A Star Shoots over Hollywood
“Today, after numerous victory speeches and galas, Senator Douglas will embark on a journey around the state before heading to Washington in January. She is expected to stop in the Northern Counties, Sacramento, San Francisco…”
-News reel from December 1950
“In Hollywood, the Senator-Elect was greeted and introduced by President of the Screen Actor’s Guild, Ronald Reagan, who’s speech was met with rousing applause”
- “The Los Angeles Daily News” December 1950
“I never as a citizen want to see our country become urged, by either fear or resentment of this group, that we ever compromise with any of our democratic principles through that fear or resentment. I will not be scared into submission to totalitarian communism by the rabid fears of Marxists and Bolsheviks, nor will I be scared into submission by the supposed anti-communists who use their power merely to suppress the working man. To be an American is to not let fear control you, but to grab hold of the reigns of destiny yourself and control yourself”
-Ronald Reagan’s speech to introduce Senator-Elect Douglas to Hollywood
“I knew right then, looking at the reactions of the crowd, looking into my own heart and feeling the welling of my eyes, I knew that the man I loved was going to go on to be far more than just the President of the Actor’s Guild”
-Nancy Reagan quoted in Tinseltown and the Trade Union Disputes
“I didn’t really want to be there at first. My wife had begged me to go though and well, ya know what they say, “Happy Wife, Happy Life”, so I figured an afternoon listening to stuffy old politicians and a chipper actress give some boring speeches wouldn’t be too bad. But man, listening to Reagan speak, I mean, I’d worked with the man before, but this was truly something else.”
-John Ford interviewed by CBS
“I can’t say I particularly enjoyed the speech. It wasn’t anything phenomenal and the man was hardly agreeable. I had found Reagan rather a clever fellow and one of the better Silver Screen men, but this quickly revealed to me that any commitment to individual liberty or the safety of the American dream was, like it so often is for those involved in such movements, just yet another line to read.”
-Ayn Rand interviewed by CBS
“Reagan’s role in the California labor movement cannot be undervalued. While in other cities, unions and advocacy groups were almost banned entirely for supposed ‘Communist sympathies’ this was simply not the case in Los Angeles. Reagan’s charismatic smile and willingness to work with authorities brokered an uneasy peace. Yes, many innocents were often detained on mere accusation or rumor, but the Screen Actor’s Guild and many other cinematic trades unions could continue operating. Many argued at the time and indeed some still do, that, through moderation and lawfulness, unions could gain much by being led by men like Reagan.”
-Excerpt from Tinseltown and the Trade Union Disputes
“ACTOR RONALD REAGAN BEGINS WORK WITH SENATOR DOUGLAS”
- “The Los Angeles Daily News” January 1950
“It seemed natural at the time. He had seen a great deal of success already and I could see ambition in his eyes, and so when he asked me if I would follow him to Washington if he got involved there, I promised him I would. This whole time was a whirlwind for both of us as we went from actors to social celebrities to politicians. It was quite a change for both of us to say the least, but I suppose those who grab on to a shooting star have to get used to being dragged along”
-Nancy Reagan, quoted from a draft of a biography on Ronald Reagan
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