Cultural depictions of Ronald Reagan

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 (film), a 2016 television film about the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan
The Reagans, a 2020 documentary broadcast on Showtime in four parts.
Reagan, an upcoming film starring Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan scheduled for release on August 30, 2024.^[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 1995 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 first film of Back to the Future, Reagan is referenced heavily in the first part of the movie, in which 1955 Doc Brown mocks Marty McFly after he answered Reagan was the president, as at 1955, Reagan was still an actor, referenced earlier in the film when his name appeared on a theater on the background.

Also, in Back to the Future Part 2, 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.

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]

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 version 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]

References[edit]

^ Bond, Paul (November 5, 2018). "'Reagan' Movie Starring Dennis Quaid Finds Major Funding". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
^ Bond, Paul (June 20, 2018). "Dennis Quaid to Play Ronald Reagan in New Biopic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
^ "Dennis Quaid Starrer 'Reagan' Strikes North American Deal With Newly Launched ShowBiz Direct". Deadline Hollywood. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
^ 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.
^ "Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Reagan's Raiders". www.toonopedia.com.
^ "Plague of the Insecticons! @ tfwiki.net- The Transformers Wiki]". tfwiki.net.
^ "2000 AD: Titles S". www.2000ad.org.
^ Digiwizzard (9 May 2021). "SCP-1981 - "RONALD REAGAN CUT UP WHILE TALKING"". SCP Foundation.
^ Smapti (15 May 2012). "Dr. Robinson's Statement". SCP Foundation.
^ 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.
^ Sahbegovic, Alan. "Top 5 Easter Eggs and references in GTA Vice City". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
^ "CoD: Black Ops Cold War Features Ronald Reagan With New And Old Characters". GameSpot. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
^ "Meet the people who will make your life miserable in a new Wasteland 3 trailer". Retrieved 22 March 2021.
^ "Postmaster General, Nancy Reagan unveil Ronald Reagan stamp image, stamp available next year" (Press release). USPS. November 9, 2004. Retrieved May 13, 2007.