the best, but the fact you didn’t mention Ike Eisenhower or John F. Kennedy is absurd. 😂

[@dougg2012]

FDR lmao

[@2H2521]

@@dougg2012 Most overrated president ever!

[@2H2521]

@@dougg2012Most overrated ever.

[@dougg2012]

@@2H2521 LMFAOOOOOO

[@wotdoesthisbuttondo]

He's still on top of things though takes a little longer to navigate it.

[@stevenmay2937]

a good man and great president

[@SupRobertwillis]

Who needs empathy when you can deliver jokes well.

[@dgrunwald]

Amazing speech.

[@CRTAfterglow]

Do you still love the Gipper? Check out vintage merchandise we have from his time in office at Obsolete Treasures. ebay.us/YtRGCI

[@BBA-Sox]

Just four comments, including mine, in almost a year since this was posted. I wonder why.

[@holy6431]

its 5 now

[@BasedStreetRacer]

It’s 6 now

[@yooooo649]

it’s 7 now

[@Beyondhumanlimits1]

I'm here too now. My journey: searched how New York was in the 70's -> Found crazy rates of crimes around those times -> Found how Giuliani is credited for fixing some of the problems -> Seen picture of him shaking hands with Reagan -> Searched for Reagan's last appearance.

[@Glenn-hm8sb]

Best leader ever. On top of that he might have been the first standup comedian 😅

[@jimallison6125]

Truly a great man sorely missed.

[@optifonik]

“However, I have not ruled out the possibility of running in the year Two-thousand” LMAO!

[@nerad1994]

Still feeling the ramifications of his presidency years later unfortunately, but seemed like a good man

[@dougcrane8031]

I wouldn't wish Alzheimer's on my worst enemy. It's a terrible and frightening experience for you, your friends, and family. That said, Reagan was one of the worst Presidents in history and his administration is responsible for many if not all of the problems America is currently experiencing. Saying I'm thankful he is deceased is an understatement, but it's the kindest way I can express my feelings of the man.

[@gm12551]

Great guy but he sure didn’t know economics

[@TheSignofJonah777]

Why do you say that?

[@gratefuljr]

Ronald Reagan would not be able to win a Republican primary today. He would lose to Marjorie Traitor Greene or My Pillow.

[@thomash.schwed3662]

I don’t know whether to like your comment because it’s true or dislike it because even the mere prospect is so depressing. But, you are correct: As disastrous as Ronaldus Minimus was, yet he would lose that party’s primary to Perjury Traitor Greene, who is even that much worse. I doubt, in his condition, Lindell could muster even registering his candidacy for office.

[@andreaszulauf2834]

„A Memory I will cherish forever“… nope…due to Alzheimer‘s😔

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

It is Unfortunate, his last Speech wasn't 20yrs Earlier. The US wouldn't be in the Mess it has been since 1981

[@TheSignofJonah777]

So your telling me jimmy carter had a better economy 😂

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

@@TheSignofJonah777 America was certainly a Much Better Country Prior to Reagan. And the Economy under Carter was better, Reaganomics put the US into a Major Recession and Record Inflation, far worse than it was because of Trump's Asinine Policies

[@jumicri8076]

😢 7:55 😢 8:14 8:😢15

[@nas84payne]

He was already struggling badly in his 2nd term. Nancy did a lot of his duties.

[@DrCasey]

This is false. This is not how Alzheimer's works. If he was struggling at any point between 1985 and 1988, tests would have uncovered something prior to 1993. Nancy Reagan would have noticed signs before September 1992. The idea that he had dementia in the 80s is an ageist urban myth with no merit behind it, people are just predisposed to view all old people as senile.

[@michaelsmith-kc6dd]

He seems like a decent man. Reagan's policies were horrible, and he presided over a bad economy for 8 years.

[@kenhollis9591]

Bad economy? There was 6% economic growth in '83 and '84. A lot better than what we have now.

[@therealgaragegirls]

Here in 2023, we're still feeling the painful effects of Reagan's misguided policies.

[@therealgaragegirls]

@@CRTAfterglow Reagan screwed the middle class and marginalized communities of every sort while amplifying "Christian nationalists." Leeja explains it quite succinctly here--even if you only watch the first minute and a half: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omjHeamndpKKeJYsi=wV_XX_k4oZQnD9PJ

[@sangyelama7417]

Why is there a lot of clapping until 00:38

[@CRTAfterglow]

There was likely another event going on at the same time in another nearby room.