Talk-show host Reagan will speak at Southeast

Michael Reagan, the son of President Ronald Reagan and a conservative talk-show host, will speak at Southeast Missouri State University Nov. 29, but the event is not expected to be political, organizers say.

"If you want to get away from the political scene, this is the event for you, ironically," said Lucas Presson, president of the Southeast College Republicans, which initiated the process in September of bringing Reagan to campus.

Reagan will speak at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 in the Academic Hall auditorium.

Reagan has been asked to discuss his 2004 book "Twice Adopted," which reveals childhood traumas of dealing with his parents' divorce, being molested at the age of 7 by a camp counselor and being sent to boarding school.

"The book highlights divorce, child abuse, child pornography, gangs and teen crime, fatherless families, educational systems that can fail children and how churches need to reach out and protect children," Presson said.

Presson said that when he read the book a year and a half ago, he expected to read about politics but was surprised to learn it focused mainly on social issues and faith.

Adopted by Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman shortly after birth, Michael Reagan describes in his book how he was adopted again by God later in life, giving the book its title.

"He talks about his faith a lot and the faith of his father and how churches can plug in dealing with these issues," Presson said. For this reason, event organizers are heavily promoting the speech to churches.

While many people recognize Michael Reagan because of his father, Presson said Michael Reagan is notable in his own right. "The Michael Reagan Show" is aired daily across the nation, and Reagan wrote the books "On the Outside Looking In" and "The Common Sense of an Uncommon Man: The Wit, Wisdom and Eternal Optimism of Ronald Reagan."

The event is free, and doors will open at 7 p.m. for seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The auditorium seats 1,200 people, Presson said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123