Michael Reagan

Michael Edward Reagan, born John Charles Flaugher on March 18, 1945, is an American conservative political commentator and former radio talk show host. He is known for his work as a columnist for Newsmax and for his association with the Republican Party. Reagan is the adopted son of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, and actress Jane Wyman.

Early Life:

Reagan was born at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles. His birth mother was Essie Irene Flaugher, an unmarried woman from Kentucky, born on October 18, 1916. She became pregnant through her relationship with John Bourgholtzer, a U.S. Army corporal born in 1918. Shortly after his birth, Reagan was adopted by Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. He was expelled from Loyola High School after a brief tenure there and graduated from the Judson School, a boarding school near Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1964.

Educational Background:

Reagan attended Arizona State University for less than one semester and also studied at Los Angeles Valley College. He did not obtain a college degree.

Family and Early Notoriety:

In 1965, the FBI warned Ronald Reagan that he had discovered Michael's association with the son of organized crime boss Joseph Bonanno during an investigation. The potential political implications of this association prompted Reagan to advise his son to cease such links.

Professional Career:

Before September 1970, Reagan worked as a clothing salesman for Hart, Schaffner, & Marx and later as director of special events catering at Michaelson Food Service Company in Los Angeles. In 1981, he was employed as a salesman at Industrial Circuits, a circuit board manufacturer owned by Robert Herring Sr.

Acting and Media:

Reagan participated in small roles in movies and television from 1985 onward, including appearances on "Falcon Crest," a series starring his mother, Jane Wyman. In 1987, he hosted the first season of the television game show "Lingo."

Radio:

His radio career began as a guest host for Michael Jackson's talk radio show on KABC in Los Angeles. He subsequently hosted a talk show on KSDO radio in San Diego and later syndicated "The Michael Reagan Show" across national networks such as Premiere Networks and Radio America during the 2000s. His media activities later included public speaking about his father.

Authorship:

In 1988, Reagan co-authored an autobiography titled "Michael Reagan: On the Outside Looking In," in which he disclosed that he was sexually abused at age seven by a camp counselor. In 2005, he published "Twice Adopted," reflecting on his feelings of rejection related to his adoption, parents’ divorce, and his religious conversion to born-again Christianity.

Political Commentary:

Reagan has expressed conservative views on various issues. In April 2013, he criticized American churches for not resisting same-sex marriage more actively, comparing arguments supporting gay marriage to supporting polygamy, bestiality, and murder, citing a "slippery slope." In June 2008, he called for the execution of Mark Dice, who launched a campaign suggesting that the September 11 attacks were an inside job. Reagan also supported profiling in security matters, advocating for citizens' self-defense against terrorist threats, and publicly discussed his political endorsements, initially opposing Donald Trump in 2016 and later voting for him in 2020 and 2024.

Legal History:

In 1981, Reagan was accused of violating California securities laws related to stock arrangements and the misuse of investor funds concerning his business, Agricultural Energy Resources. He was later cleared of charges. In 2012, Reagan and partners were sued for purportedly withholding a partner’s interest in an email-based business involving the Reagan.com domain. In 2015, a court found Reagan liable for conversion and breach of fiduciary duty, awarding damages.

Personal Life:

Reagan has been married twice. His first marriage was to Pamela Gail Putnam in June 1971; they divorced in 1972. He married Colleen Sterns, an interior decorator, in 1975. The couple has two children, Cameron and Ashley. They reside in the Toluca Lake area of Los Angeles. In 2011, Reagan made headlines by remarking on his adoptive brother Ron Reagan’s comments regarding Ronald Reagan’s health, calling him "an embarrassment" for suggesting that their father had Alzheimer’s disease while president.

External Links:

- Appearances on C-SPAN

- Michael Reagan at IMDb