Ronald Wilson Reagan: February 6, 1911 - June 5, 2004
Here, "Shotgun Tom" Kelly pays tribute to America's fortieth President (1981-1989) by presenting his memories of meeting President Ronald Reagan, including official White House photographs taken during "Shotgun Tom's" visit in 1987. Click "enlarge" to see the photo and read the story. (Most enlargements are 30k. You must have Javascript enabled!)
![Ronald Reagan and "Shotgun Tom" Kelly](javascript:popUp('http://shotguntomkelly.com/photos/reagan1med.jpg', 410, 470, '"Shotgun Tom" Kelly enters the Oval Office from the West Wing hallway and meets President Reagan with his trademark ranger hat in hand. Shotgun says: "President Reagan gets up from behind his big Presidential desk and walks over to the Shell Top bookcase and says "Well Shotgun, I hear you entertained the crowd waiting to hear my speech at Fashion Valley in San Diego." I said "Yes Mr. President it was a pleasure."')) enlarge |
![Ronald Reagan, "Shotgun" Tom Kelly and Congressman Duncan Hunter](javascript:popUp('http://shotguntomkelly.com/photos/reagan2med.jpg', 400, 450, 'It was November 9th 1987 in the Oval Office of The White House when President Ronald Reagan, "Shotgun Tom" Kelly and Congressman Duncan Hunter were in front of the Shell Top Bookcase, as seen in this picture. President Reagan is holding the "Shotgun Tom" ranger hat in his hand, just after Shotgun said "This is my trademark Ranger Hat and I bring it to you as a gift."')) enlarge |
![Ronald Reagan and](javascript:popUp('http://shotguntomkelly.com/photos/reaganmed.jpg', 500, 600, 'The White House photographer took this now famous picture with both of us wearing my ranger hat. I remember thinking to myself "What am I going to say to the leader of the free world, I\'m just a radio guy" then it hit me, talk about what you know, radio and broadcasting. I said "Mr. President I have a microphone collection and some of my favorite mics are the RCA 77DX and the RCA 44BX." The President smiled and was so happy to talk about his radio job. Still wearing our "Shotgun Tom" Kelly ranger hats he said, "Yes, I used to use those mics myself when I was a sportscaster in Iowa recreating away baseball games in the studio." We went on and on for about ten minutes talking about broadcasting. You\'re only supposed to have five minutes with the President but, I was not about to stop the President from speaking. Ronald Reagan was kind and gracious to me that day, November 9th 1987. I will always have fond memories of his wonderful stories and the opportunity to stand next to The Great Communicator. Michael Reagan had his father sign the bottom of this picture for me.')) enlarge |
![Letter from the White House](javascript:popUp('http://shotguntomkelly.com/photos/reagan4med.jpg', 400, 550, 'After "Shotgun Tom\'s" visit to the White House, this letter arrived at Shotgun\'s home')) enlarge |
![Ronald Reagan's final San Diego appearance](javascript:popUp('http://shotguntomkelly.com/photos/reagan5med.jpg', 400, 450, 'This was the President\'s Last San Diego appearance at the Downtown San Diego community Concourse, which was on all the networks where he said "Let\'s win this one for the Gipper." "Shotgun Tom" was the MC.')) enlarge |