The Republican primary circus has GOP voters pining for the good old days of Ronald Reagan.

But neither Reagan nor his second coming will be taking the stage in Cleveland at the Republican National Convention this July.

However, 30 years ago today, Reagan addressed the American people as the United States attacked Libya.

Military action is no laughing matter, but the late Phil Hartman’s impersonation of Reagan in a 1986 episode of “Saturday Night Live” is.

So in honor of the godfather of Republican tax-cut plans—who wasn’t known as the smartest president in American history (see here, here and here)—we remember President Reagan, the mastermind.

—Posted by Eric Ortiz

Rock Solid Journalism

In 2026, amid chaos and the nonstop flurry of headlines, Truthdig remains independent, fact-based and focused on exposing what power tries to hide.

Support Independent Journalism.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG