Michael Reagan
Michael Edward Reagan (born
March 18,
1945 as
John Flaugher),
adopted son of President
Ronald Reagan and his first wife
Jane Wyman, is the host of a
conservative talk radio show, the "Michael Reagan Show", which is syndicated to over 200 radio stations in the United States through
Radio America. He was born to Irene Flaugher, herself the tenth child in her family. According to writings of Michael Reagan, his birth mother never informed his grandmother of his birth.
Reagan grew up in
Beverly Hills,
California and later nearby
Pacific Palisades, California. One childhood story he has told that introduced him to politics was how he at the age of 8 asked his famous father for a raise in his allowance. At the time, around
1953, his allowance was $1.00 a week. His father told him since 90 per cent of
his earnings were taxed by government, he wasn't able to increase Mike's allowance. His father further said that when the President of the United States would give him a tax cut, then he could give his son an increase in his allowance. This did happen in the
1960s during the
John F. Kennedy administration, and Reagan then was given $5.00 a week in allowance. This, according to Michael Reagan, was how he was introduced to the subject of tax cuts and how that affected people.
1 In his early adult years, Reagan raced boats and later also sold them at a
Newport Beach,
California boat dealership. He set world records in power boat racing. In time, after establishing his marriage and sorting out his relationship with his parents, he began his public career. His first gig was as a
game show host, in charge of the original
syndicated version of
Lingo, which was taped in
Canada but broadcast in the United States. The show lasted only for the
1987-
1988 season, and Reagan left the show before its demise in the wake of financial problems with the show's producers. His talk radio career started in the
Southern California local market as a guest host for
Michael Jackson's
2 talk radio show slot on
KABC AM in
Los Angeles. After this beginning, he landed a talk show spot on
KSDO radio in
San Diego, California. Reagan's rating success in the San Diego market gave him the opportunity to take his talk show nationwide in
1992. Reagan continues to host his four hour talk show, and also does public speaking to groups. He also delivers conservative commentary from time to time on cable television news programs such as the
Fox News Channel and on the
Internet.
3 He also wrote a book titled
Twice Adopted in
2004.
Reagan resides with his wife Colleen and their two children, son Cameron and daughter Ashley, in the
Sherman Oaks area of
Los Angeles.
4#Reagan, Michael; Hyams, Joe. Michael Reagan:
On the Outside Looking In. (unknown city:) Kensington Publishing Corporation,
1988. #Not to be confused with the recording artist of the same name. #
premierspeakers.com#Ibid.
*
Michael Reagan's website*
Michael Reagan Show website
