Cultural depictions of Ronald Reagan

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Cultural depictions of Ronald Reagan" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

|  |

This article is part of
a series about

Ronald Reagan

|

* * *

Entertainment and personal

* Filmography
* Bibliography
* Speeches and debates
* Death
* Eponyms
* Honors
* Depictions
* music
* Residences
* Birthplace of Ronald Reagan
* Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home
* Rancho del Cielo
* 668 St. Cloud Road

* * *

33rd Governor of California

* Governorship
* 1969 People's Park protest
* Elections
* 1966
* 1970

* * *

40th President of the United States

* Presidency
* timeline
* Transition
* Inaugurations
* first inauguration
* second inauguration
* Presidential library

* * *

Tenure

* Assassination attempt
* Invasion of Grenada
* Bombing of Libya
* Iran–Contra affair
* AIDS epidemic
* Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
* Polls
* Scandals
* Reagan era

* * *

Policies

* Domestic
* Economy
* Foreign
* Reagan Doctrine
* international trips

* * *

Appointments

* Federal judges
* O'Connor
* Rehnquist
* Scalia
* Bork
* Kennedy
* Supreme Court candidates

* * *

Presidential campaigns

* 1968
* primaries
* convention
* 1976
* primaries
* convention
* 1980
* election
* primaries
* convention
* debates
* States' rights speech
* Reagan coalition
* 1984
* election
* primaries
* convention
* debates

* * *

* v
* t
* e

Ronald Reagan has been variously depicted in popular culture since he was elected president in 1980. Reagan also appeared numerous times in popular fiction, particularly in his role as U.S. president in the 1980s.

## Film and television

[edit]

* Rap Master Ronnie: A Report Card, a satirical depiction of Reagan's presidency aired as a Cinemax Comedy Experiment
* Spitting Image, a satirical British puppet show featuring Reagan
* The Day Reagan Was Shot, a 2001 film about the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan
* The Reagans, a 2003 television film about Ronald Reagan and his family
* Reagan, a 2011 documentary film about the presidency of Ronald Reagan
* The Butler, a 2013 film about an African-American butler who bore witness to the presidency of Ronald Reagan
* Killing Reagan, a 2016 television film about the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan
* The Reagans, a 2020 documentary broadcast on Showtime in four parts.
* Reagan, a 2024 film starring Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan.[1][2][3]

Reagan appeared as one of the fictional supporting characters in the Inhumanoids episode "The Surma Plan" as president of the United States. Upon learning that the Soviet leadership were planning an Earth-threatening attack on the lair of the Inhumanoid leader Metlar, Reagan first suggested that they contact the Soviets. After being advised that the Soviets wouldn't listen he instead contacted the Earth Corps to stop the Soviet mission that could end up destroying the planet itself. He later expressed gratitude to the Earth Corps for stopping the Soviet plan. Reagan was portrayed by voice actor Neil Ross.

In the second season of the television series Fargo, Reagan (Bruce Campbell) makes a stop during his second presidential campaign in 1979 in the titular town; Campbell previously appeared in the 1996 film Fargo on a television screen and credited as "Soap Opera TV Star"; the season retroactively establishes this character as Reagan from his former career as an actor.[4]

In the film Back to the Future (1985), Reagan is referenced when in 1955, Doc Brown mocks Marty McFly after Marty tells him Reagan will be president in 1985, because Reagan was still an actor in 1955. Reagan was referenced earlier in the film when his name appeared on a theater marquee.

Also, in Back to the Future Part II (1989), Reagan has his own Max Headroom style AI that speaks in his voice and stutters just like Max, and serves as a waiter in the Cafe 80s who gets interrupted by the AI of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who tries to tell Marty McFly to order the "Hostage Special" instead of the Cajun Style Mesquite Grilled Sushi that Reagan tells McFly about before he tells both of them that all he wants is a Pepsi-Cola.

In the China, IL episode "Rewind, Pause, Pay!", Regan is featured as a time traveler who seeks revenge on Professor Steve Smith for doing impressions of him for a telent show.

In the Smiling Friends episode "Frowning Friends", the character Mr. Boss has a meeting with his "financial advisors" — caricatures of Ronald Reagan (voiced by Zach Hadel) along with Warren Buffett and Mr. Peanut — only for them to turn out to be hallucinations. Reagan is also implied to have lost the 1980 United States presidential election in the later episode "Mr. President", with it being stated that a "Shrimpo Jones" had won that year in a landslide victory.

## Literature

[edit]

### Comics

[edit]

Ronald Reagan met Captain America in Marvel Comics, would become the paranormal hero "Teflon" in New Universe and was even depicted as the star of the Solsons' Comics series Reagans Raiders, in 1987.[5]

Marvel Transformers UK Annual 1985 contained a story called "Plague of the Insecticons". Optimus Prime lead Prowl and Warpath to a meeting with President Ronald Reagan in Washington D.C. to open a dialog between the Autobots and the US government. The evil Insecticons attack the US military in the name of the Autobots hoping to derail the peace talks. Although the Autobots managed to chase off the Insecticons Optimus Prime gave up on explaining the misunderstanding to Reagan, thinking he would never be believed. Reagan had been ready to hear what Optimus had to say and was disappointed they gave up so easily.[6] In 1986, Ronald Reagan made an appearance in volume 1, issue 8, of the DC Comics series Booster Gold.

Reagan would also make an appearance in Strontium Dog, a long running strip in the British comic 2000 AD. In the storyline 'Bitch' (Progs 505–529, 1987), he is kidnapped and held hostage by time travelling alien freedom fighters. The Reagan of this story is depicted as somewhat bumbling and not at all aware of what is happening; despite all evidence to the contrary, he maintains the opinion throughout that he has been kidnapped by the 'Commies'.[7]

In the 1986 miniseries The Dark Knight Returns, Superman is an operative for the United States government, covertly fighting Soviet forces in Latin America and serving as the president's right-hand man. Though unnamed, this president bears an identical resemblance to Reagan, who was in office when the comic was published. He also possesses Reagan's folksy way of speaking.

Reagan was also a key character in the satirical comic strip Benchley by Mort Drucker and Jerry Dumas. The plot revolved around the fictive character Benchley who served as Reagan's assistant.

### Web original

[edit]

On the collaborative fiction writing website SCP Foundation, Ronald Reagan is depicted in SCP-1981, an anomalous VHS tape that depicts the president giving corrupted versions of his Evil Empire speech while accompanied by a black hooded figure, all while being gradually mutilated by an unseen force until he is unable to continue speaking. The tape changes in content every time it is viewed.[8] The real-life Reagan of the SCP universe was said to have developed an unhealthy obsession and chronic nightmares with SCP-1981 after being shown the tape, and developed Alzheimer's Disease after Secret Service agents' unqualified attempt at inducing a drug-induced amnesia using amnestics stolen from the SCP Foundation.[9]

## Music

[edit]

Main article: Ronald Reagan in music

Reagan is the subject of many songs.[10]

## Toys

[edit]

In 2020, Amazo Toys ran a successful Kickstarter campaign for the United States Space Force Action Figures. The basic 4 inch tall action figure for the Space Force Red team came with six head options, one of which was the Ghost of Ronald Reagan. In the series fiction the Ghost of Ronald Reagan is part of the Space Force Red team, led by Donald Trump, which is teamed up with the Space Force Blue team to right the Russian Space Agency.

A second Kickstarter campaign by Amazo Toys was American Presidents Action Figure Collection which included a Ronald Reagan figure with two alternate heads.

## Video games

[edit]

* Reagan was featured as easter egg in 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City where he was seen in a poster shooting then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.[11] He is also mentioned on the radio in the game and is also mentioned in the 2006 prequel game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
* On August 26, 2020, in the worldwide reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Reagan is the president of the United States in the campaign.[12] He is voiced by Jeff Bergman.
* In the video game Wasteland 3, a digitized AI brain scan of Ronald Reagan is displayed on a computer screen similar to how Max Headroom was often depicted.[13]

## Postage stamps

[edit]

After Reagan's death, the United States Postal Service issued a President Ronald Reagan commemorative postage stamp in 2005.[14]

## See also

[edit]

* "What would Reagan do?" is a phrase that has become popular, primarily among conservatives and Republicans in the United States.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bond, Paul (November 5, 2018). "'Reagan' Movie Starring Dennis Quaid Finds Major Funding". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
2. ^ Bond, Paul (June 20, 2018). "Dennis Quaid to Play Ronald Reagan in New Biopic". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
3. ^ "Dennis Quaid Starrer 'Reagan' Strikes North American Deal With Newly Launched ShowBiz Direct". Deadline Hollywood. March 26, 2024. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
4. ^ Ausiello, Michael (March 24, 2015). "Fargo Elects Bruce Campbell to Play Ronald Reagan in Season 2". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
5. ^ "Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Reagan's Raiders". www.toonopedia.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
6. ^ "Plague of the Insecticons! @ tfwiki.net- The Transformers Wiki]". tfwiki.net. Archived from the original on 2021-03-14. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
7. ^ "2000 AD: Titles S". www.2000ad.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
8. ^ Digiwizzard (9 May 2021). "SCP-1981 - "RONALD REAGAN CUT UP WHILE TALKING"". SCP Foundation. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
9. ^ Smapti (15 May 2012). "Dr. Robinson's Statement". SCP Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
10. ^ Segal, David (June 13, 2004). "Pop's Reagan Record: Sound & Fury". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
11. ^ Sahbegovic, Alan. "Top 5 Easter Eggs and references in GTA Vice City". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
12. ^ "CoD: Black Ops Cold War Features Ronald Reagan With New And Old Characters". GameSpot. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
13. ^ "Meet the people who will make your life miserable in a new Wasteland 3 trailer". Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
14. ^ "Postmaster General, Nancy Reagan unveil Ronald Reagan stamp image, stamp available next year" (Press release). USPS. November 9, 2004. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2007.

* v
* t
* e

Ronald Reagan

* 40th President of the United States (1981–1989)
* 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975)

Life and
politics|

* Birthplace
* Pitney Store
* Boyhood home
* General Electric Showcase House
* Rancho del Cielo
* 668 St. Cloud Road
* Filmography
* Political positions
* Governorship of California
* Presidential Library and Museum
* Reagan era
* Official White House portraits
* 1989 trip to Japan
* Death and state funeral
* Riderless horse

Presidency|

* Transition
* First inauguration
* Second inauguration
* Domestic policy
* Economic policy
* Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981
* Tax Reform Act of 1986
* Assassination attempt
* Strategic Defense Initiative
* Foreign policy
* Reagan Doctrine
* Cold War
* 1st term
* 2nd term
* Soviet Union summits
* Geneva
* Reykjavík
* Washington
* INF Treaty
* Moscow
* Governors Island
* Constructive engagement
* Invasion of Grenada
* Iran–Contra affair
* Libya bombing
* Cannabis policy
* International trips
* The Grace Commission
* Cabinet
* Judicial appointments
* Supreme Court
* controversies
* Administration scandals
* "We begin bombing in five minutes"
* Impeachment efforts
* Executive orders
* Presidential proclamations
* Bush transition

Speeches|

* Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine (1961)
* "A Time for Choosing" (1964)
* Neshoba County Fair "states' rights" speech (1980)
* First inaugural address (1981)
* Joint session of Congress (1981)
* "Ash heap of history" (1982)
* "Evil empire" (1983)
* Second inaugural address (1985)
* "Tear down this wall!" (1987)
* State of the Union
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988

Books|

* An American Life
* The Reagan Diaries

Elections|

* 1966 California gubernatorial election
* 11th commandment
* 1970 California gubernatorial election
* Republican presidential primaries (1968
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984)
* Republican National Convention (1968
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984)
* 1976 presidential campaign
* 1980 presidential campaign
* "There you go again"
* "Let's make America great again"
* 1984 presidential campaign
* "Morning in America"
* "Bear in the woods"
* United States presidential election (1976
* 1980
* 1984)

Cultural
depictions|

* Bibliography
* In music
* Let Them Eat Jellybeans! (1981)
* U.S. Postage stamps
* Rap Master Ronnie
* Ed the Happy Clown (1983 comic series)
* Spitting Image (TV series) (1984)
* A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985 game)
* The Dark Knight Returns (1986)
* film adaptation
* Pizza Man (1991 film)
* The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001 film)
* Reagan's War (2002 book)
* The Reagans (2003 film)
* Reagan (2011 documentary)
* The Butler (2013 film)
* Killing Reagan (2015 book)
* Killing Reagan (2016 film)
* Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020 game)
* The Reagans (2020 miniseries)
* Reagan (2024 film)
* Reykjavik (TBA)

Memorials|

* U.S. Capitol statue
* Namesakes and memorials
* Ronald Reagan Day
* Reagan Day Dinner
* USS Ronald Reagan
* Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
* Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
* Virginia statue
* Budapest statue
* Ronald Reagan Monument, Warshaw

Family|

* Jane Wyman (first wife)
* Nancy Reagan (second wife)
* Maureen Reagan (daughter)
* Michael Reagan (adopted son)
* Patti Davis (daughter)
* Ron Reagan (son)
* Jack Reagan (father)
* Nelle Wilson Reagan (mother)
* Neil Reagan (brother)
* Rex (dog)

Related|

* "What would Reagan do?"

* ← Jimmy Carter
* George H. W. Bush →
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Transformers

* Hasbro
* Takara Tomy

Toy lines|

* Generation 1
* Generation 2
* Beast Wars
* Shattered Glass
* Prime Wars Trilogy
* Power of the Primes
* War for Cybertron Trilogy

| Predecessors|

* Microman
* Diaclone

|

Unicron Trilogy|

* Armada
* Energon
* Cybertron

Crossovers|

* Built to Rule
* Attacktix
* Star Wars Transformers
* Kre-O

Related|

* GoBots
* Rock Lords
* Battle Beasts

Media|

* Comic series
* Void Rivals
* Animated series
* Books
* Audio releases
* Live-action film series
* Transformers One
* The Transformers: The Movie

Video games|

| Generation 1|

* The Transformers
* Battle to Save the Earth
* Mystery of Convoy
* G1: Awakening
* Devastation

|

Other|

* Beast Wars
* Beast Wars Transmetals
* Transformers (2004)
* Animated: The Game
* Prime – The Game

Cybertron series|

* War for Cybertron
* Nintendo DS
* Cybertron Adventures
* Fall of Cybertron
* Rise of the Dark Spark

Crossovers|

* DreamMix TV World Fighters
* Smite
* Angry Birds Transformers
* Fortnite

Characters|

| Autobots|

* Optimus Prime
* Bumblebee
* Arcee
* Cliffjumper
* Grimlock
* Jazz
* Jetfire
* Sentinel Prime
* Sideswipe
* Ultra Magnus
* Windblade

|

Decepticons|

* Megatron
* Sentinel Prime
* Soundwave
* Starscream

Other|

* Dinobot (Beast Wars)
* Unicron

Fan engagement|

* Auto Assembly
* BotCon
* Hall of Fame
* TFcon
* Transformers (sculptures)

* Category

## See also

[edit]

* Cultural depictions of Margaret Thatcher

Index of articles associated with the same name

This set index article includes a list of related items that share the same name (or similar names).
If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template