Ronaldus Magnus or Ronaldus Maximus (Ronald Reagan’s presidential years)
Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981-1989). Many conservatives look back on Reagan’s presidency as a halcyon time for conservatism. Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has called Ronald Reagan’s presidency, in the mock Latin for a Roman ruler, the reign of “Ronaldus Magnus” or “Ronaldus Maximus.”
“Ronaldus Magnus” has been cited in print since at least 1992 and “Ronaldus Maximus” has been cited in print since at least 1993. Both terms were used extensively in 2011 (Reagan’s 100th birthday).
Wikipedia: Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan /ˈreɪɡən/ (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989), the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975) and prior to that, a radio, film and television actor.
Reagan was born in Tampico in Whiteside County, Illinois, reared in Dixon in Lee County, Illinois, and educated at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and sociology. Upon his graduation, Reagan first moved to Iowa to work as a radio broadcaster and then in 1937 to Los Angeles, California. He began a career as an actor, first in films and later television, appearing in over 50 movie productions and earning enough success to become a famous, publicly recognized figure. Some of his most notable roles are in Knute Rockne, All American and Kings Row. Reagan served as president of the Screen Actors Guild, and later spokesman for General Electric (GE); his start in politics occurred during his work for GE. Originally a member of the Democratic Party, he switched to the Republican Party in 1962. After delivering a rousing speech in support of Barry Goldwater’s presidential candidacy in 1964, he was persuaded to seek the California governorship, winning two years later and again in 1970. He was defeated in his run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 as well as 1976, but won both the nomination and election, defeating incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980.
As president, Reagan implemented sweeping new political and economic initiatives. His supply-side economic policies, dubbed “Reaganomics,” advocated reducing tax rates to spur economic growth, controlling the money supply to reduce inflation, deregulation of the economy, and reducing government spending. In his first term he survived an assassination attempt, took a hard line against labor unions, and ordered military actions in Grenada. He was reelected in a landslide in 1984, proclaiming it was “Morning in America.” His second term was primarily marked by foreign matters, such as the ending of the Cold War, the 1986 bombing of Libya, and the revelation of the Iran-Contra affair. Publicly describing the Soviet Union as an “evil empire,” he supported anti-Communist movements worldwide and spent his first term forgoing the strategy of détente by ordering a massive military buildup in an arms race with the USSR. Reagan negotiated with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, culminating in the INF Treaty and the decrease of both countries’ nuclear arsenals.
Reagan left office in 1989. In 1994, the former president disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease earlier in the year; he died ten years later at the age of 93. He ranks highly in public opinion polls of U.S. Presidents, and is a conservative icon.
CafePress
Ronaldus Maximus Gifts
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From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (John Switzer)
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 92 19:24:15 GMT
Local: Sat, Jul 11 1992 2:24 pm
Subject: Unofficial Summary for Thursday, July 9, 1992
Rush first met Senator Phil Gramm at the 80th birthday party for “Ronaldus Magnus,” although he has been impressed with Gramm’s economic savvy for years.
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From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (theodore r krueger)
Date: 2 Apr 93 18:58:06 GMT
Local: Fri, Apr 2 1993 1:58 pm
Subject: Re: Shalala/Quayle (was Re: Heavy drinking causes skin rash!)
Voting for Bush/Quayle is only a stoop for those of us who voted for Ronaldus Magnus (President Reagan for you democrats).
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From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Date: 4 Apr 93 02:29:22 -0600
Local: Sun, Apr 4 1993 3:29 am
Subject: Re: 1996 (...and an abortion joke. Read at own risk 😊
Hey, wasn’t Ronaldus Maximus older than Dole when he was elected?
Turns out that he was the greatest we’ve had in quite sometime.
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From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (The Independents - SUNY Buffalo)
Date: Fri, 21 May 1993 23:38:00 GMT
Subject: If your under thirty YOU voted for Ronnie
Ronald Reagan (Ronaldus Maximus) was voted into office TWICE by LANDSLIDES.
Google Books
Making Waves
By Michael Reagan
Nashville, TN: T. Nelson Publishers
1996
Pg. 19:
“No” to Ronaldus Magnus
After l had been on American Entertainment Network for a little less than a year, l began hearing about a letter my dad had written to another talk-show host — a fella by the name of Rush Limbaugh.
Time magazine
A Man. A Legend. A What!?
By RICHARD CORLISS Sunday, June 24, 2001
(...)
Limbaugh picks his spots. He praises Ronald Reagan (“Ronaldus Magnus”) for everything he likes about the ‘80s and blames the Democratic Congress for everything he hates.
Pittsburgh (PA) Tribune-Review
Bush’s Reagan moment
By Mike Pintek
Thursday, August 17, 2006
When Ronaldus Magnus, as Rush Limbaugh likes to call President Reagan, referred to the Soviet Union as the “Evil Empire,” the Left was apoplectic.
Macleans
Happy 100th birthday, Mr. Reagan!
The late president is getting respect from the GOP—and Obama
by Luiza Ch. Savage on Saturday, February 5, 2011 8:16am
(...)
Rush Limbaugh calls him “Ronaldus Magnus.”