FiremanRichFORMER President Ronald Reagan feared that his Irish roots might endanger his political career during election in 1980 .
Ronald Reagan was appealing to the right-wing element in the Republican Party for support. The Democrats traditionally played more to the Irish side.
Ronald Reagan didn’t want to change his package at the last minute. They kept it quiet. When he became president he said, ‘Now I will be happy to embrace my Irishness. I will come to the embassy on St. Patrick’s Day.’”
Dr. Garret FitzGerald, a former Irish prime minister, says that once Reagan discovered his roots he genuinely embraced them.
topgoldI flew things into places that made the Reagan Doctrine work. Years later I discover Ronald Reagan didn't want to associate much with his Irish past.
play0:00 / 4:50In his, February 6, 1985, State of the Union address, President Ronald Reagan defines some of the key concepts of his foreign policy, est...