THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
It’s well known that my father was quite focused on anti-communism long before he entered politics. Ronald Reagan’s time as president of the Screen Actors Guild was often used in speaking out against the threat of communism as he (and others) perceived it in Hollywood. So it should come as no surprise that the topic occasionally found its way to the dinner table.
As a child with a flair for the dramatic I got it into my head that there was a real threat of the Russians landing on the beaches of Malibu with the goal of making America more like Russia. Which meant, in my mind, a landscape of somber gray cities and ashen faced people with no joy in their lives. I have no idea how I got the idea that everything in Russia was gray, it’s just the color my over-active imagination chose.
As I got older I found humor in my childishly dramatic projections, and would occasionally share the story with friends as a way of revealing what a quirky imagination I had, even at the age of seven. I have to admit that, these days, I don’t find it so funny anymore. Not that I think boats are going to land in Malibu, or that an entire country will be washed in gray, but the idea of Russia gaining leverage and even dominance over America no longer feels impossible.
In six short months Donald Trump, the president who doesn’t know how to be one, has tipped America off its position as the most powerful country in the world and left us scrambling in the dust, trying to remember who we are and who we are supposed to be on the international stage. David Gergen pointed out how sad and sobering it was to see, at the G-20 summit, that America is no longer the major player. I would add that what is particularly sobering is how quickly power can be dismantled. Our democracy was supposed to be invincible — that’s what many of us had come to believe. But that isn’t true. One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him trippingly into chaos of his own making, can turn a shining city on the hill into a shadowy, taudry replica of itself. Where once we had currency in the world, we are now left holding fool’s gold.
I would just like to point out that I have never seen a group of people acquainted with so many Russians. I’ve met two Russian people in my entire life, and one of them was a refrigerator repair man. The fact that every other person the Trumps know is Russian should have tipped us off a year ago that something was amiss. But I digress.
The almost Shakespearean irony of Donald Trump as president is that his worst fear — that of being ridiculed and disregarded — is precisely what he has created by his own actions. If he was quiet for five minutes he might hear the echo of Putin’s laughter carried on the wind across countries and oceans. But Trump’s ego is a loud, boisterous thing and will never allow him to hear anything that might cause him to reflect.
I hate to end on a chilling note, but I’m going to. Our democracy, and the dignity of America, is wounded and bleeding out. It doesn’t mean that it can’t be restored and healed, but not by this administration. And it will only get worse if those intent on making excuses continue saying that Trump and his extended family are new at this governing thing, and are just bumbling a bit. They know exactly what they’re doing. And so does the rest of the world.
An important warning to our country and all of its citizens.
I am sharing as well…I totally agree and watched CNN or MSNBC when David Gergen talked about the G20 outcome and said that….I worked in the Clinton White House…so it’s horrible everyday to see how our country and Washington, DC is going down….#resist. Thanks Patti.
Thank you so very much for writing about the so obvious circus show that we as Americans are forced to witness every day. No president/human is perfect but this is ridiculous and getting worse and worse every day. God help us all.!
Elxcellent! Thank you! I hope those who are blinded see this and realize the truth! This is in my opinion, a dictatorship! This is how it starts. I came from one, and is a replica. They start with the media, and continue controlling all in our society until they have all the control and power, and we have nothing. Sad, but true.
But how about the Republican Party that voted for him in the election and the rest of the Republicans in Congress that do not share his point of view. Also Fox News and Fox Cable do nothing but spread false rumors and provided endless justification for Trumps behavior. The bottom line is that the Republican Party base and members of Congress need to reconsider their behavior.
Ron, they will not consider their behavior because he is lining their pockets. It is very sad, but true. I did not vote for President Reagan, but he was not a bad president. He is literally turning over in his grave for what he is seeing that has happened to his party today.
A well written letter! Thank you, Patti Reagan!
I will be sharing this and urging all of my social media friends to read and consider the reality of what is being said here, from your keen mind and wonderful heart, and hopefully by now it is even painfully obvious to those among them who have voted for this madness to realize the collective mistake.
Thank you, you’re Father was a great man and great President. I call this president number 45 because he’s doing nothing for the people. Thank you
I applaud that you are a Reagan fan and can acknowledge Trump is no Reagan.
He could NEVER in his wildest dreams hope to be either the man or President that Reagan was. PULEEZE’
I will share also. Very frightening
Beautifully written. True. Sobering.
Wonderful commentary, and chilling. An important read. Thank you.
“Freedom” your father warned, “is only ever a generation away from extinction”, meaning, unless the citizenry remain vigilant, tryranny will triumph. Your piece is a warning, and I could hear echoes of President Reagan in it…he knew all about Russian infiltration into SAG, how insideous a threat that is. Btw, can you imagine your Dad asking you to sit in for him back at the G7 summits?
Thank you for your excellent accurate words I hope many many people read them and take them seriously.
I believe most of us envisioned the Soviet Union of yesteryear, as a cold, dimly lit, gray and nearly wan place to be, with bread lines, stark prisons, murderous leaders and nations without joy or vision. Just the way our own propagandists painted that portrait for us brilliantly, and it worked. Truth is, I never found humor is any of it, and even now, part of me sees them as authoritarian, mob-like dictators, who steal from the poor and the rich, and leave most on the tables of the super rich. Patti, your father brought certain realities home for you and your family to see and experience. In fact, during his years of experience, he witnessed first hand what very few did, and by extension, so did you. For me, I look back with little learning to embrace. I continue to see blundering old and obese oligarchs at the ready to dismantle the goodness that our world has to offer. The great caveat here is that they are not so obese, and they are not so old anymore, and their lust for power and greed is as it always was. The great caveat is Trump, who slept with with them to ingratiate evil and bring great riches to his bank accounts, continues to believe those values sane and righteous.. You write so magnificently, it’s easy to pretend you have given us fiction, when, in fact, you have delivered truths, truths which should send fear through all of America. Shockingly, America seems to shy away from the disasters of the Russian grip on world domination, but I fear it, and I see it. Trump, and his cadre of treasonous idiots, seem to admire that communist verve like a newly tailored sable coat, and we had better wake up; we had better remember the way your father warned us about them, and cherish the way he tore walls down. This is a winner of a piece.
Nicely written, David, agree with all you wrote…many of us feel the same as you but until the GOP stops enabling Trump, I don’t know what else we as his non-supporters can do…thank goodness for the media and the courts, I hope they will be our saviors…
Get involved! Make sure you are registered but work to educate and register others. Call, write and go see your representatives. Protest either in person or written word. And most of all, exercise your precious right to vote!
I have done al of the above. Another thing people can do is to send money to the candidate who want to unseat the Republican congress. I live on a small pension, but I have sent as little as $5 or $10 dollars to the campaigns of responsible candidates. (In Texas: Derrick Crowe is trying to unseat Lamar Smith, an avid climate denier, and Rep. Beto O’Roark has started a grass roots campaign to unseat the famous Senator Ted Cruz.)
Every little bit counts.
Stated perfectly. Nothing to add.
Thanks for your very accurate words
Well said…
Well said!
Great writing Patti and I agree.
[…] speaks volumes, and not in a good way. On Wednesday, Patti wrote on her official website an OpED piece called, “The Russians are coming.”Ms. Davis wrote the […]
Well written, Patti. We don’t have anybody on our side anymore. Who ever thought the American oligarchs would collude with the Russians? The Democrats have all sold out, except for Bernie and he’s just not enough. It’s over.
You’ll always have Canada…we’re joined at the hip.
We are not joined at the hip as long as Donald Trump is president and the formerly conservative GOP remains an out-of-control extremist party based on greed, power and cruelty. Canada is not (yet) like that, and at 1/10th of your population, it is very easy for our values to be influenced by your culture.
We loved Obama, wish he was still in charge. Didn’t agree with all his policies, but he was at least a rational, sane, intelligent president.
Indeed and well said!
Kevin, that is NOT True and you know it. Bernie Sanders is a Socialist Independent idiot who is only looking out for himself. He hasn’t tried hard enough to get any one Democrat elected for any seat within the Senate in a number of States. So go and spew your crap some place else. As long as Bernie is on board trying to make a difference by backing these young to middle age men and woman trying to make it to the Senate, they don’t stand a chance. He too is only in for one other thing, the TOP 1% including himself. Miss Pattie, have a lot of RESPECT FOR YOUR FATHER, I COME FROM A DEMOCRATIC FAMILY AND WE ALL VOTED FOR HIM! PROUD TO HAVE HAD HIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHEN WE DID 🙂
Don’t call Bernie Sanders an idiot . He is trying his dardnest to help people like you to understand what
Is happening to our beautiful country and to get involved , activelyly, financially,prayerfully! At 88 years I
Wish I could be more usefull to him.
We must also remember that although he wasn’t a bad president, he is the one who put through the legislation that the government could BORROW from our social security which they would be obliged to pay back, by the way which they NEVER have. He did open that door and has hurt us working people and retired people immensely. This is something we should never forget.
This has been my concern since Donald Trump took office. I fear our nation will become a satellite of Russia.
Your post was well written and thought provoking. I agree with everything you said!
Gave me goosebumps. Expert marksmanship. Enviable eloquence. Keep writing.
Thank you for this Patti…as the daughter of a Republican president, you have a unique perspective on everything that is going on now, and it is a lot to deal with…I agree with all you said, I have a pretty good idea your dad would too, and I also think he would be proud of you for speaking out…thank you again, God bless.
[…] Davis, daughter of late President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan, penned an open letter Thursday about Donald Trump, and he apparent friendship with the Russians. Davis has called out […]
If only Trump supporters will wake up and just listen to his logic. He makes very weak arguments. Why should world leaders follow his lead. Sadly he listens only to the 35%.Until they wake up he just charges ahead. No strategy, just guided by 38%. Is that a good deal?
Anthony, I agree with you….sadly, from what I can tell, Trump’s supporters do not care what he says or does and they also blame the ‘fake’ news on the liberal media…
I don’t think he is guided by anything but his own ego, self-centeredness and ignorance.
Wonderful writing. Now I have something I can put into words. He does scare the heck out of most people I know.
Cogent commentary, straight to the point, well-written. And you know the history. Thank you.
THANKYOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU. AN INTELLIGENT WELL SPOKEN AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO HAS SEEN AND LIVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE. PATTI KNOWS OF WHAT SHE SPEAKS.
Hi Patty, I came to DC from L.A. with your Dads campaign team; traveled around the world with Maureen and loved your Mom. Your comments are right on. What can we do to save America from being taken over by Russia?
Glad to hear you speaking out.
Patti,
While reading this, I vividly saw those gray cities and hopeless people. You’ve written a wonderfully crafted,chilling warning to us all. Were your father here to see Trump,he would be absolutely furious. Thank you for such a spot-on warning.
Thank you.
Hi Patti,
I never liked your dad or almost anything he did or said but you sound like a reasonable person! But I was never as worried or scared for the country as I am now with this wannabe dictator at the helm of our government. I really like your writing and will look for more of it. I also love and look up to David Gergen, who always speaks with a cool and reasoned head. It’s too bad we don’t have a President with the character and temperament of David! Thank you for this fine letter.
[…] The essay offers a stark reminder of just how far the Republican party has fallen. The full text can be read here. […]
Eleanor clark
Hi patti
I am so glad someone has good sense to say the right against some one in Washington better do something to get this country back where we belong . He has brought nothing but caious since he was elected every day it is something new about him and his stupid tweeting he was not elected to tweet ,but was elected to make our country great again so get going Mr Trump and grow up and do your job.
[…] of progeny: Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, has written a post on her blog entitled “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING.” The former first daughter expresses alarm: “One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him […]
[…] of progeny: Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, has written a post on her blog entitled “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING.” The former first daughter expresses alarm: “One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him […]
[…] of progeny: Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, has written a post on her blog entitled “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING.” The former first daughter expresses alarm: “One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him […]
[…] of progeny: Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, has written a post on her blog entitled “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING.” The former first daughter expresses alarm: “One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him […]
[…] of progeny: Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, has written a post on her blog entitled “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING.” The former first daughter expresses alarm: “One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him […]
[…] of progeny: Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, has written a post on her blog entitled “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING.” The former first daughter expresses alarm: “One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him […]
“One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him trippingly into chaos of his own making, can turn a shining city on the hill into a shadowy, taudry replica of itself.”
.. especially when assisted by men who have abandoned principle for politics, America for avarice and decency for demonising anyone who seeks to guide them back to being the leaders they ought to be.
Thank you! My only hope is that some people in Grand Old Party will recognize what they use to be and stand up for the U.S.A.
This resonates so closely from me, albeit from a more common level. My parents were in the John Birch Society in the early 70s and I grew up terrified that the Soviets were coming to shoot us all – or at least to strip Americans of their freedom, and turn our world gray, too. My parents eventually left the JBS when they couldn’t make excuses for their racism, anti-Catholicism, rage and small-mindedness any more. They moved abroad and discovered that the right-wing view of the world was all a big, crazy, ignorant delusion.
I am shocked that the same sort of people who populated my childhood with tales of Russian terror are now making excuses for Trump. They are siding with him against their own country, and against so much evidence that his intentions are entirely selfish and untrustworthy. Nevertheless they not only hand over their trust, they despise those who cannot.
Lots of people talk about the lack of education in the USA, that too many people people think their beliefs are more important than facts. But plenty of Americans from disadvantaged backgrounds can see Trump for the sham that he is. It looks to me more and more like Trump supporters are coming from a lack of honesty and goodwill towards people who don’t agree with them. It’s more an attitude problem than an education problem. So the return to honor, honesty, basic human respect, and the value of decency, and crucially the belief in those things, that your father represented so well, is the only factor that can unite a divided country. I honestly don’t know how that can happen while this administration represents the opposit.
I’m so terribly concerned with the very intelligent people who still follow Trump. It’s hard to believe that they really can’t see the forest before the trees…What are they thinking when he has done everything wrong and they continue to make excuses for his lose lips and arrogant ways. This is our United States! This is not his personal playground! Somebody, please put a halt to his crap!
This is my comment in the form of a poem/song
https://soundcloud.com/mertona/heartless-artless-deals
BRAVO!!!!! that goes for both parties. this country is sinking and all of you people in government re part of the plot! to make excuses for this fool in chief and his family and people appointed is to be a part of the plot! Is disgusting and disappointing!
[…] We saved the most scathing for last. Remember Ronald Reagan? Remember his views towards Russia? It seems many Republicans have forgotten, so here is none other than Ronald Reagan's daughter Patti Davis, doing her best to remind them: […]
Thank you for speaking out. To halt this alarming slide into authoritarianism we need people with knowledge and integrity to speak against what is happening. The GOP is utterly spineless. It has allowed itself to be subverted and even corrupted, and our democracy is now at stake. We need to fight it with all we’ve got.
[…] How can you tell when you’ve failed as a Republican? When the daughter of your party’s dearest and most treasured icon denounces you as a travesty of e…! […]
So articulate and on point. I have very real fear and anxiety for my grandson born yesterday and my nine other grandchildren. How long before we ‘cut bait’ and create a path back to respectability and stability? How long?
[…] Davis, the daughter of the late President Ronald Reagan, and a deeply conservative political voice, wrote in her […]
[…] finally, Patti Davis, Ronald Reagan’s daughter, has a blog — and wants us to know that “our democracy, […]
Donald Trump is completely okay with trusting Russians he has been doing business with for many years. He sees them as an asset to his financial betterment. He does not see the reality for our country in trusting them. Big error on his part and unfortunately for the United States of America which he mistakenly tries to drag along on his agenda of making us economically great. He hasn’t a clue of how to govern and is doing great harm to our way of life instead of making it better. I agree with Patti in that he knows perfectly well what he is doing in being compliant with Russia’s interests. Horror of horror for us all!
You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. Thank you for speaking out. How have the Republicans drifted so far from the ideology of Ronald Reagan? They have sold their souls to the devil to be supporting this sham of a president. We desperately need members of Congress to be driven by conscience, principles and patriotism, not small-minded petty partisan politics.
Wow! thank you for putting light in the shadows created by the Trumpanos – I’m your fan now
Thank you and yes no matter who we are otherwise we are Americans and need to start getting things right. It is a mess right now but with people like Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti (?) stepping up I have faith there are still people who care about America. Please continue.
Very well written. I too am shocked at the people supporting Trump, even many of my Army buddies who served with me in an Army Intelligence unit during the cold war. We understood, on a level most civilians couldn’t, how treacherous the Russians could be and know many of these same guys are defending this guy.
BTY I severed during your father’s administration and I am proud to have had him as my commander in chief. Once, myself and a couple of buddies stood outside our barracks during his visit to Stuttgart (I was stationed at the airfield where he landed) just so we could salute his motorcade as it passed.
This young lady is very wise and her father had a lot to do with it. He taught her to think for herself and be her own person. L loved her article which shows that she knew exactly what she was talking. Thank you Patti for your intelligence, it is admirable and you are a nice young lady.
I do not trust this president. I am worried that this man will do something catastrophic! I only hope and pray that we reach the end of this administration with nothing major happening to our country, allies, and the world for that matter! Patti thank you for speaking out about what most of our country is thinking. Your father was one of our greatest presidents. I think he would be very proud of you!