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Michael Reagan

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For other people named Michael Reagan, see Michael Reagan (disambiguation).
Michael Reagan
Born
John Flaugher

(1945-03-18) March 18, 1945 (age 79)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materArizona State University
(first semester drop-out)
OccupationRadio talk show host
Spouse(s)
Pamela Gail Putnam
​
​
(m. 1970⁠–⁠1971)​

Colleen Sterns
​
(m. 1975)​
ChildrenCameron[1] and Ashley Reagan[2]
Parent(s)Irene Flaugher Lange (1916-1986) John Bourgholtzer (d. 1993) (adoptive)
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)
Jane Wyman (1917–2007)

Michael Edward Reagan (born John Flaugher; March 18, 1945 aka John Bourgholtzer Jr.) is an author and former radio host. His nationally syndicated radio show, The Michael Reagan Talk Show, aired on stations throughout the United States on the Premiere Radio Networks. After Premiere dropped the show, it was picked by Radio America. The show later moved to American Family Radio for about 4 months. The show is no longer on the air. He is the adopted son of Ronald Reagan and his first wife Jane Wyman.

Early life

He was born in Los Angeles, California, to Irene Flaugher (born 1916[3]- died December 26, 1985[4]), an unwed woman from Kentucky[5] who became pregnant through a relationship with U.S. Army corporal John Bourgholtzer (d. 1993). He was adopted by Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman shortly after his birth.[6]

Michael grew up with the Reagan family in Beverly Hills, California, and later nearby Pacific Palisades. He was sent to boarding school when he was six and spent a total of four days per month visiting his father and mother.[7] One childhood story he has told that introduced him to politics was how at the age of 8, he asked his father for a raise in his allowance. At the time, around 1953, his allowance was $1 a week. Ronald Reagan said that since he was paying 90 percent of his earnings to the federal government as income tax, he was not able to increase Michael's allowance. This, according to Michael, was how he was introduced to the subject of tax cuts and how that affected people.[7]

He was expelled from Loyola High School after a short period of time at the school [6] and in 1964 he graduated from the Judson School, a boarding school outside of Scottsdale, Arizona.[8] At his high school graduation, Ronald Reagan introduced himself to his son by saying, "My name is Ronald Reagan. What's yours?" He replied, "I'm your son Mike." "Oh," said Ronald Reagan. "I didn't recognize you."[8][9] He attended Arizona State University for less than one semester and Los Angeles Valley College.[10][11] but never graduated.

Career

Sometime prior to September 1970, Reagan was working as a salesman for the clothing company Hart, Schaffner & Marx. He then became a director of special events catering at Michaelson Food Service Company in Los Angeles.[10]

In the mid-1970s Reagan began his radio career with "On Energy". His big break in talk radio started in the Southern California local market as a guest host for radio commentator Michael Jackson's talk radio show slot on KABC 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 with the Premiere Radio Networks, later being dropped from the network. He then went to the Radio America Network where he was once again dropped. His show was then picked-up by the American Family Radio Network for about 4 months and then discontinued. Since that time Michael has focused on public speaking about Ronald Reagan. He also delivers conservative commentary from time to time on cable television news programs such as the Fox News Channel as well as on the Internet for websites such as NewsMax.[12][13]

In 1988, he wrote with Joe Hyams an autobiographical book Michael Reagan: On The Outside Looking In.[7] In 2005 he wrote "Twice Adopted" about his feelings of rejection being adopted, parents divorcing and becoming a Born Again Christian.[6]

Reagan interjected his broadcasts with provocative and controversial statements. Reacting to the Mark Foley scandal in 2006, Reagan said, "Any member of Congress who was aware of the sexual emails and protected the congressman should also resign effective immediately."[14]

In June 2008, activist Mark Dice launched a campaign urging people to send letters and DVDs to troops stationed in Iraq which support the theory that the September 11 attacks were an "inside job". "Operation Inform the Soldiers", as Dice has called it, prompted Reagan to comment that Dice should be killed for treason.[15] Reagan said on June 10, 2008: "How about you take Mark Dice out and put him in the middle of a firing range. Tie him to a post, don't blindfold him, let it rip and have some fun with Mark Dice."[16] Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, a liberal/progressive media criticism organization, asked Radio America at the time to explain whether it permits "its hosts to call for murder on the air."[17] Reagan filed a copyright infringement claim to prevent audio clip of him calling for the murder of Dice from circulating the Internet.[16] Dice explained that the use of the audio clip fell under fair use laws, and the clip was evidence of a crime.[16]

After his show was dropped from the Premiere Radio Networks, it was picked up by the Radio America Network. In January 2009, Reagan's show was removed from the Radio America lineup and replaced by Roger Hedgecock.[18]

In April 2013, in a syndicated column, Michael Reagan accused American churches of not fighting hard enough to block same-sex marriage. He also wrote that, in regards to arguments supporting gay marriage, similar arguments could be used to support polygamy, bestiality, and murder. As he wrote: “There is also a very slippery slope leading to other alternative relationships and the unconstitutionality of any law based on morality. Think about polygamy, bestiality, and perhaps even murder."[19] After Reagan wrote the piece, the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center disinvited him as the keynote speaker for a fundraising luncheon.[20]

In 1981 Michael Reagan was accused of felony violations of California securities laws. He was accused by a Los Angeles County district attorney's investigator of soliciting investors in a fraudulent stock scheme and of receiving a commission for the sale of stock when he was not registered as a securities salesman, as required by law. In a second matter, the district attorney's office investigated allegations that Reagan improperly spent money invested by others in a company he operated out of his house in a venture to develop the potential of gasohol, a combination of alcohol and gasoline.[21]

On September 20, 2012 Reagan was sued by Elias Chavando, the founder and creator of the @Reagan.com email service.[22] Reagan and his company, the Reagan Group, along with Tim Kelly and Jay Hoffman, were sued for fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, conversion, breach of partnership agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, promissory estoppel and unjust enrichment, for dealings related to the Reagan Email service.[23]

According to the filings on the case[22] the email service was started by Chavando, Kelly and Reagan. It attracted thousands of subscribers and turned large profits. Chavando said he requested funds for a software upgrade in August 2011, but Kelly allegedly told Chavando that the business had no money. Kelly and Reagan "became very upset" when Chavando discovered that Reagan and Kelly had embezzled money out of the business, leaving the bank accounts empty.[23] Reagan and Kelly then sold the email business to Chicago businessman Anthony Saliba.[23]

Michael Reagan's defense attorney is Max Blecher. Blecher is also known for representing Donald Sterling.[24] In April 2014, Donald Sterling was banned from the NBA for life and fined $2.5 million by the league after Sterling's racist comments were made public.[25] Michael Reagan’s company, The Reagan Group and his business partners are represented by Robert K. Kent, an attorney who specializes in family law.[22]

During the initial days of the trial, Chavando's attorney argued that Reagan and his associates cheated Chavando out of $4 million.[26] The attorney also showed that Reagan sent emails to his partners containing statements that Chavando should be “put in his place.” And another email stated that “I [Michael Reagan] would rather die by the AIDS virus than to be in business with a Mexican.”[27] Another email contained other disparaging and racial remarks about Chavando’s Latino heritage.[28]

Political views

During the 2012 election, Reagan endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman,[29] a pro-choice Congressman.[30]

Personal life

In 1971 Reagan married Pamela Gail Putnam (born 1952). She was the daughter of Duane Putnam, who was then the Atlanta Falcons football line coach.[10] The couple divorced in 1972.[31]

He married Colleen Sterns, an interior decorator, in 1975 at the The Church On The Way.[11] Together, they have two children, son Cameron and daughter Ashley. Reagan and his wife live in the Toluca Lake area of Los Angeles.[12]

Son Cameron Reagan has been arrested several times and charged with crimes including possession of drugs, violence and hitting a police officer.[32]

In January 2011, he called his half-brother Ron Reagan “an embarrassment” for speculating in a memoir that their father suffered from Alzheimer’s disease while president.[33]

References

  1. ^ Mehta, Seema (January 7, 2010). "Reagan grandson arrested in Van Nuys". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  2. ^ Edwards, Anne The Reagans: Portrait of a Marriage. St. Martin's Griffin (2004) ISBN 0312331177.
  3. ^ Genealogy of Campbell Rice (includes Irene Flaugher) Accessed 7/4/2009.
  4. ^ Dougherty, Margot and Lois Armstrong. "Binding Up the Wounds." People Magazine, 29, 11 (1988-03-21).
  5. ^ Archived 2009-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. Kentucky Historical Society (2005)
  6. ^ a b c Reagan, Michael Twice Adopted: An Important Social Commentator Speaks to the Cultural Ailments Threatening America Today. B&H Books (2005) ISBN 0805431446.
  7. ^ a b c Reagan, Michael; Hyams, Joe. Michael Reagan: On the Outside Looking In. Kensington Publishing Corporation, 1988 ISBN 0821723928.
  8. ^ a b Lavin, Cheryl (April 17, 1988). "Family Outcast: A Reagan Son Sadly Remembers Years Of Neglect". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  9. ^ Reagan, Michael; Hyams, Joe (1988). On the Outside Looking In. New York: Zebra. p. 96. ISBN 0821723928.
  10. ^ a b c "Michael Reagan, Governor's Son, to Marry Miss Pamela Putnam". New York Times. Sep 22, 1970. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  11. ^ a b Barrett, Laurence I.; Wallis, Claudia (1981-01-05). "Four Reagans Used to Going Their Own Ways". Time. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Motivational Speakers/Michael Reagan". Premier Speakers Bureau. 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  13. ^ NewsMax Pundits. NewsMax.com.
  14. ^ Beutler, Brian (October 2, 2006). "Conservatives also seek Hastert's resignation". The Raw Story.
  15. ^ "Alex Jones interviews Mark Dice over Mike Reagan death threat constroversy". The Alex Jones Show. Jun 13, 2008. Retrieved Aug 30, 2014. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |episodelink= (help)
  16. ^ a b c "Reagan Files Copyright Claim in Attempt to Get Mark Dice Death Threat Removed". Infowars. Jun 19, 2008. Retrieved Aug 30, 2014.
  17. ^ "Talk Show Host Calls for Murder". FAIR. Jun 24, 2008. Retrieved Aug 30, 2014.
  18. ^ "Roger Hedgecock Goes Daily with Radio America" (Press release). Lubbock, TX: KCBD. October 28, 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  19. ^ Reagan, Michael (April 2, 2013). "Churches: Time to fight back". Ironton Tribune. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  20. ^ Theiss, Evelyn (Apr 5, 2013). "Michael Reagan out as Cleveland Rape Crisis Center speaker after gay marriage comments". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved Nov 13, 2014.
  21. ^ Lindsey, Robert (Feb 11, 1981). "Reagan's Elder Son Being Investigated". New York Times. Retrieved Nov 10, 2014.
  22. ^ a b c Elias Chavando vs. Michael Reagan, Case Number: BC492373 (Los Angeles Superior Court 2014).
  23. ^ a b c Reynolds, Matt (September 20, 2012). "Ousted by Reagan's Son, Entrepreneur Says". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  24. ^ Schrotenboer, Brent (Aug 13, 2014). "Donald Sterling bid to stop Clippers sale rejected". USA Today. Retrieved Aug 17, 2014.
  25. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jones/060810
  26. ^ "Associates and adopted son of Ronald Reagan involved in business cheat scandal". Westside Today. Nov 6, 2014. Retrieved Nov 30, 2014.
  27. ^ Cronin, Melissa (Nov 19, 2014). "Racist Reagan! Son Of Former President Caught In Scandal Over Hateful Rants About 'Mexican A**holes' & Muslims". Radar. Retrieved Nov 30, 2014.
  28. ^ Schreiber, John (Nov 5, 2014). "Lawsuit alleges Ronald Reagan's adopted son cheated businessman out of $4 million". MyNewsLA. Retrieved Nov 30, 2014.
  29. ^ Reed, Mark (Jul 28, 2014). "Calling the National Guard to California-Arizona-Mexico Border Pt 1". Patch. Retrieved Aug 27, 2014.
  30. ^ "Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif., 27th)". The Hill. Feb 23, 2010. Retrieved Aug 27, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ Boyle, Louise (December 31, 2012). "'You'll never get in trouble if you say I love you once a day': Ronald Reagan's touching letter to son on eve of his wedding". Daily Mail. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  32. ^ "LA Police: Cameron Reagan, Ronald Reagan's Grandson, Arrested". Huffington Post. January 7, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  33. ^ Hohmann, James (Jan 15, 2011). "Mike Reagan calls brother, Ron Reagan, an 'embarrassment'". Politico. Retrieved Oct 15, 2014.
Preceded by
None
 Host of Lingo
1987–1988 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

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