Remembering The Gipper
On June 5, 2004, seven years ago today, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, died at his home in Bel Air, California, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 93 years of age.
In August 1994, at the age of 83, Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is an incurable neurological disorder which destroys brain cells and ultimately causes death. Reagan decided to break the news of his illness in November of 1994 through a handwritten letter. In the letter he wrote:
I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease... At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done... I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead. Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you.
When the news broke, letters of support from well-wishers poured in. But his critics speculated about how long Reagan had symptoms of mental degeneration. All four of Reagan's White House doctors said that they saw no evidence of Alzheimer's while he was president. Dr. John E. Hutton, Reagan's primary physician from 1984 to 1989, claimed that Reagan "absolutely" did not "show any signs of dementia or Alzheimer's".The physicians claim that Reagan began exhibiting overt symptoms of the illness in late 1992 or 1993, after he had left office.
Following the initial diagnosis, the disease slowly destroyed Reagan's mental capacity. Eventually he was only able to recognize a few people, including his wife, Nancy. He remained active, however; he took walks through parks near his home and on beaches, played golf regularly, and often went to his office in nearby Century City.
Reagan suffered a fall at his Bel Air home on January 13, 2001, resulting in a broken hip. He had surgery the following day. Reagan's public appearances became less frequent with the progression of the disease, and as a result, his family decided that he would live in quiet isolation. Nancy Reagan told CNN's Larry King in 2001 that very few visitors were allowed to see her husband because she felt that "Ronnie would want people to remember him as he was."
Reagan died at his home in Bel Air, California on the afternoon of June 5, 2004. A short time after his death, Nancy Reagan released a statement saying: "My family and I would like the world to know that President Ronald Reagan has died after 10 years of Alzheimer's Disease at 93 years of age. We appreciate everyone's prayers." President George W. Bush declared June 11 a National Day of Mourning.
In August 1994, at the age of 83, Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is an incurable neurological disorder which destroys brain cells and ultimately causes death. Reagan decided to break the news of his illness in November of 1994 through a handwritten letter. In the letter he wrote:
I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease... At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done... I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead. Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you.
When the news broke, letters of support from well-wishers poured in. But his critics speculated about how long Reagan had symptoms of mental degeneration. All four of Reagan's White House doctors said that they saw no evidence of Alzheimer's while he was president. Dr. John E. Hutton, Reagan's primary physician from 1984 to 1989, claimed that Reagan "absolutely" did not "show any signs of dementia or Alzheimer's".The physicians claim that Reagan began exhibiting overt symptoms of the illness in late 1992 or 1993, after he had left office.
Following the initial diagnosis, the disease slowly destroyed Reagan's mental capacity. Eventually he was only able to recognize a few people, including his wife, Nancy. He remained active, however; he took walks through parks near his home and on beaches, played golf regularly, and often went to his office in nearby Century City.
Reagan suffered a fall at his Bel Air home on January 13, 2001, resulting in a broken hip. He had surgery the following day. Reagan's public appearances became less frequent with the progression of the disease, and as a result, his family decided that he would live in quiet isolation. Nancy Reagan told CNN's Larry King in 2001 that very few visitors were allowed to see her husband because she felt that "Ronnie would want people to remember him as he was."
Reagan died at his home in Bel Air, California on the afternoon of June 5, 2004. A short time after his death, Nancy Reagan released a statement saying: "My family and I would like the world to know that President Ronald Reagan has died after 10 years of Alzheimer's Disease at 93 years of age. We appreciate everyone's prayers." President George W. Bush declared June 11 a National Day of Mourning.