The Important and Powerful New Movie "Reagan," with Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller, Dan Lauria, and Clint Black | Ep. 874
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Welcome to The Megyn Kelly Show, live on Sirius XM Channel 111 every weekday at noon east.

Hey everyone, I'm Megyn Kelly. Welcome to The Megyn Kelly Show. Coming to you live from the Sirius XM studios in New York today, our HQ. We've got a very special show for you today. I'm thrilled. It's great. This is actually the perfect day to be doing this. There's not that much news. There's a small bump for Kamala Harris, arguably, in the polls. But honestly, it's questionable. And the biggest one was the Fox News poll showing things tightening up in the swing states. But they don't have prior polling to show us whether that's a bounce or not. So just calm down. Just calm down. Do you ever watch a tennis game?

I watch my husband play tennis. I watch my kids play tennis. They're down, you know, 30 love. I'm like, minutes later, they've won the game. All right, so just calm down. Today's just a snapshot. That's the news of the day. There, I've caught you up. Also, there's a bunch of nonsense going on about what happened at Arlington National Cemetery. Here's the bottom line. Trump went and Biden didn't. Biden thinks he lost no one.

during his entire presidency. And he did. He lost more than those 13 service personnel who fell on the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. And now they're trying to take Trump's appearance at the request of the families at Arlington and make it into a political storm for him. Okay, you're caught up. Let's get to the fun thing that we want to talk about today. And that is the movie Reagan. This movie, you need to see it for so many different reasons. So first of all,

Now I've watched it twice. And what you take away when you watch this movie is not I love Ronald Reagan, though that's one of the things you're going to take away. It's I love this country. We I believe in this country. I believe in my fellow Americans. And we can get back to a place where we are leading with love and respect, even though we're going to fight bare knuckle brawls during the day, during our political arguments and so on.

It hits theaters this weekend. OK, so you've got to go to the theater and support this film. It really is a must see. And this could not come at a more appropriate time with our tumultuous political landscape mirroring the 1980s in many ways, actually. Going to show you first some of the trailer. Watch. There's nothing a retired governor can do about the Soviets. But a president. I'm sure you're OK. Now he can do it. Yeah, he's good. Welcome to you.

I was lifeguard on a river. And I learned how to read the currents. Not just the ones on the surface, but also the ones deep underneath the water.

I am about to start the biggest war of this century, and I'm not going to fire a single shot. You're going to blow up eight years of diplomacy. Well, if you think that got their undies in a while, you just wait. What did the president know, and when did he know it? What would you have me do? I want you to fight. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. He wants to.

I got the chills. It gave me a chill every time I see that trailer. So well done. The cast of Reagan joins me today. Actress Penelope Ann Miller, who plays Nancy, and Dan Loria, who plays Tip O'Neill, are on deck. But first, we are joined by legendary actor Dennis Quaid.

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Dennis, so great to see you again. How are you? Great to see you, Megan. You were there at the beginning before we started shooting, in fact, when we did that interview out at the Reagan Ranch. Yes, that was 2018. My team actually pulled some footage of you giving me a tour. Let's take a look at it because it seems like another lifetime ago. Let's watch some of that. The Western White House. All right, so let's check it out.

Just last month, Quaid was tapped to play the title role in the upcoming star-studded biopic, Reagan, about the life of the 40th president. Pretty impressive. I voted for Reagan the first time, by the way. Yeah, and I voted on both sides. I'm not a Republican. I'm not a Democrat. I'm an independent. Always have been. Is that allowed in Hollywood? I didn't realize that was allowed. To be an independent, yeah, that's allowed. That's how I get away with it.

It's mostly just about what was the little things that were important to him in his life, I think. Like his bookcase, I find so extraordinary. Look at that. It's going to be important who plays Nancy. Yeah, really, really important. Right? You've got to have chemistry with her. I mean, that was a true love affair. And that was just walking around the...

their actual ranch, the Reagan Ranch, in which, I mean, it's preserved like a time capsule with their clothes and everything. Yes. Some friends bought it after his passing and they left it exactly as it was. It's not open to the public. Their clothes are in the closet.

You expect them to be coming back. I remember the head and shoulders in the, in the shower. It was like a HIPAA violation. Was that Nancy or Ron? I'm not sure, but yeah. And the Liberty bell shower head and the, and the king size bed, which is two single beds that are zip tied together. Fancy. Yeah. That's what I realized that Reagan was not a rich man. Right. That place is how many square feet? I'd say 1100 tops. Wow. You know, and, uh,

that you can really feel his spirit there. That's really going there the first time was what made me say yes to that because I could really feel him there. But it's such a big challenge. It's so scary to play somebody that well-known and that distinctive in his look, right? So was there any hesitation of like, am I going to be able to embody him? Well, when I was asked to do it, I...

fear went up my spine because Reagan is like Muhammad Ali. You show his picture to anyone in the world and they know who he is. And he was also my favorite president. I felt all these feelings of being not worthy. And then I so it took some time to think about it. And it was when I went up to the ranch.

that I could feel him because I didn't want to do an impersonation. I wanted to get to the human being behind the public persona of Reagan. And, you know, one thing I did find out that was really interesting, it was that to a person, they said that Reagan was sometimes, well, there was a part of him that was unknowable, that a very private place that he had,

And, you know, this is the great communicator. But I think he had a deep place of privacy inside him that he kept sacred. I should tell the audience that in the studio with us here, we have Miss Peaches, who is Dennis. She's meandering now. This is Dennis's bulldog. And Miss Peaches actually plays a role in this story, too, because in that footage we just showed of Dennis and I at the ranch. Yeah. There she is. Look at her. Yeah.

We were talking, and there's a scene in the movie right by that pond of Dennis and Penelope as Nancy and Ronald rowing a rowboat. And we were standing right in front of that pond and shooting an interview. And Miss Peaches, I mean, she just dropped like a stone into that pond. Yeah, apparently it drops off very quickly. The next thing you know, I look up, I see your cameraman. He just drops his camera and goes to rescue Peaches. He saved Miss Peaches. Yeah, he did. I guess bulldogs can't swim. Bulldogs can't swim.

they cannot swim at all. So anyway, she's alive and well. Here we are six years later. She's fine. And she's naturally careful. She's roaming the studio. If you hear heavy breathing, it's not Dennis and it's not me. It's Miss Peaches. So you decided to take on the role. You had played Bill Clinton. Yes. And as you told me in that clip, you voted Democrat and Republican, as have I. You're registered independent, as am I. Yeah. But did you worry at all given the climate of Hollywood? Like, it could be some blowback. Maybe just a

But, you know, at the time, I think, was that before the election cycle? I think it was. It was before the election. It was 18. Yeah, it was 18. And things weren't so divided. I mean, they were divided, but they weren't so divided back then. They always calm down when it's not an election year. Yeah. And then it got really intense. And, yeah.

But I didn't have any qualms about that because to me, the movie is for one thing is not political. Reagan was a Democrat for 40 years before he was Republican for the next 40. By the way, people sometimes forget that. And this was a biopic. It was also, as you said, it's about us. It's about America, really. And those those eight decades of the 20th century, you know,

where America became preeminent and triumphed in the Cold War with the Soviet Union of the time, that collapse. And so it is about America and that feeling of being an American, which was so fantastic really under Reagan. He came along at a time when we were being told we were a nation in decline. And he said, no, we're not.

We're a city on a hill and we're going this way. And we followed. So what I loved about the movie was it takes you through Ronald Reagan's whole life. And it shows you, for those of us who haven't read a bunch of biographies on him, how he got to be the way we knew him to be. That sunny, optimistic, but shrewd and insightful negotiator, leader, and change agent. And the movie's based on a book that...

that really gets into all of that. And the movie is set up with having a KGB agent played by John Voight talking to a future Russian leader about...

what happened? How did Russia lose the Cold War to this guy, this actor from Hollywood? And the book was called The Crusader. And it takes you through the building blocks that made Ronald Reagan this, you know, mostly commercial actor into the leader of the free world in the truest embodiment of that term. And here's one of my favorite scenes from the movie. It's short, but I love it. You're not in it, but I love it. It's the young Ronald Reagan with his mom

And she's teaching him how to handle a bully. Here it is, SOT 2. That's the boy that's been threatening you. Every day. He'll be there tomorrow too. That's what bullies do until you stand up to them. It's time for you to settle this Dutch. Go on. Hey, we're the richies. Get him.

You can run from a bully for so long, but sooner or later, you're going to have to stand up to him. And Reagan put things in a way that everyone could understand, you know, because he governed and he lived his life basically on principles, you know, that go beyond being a Democrat and a Republican.

And that was his strength. Knowing that you eventually do have to punch the bully in the face to get him to back off of you is an important life lesson for all of us. But Ronald Reagan took that one to heart and would bring it into presidential politics. Yeah. And he was, you know, in this case, the bully that he really referred to is the Soviet Union at the time, the evil empire or whatever. But it's true that, you know, America was it had appeased the Soviet Union, you

for quite a long time, actually. And Carter being the Cold War, I mean, Reagan being the Cold Warrior, you know, he was called a warmonger. He was, you know, the tough guy. He was going to get us in a nuclear exchange. But it took a president like him to be able to negotiate with the Soviets because they see appeasement as weakness and they built up their military in the meantime. And

The great thing, what makes Reagan a great president is that he was this coal warrior. But when it came to dealing with the Soviets, he was pragmatic. And once he had that relationship with Gorbachev, everything relaxed in the sense that it became personal and they were able to really communicate.

They became really good friends, I think. But it's an odd combination to see somebody who's so likable and positive and optimistic and warm, but also like a stone cold negotiator. Right. Who will look you, you're his friend and you're making great progress. And this is big for the United States and the Soviets and say, I'm out. Yeah. Yeah. He was not going to be played. And which happened.

had happened in, uh, so many times in the past Carter had come along and, you know, God bless him. I think he did an incredible job with Egypt and Israel and making peace really throughout the world, uh, in a sense, but he also was, uh, I think the Soviets saw him as weak. He gave away the B one bomber. He kept giving away things without asking for anything in return. Uh, and, uh,

It's a little kumbaya, I think. And like I said, the Soviets saw that as weakness. There's a great scene in the movie. I mean, a lot of scenes documenting Reagan dealing with Gorbachev and where Gorbachev's pushing him, just get rid of your missile defense shield program and we'll reduce these nukes and it'll be a big win for you. It'll be a big win for us. And Reagan just gets up and says, no.

No. I'm out. Yeah. I mean, it was like, you see that. And this is actually one of my other favorites where it's Ron and Nancy on the couch, I think at the Reagan Ranch, or maybe it's at their home. And he's explaining to her what he learned from being a lifeguard. A bit of it was in the trailer. And there's a very funny scene earlier in the movie when we see him being a lifeguard and he's this young strapping buck. Yeah. Suddenly a lot of ladies are going down. Yeah.

A lot of people that he rescued are very not thankful for it. Perfectly fine swimmers, as it turns out. But yeah, you did see those currents underneath the water. Wait, let me play it. Let me play it. Let me play it, and then you react to it. Here's the scene. If we get them to spend money they don't have, they can't support themselves. The Soviets. The Soviets. We've been going about this all wrong. We don't have to match them missile for missile. All we have to do is just keep up the pressure.

We have deeper pockets than they do. And here I thought I married an actor. Well, you can always talk to Dick Nixon, President Kennedy, or any of your political friends. But why is it that my husband seems to know what's gonna happen before they do?

Well, I was a lifeguard at a public swimming hole on a river. And I studied that river. And I learned how to read the currents. Not just the ones on the surface, but also the ones that were deep underneath the water, flowing way under. And I got good at it.

Great scene on so many levels. Yeah. You brought up Iceland, and when Reagan said no to the Soviet Union, it was all about SDI.

And the Soviets wanted him to give up SDI, that initiative, you know, that was missiles, defensive missiles that would shoot down. It was totally defensive system. And he wouldn't do it. And he said, look, we'll even share it with you. We'll pay for it. But we're going to keep it.

And the Soviets said, this is the line. We can't go past it. The interesting thing was, is that SDI was at least 20 years away from even getting up on its feet. It didn't exist. It was I mean, it was taken from Star Wars. So why why would he tank the deal over it? It was this is the power of negotiation that he had because they believed it was real. Maybe they didn't believe.

100%, but they believed at least 40, 50% that we did have it.

And that was the kicker in a negotiation. That's why Reagan was great at negotiation. It's amazing how he got there. You know, this kid from a very modest background, alcoholic father, religious mom, and that's captured in some of the exchanges in the movie, which I absolutely love. She was a strong role model for him. And, you know, remember who you serve and who you are. And, yeah.

ultimately, you know, becomes the head of the Screen Actors Guild, which I always thought was just like a credential. But you really see in this movie, it was more than just a credential. It was important to who he became. That's not a job that actors gun for, actually. You know, that's... He was...

really a kind of a failing, fading actor at the, you know, towards the end of his career. And he was married to Jane Wyman at the time who's won an Academy Award right around that time too. You know? And so I think he felt a bit of a failure to tell you the truth in that. I know he never actually, uh,

got in acting, got to the place that he aspired to be. And I could really relate with that sometimes in my life. But as Screen Actors Guild, it became a place where you're fighting communism. That was during the time of where the Soviets, it was true, they were trying to infiltrate the unions and take over in a subversive way. You know, that was always kind of a wives' tale. But once the Soviet Union fell,

they found all the papers that confirmed all that. And also an interesting thing about Reagan is that

In 1960, 61, he came out of retirement as the president of Screen Actors Guild to negotiate for the actors for their health insurance, which we have some of the best health insurance in the world. I mean, I'm a member now, Dennis, because I did a cartoon. I was a big star. Maybe you heard about it. Yeah. Maybe not. Anyway, I'm a member. Yes, exactly. But, you know, he...

But that was when he was a Democrat as well. Right. He was strong and he didn't take any BS from anybody. And he knew when it was time to throw down. And we would see that, of course, throughout his life when people, even though he was sunny and optimistic and a great messenger, when people got in his grill, he knew when to push back from the air traffic controllers who striked illegally. Right. And they all got fired to the infamous moment of I...

I paid for this microphone. I think we actually have that clip. That's fantastic. Let's watch that one. Would the song then please turn Mr. Reagan's mic off for a minute? Is this on? Mr. Green, would you turn that microphone off for me if you would? I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green.

The air traffic control, that was probably the first test of his presidency. And he basically just said a contract is a contract. He felt like they were holding the United States hostage as far as their airspace. And the Soviets actually saw that and said, well, if he's willing to shut down the airspace in his own country like that, what would he do to us? Right. What does that mean? So this is where I wanted to go with you. So you've said that you're supporting Trump in the presidential election.

I was looking at that. I'm going to confess something. I've also said that I'm voting for Trump, but I'm not going to lie. Trump is not the same character as Ronald Reagan. Just you can stick with the marriage alone to see. I was totally with you on that one. Right. I mean, the presentation is totally different. And I think it's it reflects the times.

Of which we're in now. You know, you couldn't say a four-letter word on television six years ago. And, you know, now you can say anything you want. But I think the thing about Trump, you know, I've even cringed sometimes the things that he says. Please don't say that and all that. But at the same time, I will say that the principles...

that Trump has are very much the same. That was my takeaway too. That Reagan has. Because you start off kind of frustrated. Right. Ronald Reagan just seems like such a poster boy for just goodness. And I realize he had his flaws not necessarily highlighted by the movie. But that, and then you think, oh, where is a leader like that? Well, he was more complex than that. And Trump is more complex than that. But they do have a through line of strength. Yes. And have principles, you know, that go with that way of governing. And, and,

pragmatic. I would venture to say that both of them are very pragmatic. What do you think Ronald Reagan would say about this 2024 election looking around? Well, well, there we go again. Well, you got the whale down. The whale is the first thing that comes along. Everybody can do the whale. But the, the,

The issues are really spookily the same as we had 1979, 1980. We had high inflation. We were supposedly a nation in decline. We had hostages in the Middle East. We have hostages right down the Gaza Strip that no one's talking about. Don't wish that they'd talk about that.

The more but there was a whole feeling of malaise in the country in a certain sense and the the stakes we were divided in a certain sense, not to the in the intensity that we are now, but it was post-1990.

Post-Watergate, and I think there was a schism there with Republicans and Democrats, in a sense, as far as taking up sides before they had liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats. Yeah. The movie—in a minute, we're going to be joined by Dan Lario, who plays Tip O'Neill, and the movie does a great job of highlighting their friendship, notwithstanding their difference in electoral politics. Yeah.

So and we talked about how Reagan got up and walked out on the Soviets saying, no, you know, I'm going to draw the line. But that friendliness and that willingness to sort of humble yourself and start anew is captured, too. And this is something I mean, Trump takes a lot of guff for going and meeting with Kim Jong Un. But Reagan met with Gorbachev at a time when things were very tense. That's captured a bit in the following scene, which is sought for. Let's watch it.

I used to do a little acting a couple of hundred years ago back in Hollywood. Let me show you how we used to handle this sort of thing. Take two. Hello, Mikhail. My name's Ron. How would you like to go for a little walk? That's a scene that really happened. Is that right? It went down like that? Yeah. Where they were coming to loggerheads and he just got up and reset it. Yeah, yeah. Gorbachev had grown up, you know, watching his movies.

In fact, you know, they were fascinated by Hollywood at the time. I mean, all of Europe was basically. And so, you know, that was a way in, I think, for them. We spent a minute on the whale, but how much work went into getting the voice out?

And the mannerisms. Well, I think it was just when you and I had that interview that I think I was just beginning, actually. And so I was lucky that we wound up having like a year and a half to prepare for it. And so I spent...

My poor kids and my poor beautiful wife. I think they'll listen to me for it is around the house because I wanted to learn it that I wanted to, you know, just forget about it. And I had to learn, you know, him at 35, the way he sounded compared to like in his later years, how he sounded slowed down a bit, you know, they're different voices really. And YouTube is great for, uh,

All that videotape that's still out there. Did you do it on your own or did you get a voice coach? No, I just did it on my own. Really? Yeah. I didn't have the guts to get a voice coach. Wow. I didn't want to be judged. No, it was excellent. Yeah. But I didn't want to do an impersonation. With the inside of Reagan, that was really kind of more important. Because an actor, you know, you're an actor, you're always...

It's always going to be me there. That's just the way it is. Though you do forget it's Dennis Quaid. Well, thank you very much for that. It's like, there you are. And then within a few minutes, you're like, it's Reagan. But when I watch a Jack Nicholson movie or a Marlon Brando movie, it's still, I'm watching Marlon Brando. That's why I went. And so that part is the interpretation. Another...

unfortunately, a parallel between what happened in Reagan's time and what's happening now is an assassination attempt. And that's captured in the movie, both the attempt to kill Ronald Reagan. He was shot. He was actually shot by John Hinckley Jr. And then, of course, we saw what happened to Trump in July. There's a bit of that captured in the scene. And what stood out to me, of course, as a journalist is the media, the actual media footage that you guys

pulled and put in the movie. Great stuff watching real time the news anchors react. At first they thought Reagan hadn't been shot, that Hinckley had missed. And then you see them in the movie actually realize, oh my God, the president's actually been shot. Let's watch it. My mother used to say, everything in life happens for a reason, even the most disheartening setbacks. And in the end, everything, even seemingly random twists of fate,

is all a part of the divine plan. Get him out! Get him out! Details are very sketchy at this moment. We don't know precisely what happened. We don't know the sequence. First of all, the president is safe. That is... Justice, pardon me, please. Bob Berkowitz. Hello, Bob.

I'll wait for somebody in the back room to come up here and tell us we had been reporting to you that the president was not injured. The White House has confirmed now, just in the last few minutes, that President Reagan has indeed been shot. He is in communication. Larry, can we get... Is there any evidence the assassin was working for the Soviets? Larry... I can't say, Leslie. We have got confirmed.

Wow. Everybody that was alive remembers what they were doing on that day, that exact hour. You know, he was shot, but he had his hand raised to wave and the bullet actually bounced off the car and entered right here. And so they didn't see it. The Secret Services agent, you know, was on top of him getting into the car. And he said, oh, gosh, I think you broke my rib.

And they checked him out and he was fine. And they were headed back to the White House. And he started to he coughed and it was frothy type of blood came out and they headed to the hospital. And if they'd gone back to the White House, he wouldn't have made it. A lot of people don't know he lost a third of his blood. Is that right? Yeah. By the time they got to surgery, it was it was so close.

A lot closer than people realize that the bullet was lodged not even a quarter inch from his heart. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. That classic moment reflected, too, in the movie where he looks up at—

All the doctors and nurses about to cut him open and says, yeah, I hope you're all Republicans. Since the day, Mr. President, we're all Republicans. Before I go to break, I got to ask you, having played that scene, and then in July, you see the attempted assassination attempt with a gun on President Trump. What was that day like for you? Here's what's here's the takeaway of that, you know, as to relate it to today is, is that

When Reagan got shot, it was full disclosure about what we knew about Hinckley and his background and why he had done it and everything within 48 hours. And

What do we know now? Sloped roofs are not safe to stand on. Yeah. Why? Why does it take so long? Why do they have to like kind of massage whatever they're hearing? Why can't it just be transparent to the American people in a day where it's so much easier to be transparent? Right. With. Yeah. Incredible. Social media and all of it. Yeah. Yeah. It's dark. I mean, it was Jodie Foster.

Hinkley. He had a thing about Jodie Foster that he was trying to impress her. Right. And, yeah, he acted alone and everything, but...

All the details were out there really quick. And so much different on the Trump assassination. It's been like pulling teeth. That Secret Service agent just embarrassed herself. The head of the Secret Service is now gone. All right. There's much more to get to. Dennis is staying with us and joining us next will be Dan Loria, who we've mentioned a couple of times. You may remember him from Wonder Years. Now he's back as Tip O'Neill. And he actually is not for nothing, but he's

voting for Kamala Harris. So Dennis and Dan are modeling real life in real life, what it's like to be friends across the aisle. And in a way, an example of the characters they portray as well.

Stand by. Did you know there's nearly $1 trillion of infrastructure and pandemic funds yet to be spent? Yes, that's right. There's a massive amount of money that the lame duck administration is pushing hard to spend right now in their last few months of office. If the president is able to push these funds out, we could see another prolonged inflation surge, just like we saw during COVID. But there is hope.

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Your word is formaldehyde. Can you use it in a sentence? As you're sitting in your basement, you hit your vape, but then your mom walks in, freaks out, and starts listing the toxic chemicals you could be inhaling into your body like formaldehyde, which she singles out because it's the same chemical used to preserve your Uncle Rico's funky-smelling taxidermied fox. Formaldehyde. Oh.

Vaping can expose you to toxic chemicals like formaldehyde. No need to spell it out any more than that. Brought to you by The Real Cost and FDA. Mr. Speaker. Mr. President. Congratulations. Welcome to the bigs. Now, you enjoy tonight because tomorrow we go to work. Well, I've been well briefed on you, Tip. I've been told I better get a pretty good head start. That's very Irish of you. Yes. You plan on going ten rounds every day. That's how we do things here. All right. Just remember, every day has a 6 p.m.

What do you mean by that, sir? Well, after six, we're not political enemies. We're just two Irishmen having a beer. Do you? I love that. Can you imagine that happening today? No, of course no one can. Like Nancy Pelosi and Trump back when that, no, that was not going to happen. Welcome back to the Megyn Kelly show. Dennis Quaid stays with us today. And now Dan Loria, who played Tip O'Neill in the movie Reagan, which hits theaters

this weekend. They're here together. Dan, welcome. Thank you. Thank you for having us. So that scene kicked it off and then we'll get to the hospital scene, which was just one of the best of the movie. But what did you learn about their relationship when you were studying up on Tip O'Neill? Well, they didn't really know each other very well before Ronald Reagan came to the White House. I mean, they met each other, but

They decided that they had found common ground that they could work on. And they did. And during that process, they actually became very good friends. It's just hard to imagine in today's day and age. Yeah. This was a Democrat.

Yes. With a Republican president. And they got a lot done during that. A lot. A lot. A lot. Especially dealing with the Russians. There were a lot of Democrats that didn't want to support Reagan. And Tip O'Neill got them in line and said, no, no, this is bigger than politics. We got to do it. And...

Reagan was always very gracious with his comments to and about Tip O'Neill. And they were called Reagan Democrats. Yeah, that's right. And they had tax cuts. Yeah. And then they also did a little tax raising, too, actually. Compromising this way and that. Well, we got to the place where compromise is a dirty word now. Yeah. What line? I love the line where I say to Dennis, you'll do anything to get a tax cut right after you're shot. Yeah. You're right. Okay, so that...

There's, this is one of the best scenes in the movie. And it's one of the ones that when it was done, I've told this story before, but Mark Joseph is a friend of mine. He's the executive producer of the show of the movie. I was sitting with him and I, I just couldn't move in my seat. I was crying. I was just. So are we. Right. I was immobile. It was like, we've lost because we've lost that. It was, yes, I loved Reagan, of course. And I, I, I felt his loss and the loss of that sort of character and leader, but I,

This friendship and this ability to work with each other and not demonize everybody on the other side, I feel like it's slipping away day by day. And here it's embodied beautifully in a scene. You saw the attempted assassination scene. And now here's the scene which actually happened of Tip O'Neill, the Speaker of the House Democrat, going to visit Ronald Reagan in the hospital after he'd been shot. Let's watch.

He'll do anything to get that damn tax cut. I left specific orders. No Democrats within 100 yards. You'll have to grin and bear it. How you doing, pal? I don't recommend getting shot. No. You know, Tip, I think there's... I think there is a reason for all this. There's a big job left to be done. Whatever time I have left, it belongs to him.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

That's so beautiful. Yeah. What was it like going into that? Did you feel a responsibility? Oh, very much so. And I have to tell you, I've been doing this for 50 years. Dennis made it so easy because if you don't work together on a scene like that, it falls flat.

And, you know, we're on the opposite ends of the boat. We really like Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan. But we found the common ground and Dennis said, go for it. And we went for it. And it's a good scene. It was like four in the morning. Is that right? Yeah, but Tip, he was the first visitor to Reagan's other than Dancy, you know, after the assassination. And they got together.

almost on a weekly basis over at the White House. And I mean, you don't see that anymore. It's only when they have to come over. It reminds me, in another life I practiced law, and this is how it is for a lot of lawyers. You do bare knuckled brawls all day long in the courthouse and in depositions and so on. But then a lot of times you're traveling to do depositions or whatever, and then you do go out for a beer with each other at the end of the day. You can check it.

And some of our presidents who have really gotten a lot done, it was because of the way they could work with the other party. I always think of LBJ and Everett Dirksen. They would go at each other all day long and then at night go over, break open the bourbon bottle. I wouldn't call a dog what you called me today. And Everett would go, well, I took an oath to tell the truth, LB. It was a lively debate. Yeah.

It wasn't that long ago. You know, when I first started working at Fox, Bob Beckel was there. He was a Democrat campaign guy for years and he was grizzled, but he was one of those guys who would meet in the underground bars and have the scotch when he was still drinking with his Republican colleagues. And they talk sense about the race, you know, like the truth. Yeah. Right. Your guy's going down. I know. And they'd be real honest with each other. That circle of silence. Yeah. You know, lawyers also have. And the thing, you know,

thing the truth is is republicans and democrats we need each other they do oh yeah because they keep each other from going this way or too far that way i've been uh george washington didn't want us to have uh political parties he thought you know uh but i mean you got to have a a pro and a con of of a side you know to in order to debate that and uh

So it's a time when it worked. Yeah, and there is a lot more common ground than we are made to believe. Right. You know, we have a lot more things in common. And the politicians who are willing to work together are the ones who usually –

find that common ground. They exploit it, and then we benefit from it. But if you don't get together, you can't accomplish anything. I mean, they do pass a lot of things in Congress that we just don't hear about it on the news. It's not news. And why don't they advertise it? They don't want their constituents to know. Like I said, compromise is a dirty word. I say we agree on 70%.

So that makes you a 70 percent friend, not a 30 percent enemy, which is right. That's what it is. One of Reagan's things. So let me ask you this, Dan. There are a lot of conservatives in the movie. You know, Dennis is an independent who's voted on the right side of the aisle as well as left. But there's Kevin Sorbo. There's Kevin Dillon. There's a John Voight.

So is there any... John Boyd, very right. John Boyd, very right. Big, big Trump fan. Can I tell you, I'm very left. Yeah, so is there any risk to you in doing it? Do you have to explain to your friends why you would act with these guys? I know how Hollywood is. No, not at all. It's cool. I'd like to share with your audience a very nice thing about John Boyd. I am on the National Veterans Foundation board.

And whenever we've called John as veterans to come and present an award or do a fundraiser or even receive an award, I presented John with the first Charles Durning Acting Award. Charles was...

Like my father, the youngest man to land on Normandy. He was great. And he thought, John Boyd's a hell of an actor. Forget politics. So John's always been there for the vets. So for me, I disagree with John politically about everything. But working together with him, it's like working with this guy. He's the best. He embodied Reagan. I mean, it must have been like being around Reagan. Oh, yeah, it was. It made it easier for me. So you mentioned the military. You're a former Marine. Yes. Went to Vietnam.

And I know you're very careful about characterizing exactly what you did in Vietnam. Yeah, you know, I always make it clear that we had orders go to Vietnam and they stopped us at Okinawa. And we technically I'm a vet because we floated off the coast. We had to keep going. And then at the very end, I went in with a South Vietnamese unit to teach them to call in airstrikes. But as soon as we got hit, they got us out of there. I don't I'm speculating, but I think it's they didn't want the public to think they were

redeploying Marines again. Well, God bless you for your honesty on that. But you ultimately got put on a commission, right?

That investigated back to the presidential assassinations. Sadly, the JFK one worked. Yeah. And I had never heard this before. Dan, tell us about the recreation and what this expert marksman. Colonel McMillan. Yes. He was the one who trained the our Olympic team where they run through the snow and then shoot. So we had a recreate. It was at Quantico, Virginia.

And if you look at the Senate investigation on assassinations on that, when they

We're at the firing range. The officer day, it says Lieutenant Dan Lauria. I actually held the weapon that I was going to use. The very one. 1978, is that where we're talking about? That was when it came out, but we were investigated in 1740. This is not Warren Commission. No, no. Oh, yeah. This had nothing to do with the Warren Commission. And I'll never forget it as long as I live.

The bullet that went through Kennedy's throat easily could have been that terrible weapon that Oswald used, could have been shot from that window. The bullet that took off the part of Kennedy's brain has to be a different weapon for one reason. The velocities are different. Wow. That's what this expert marksman said. And I remember asking...

Colonel McMillan. Who do you think did it? And boy, I got to look. I'll never forget. That's not our job, Lieutenant. As long as people talk about who did it, they're going to ignore the physical evidence. That it was more than one person. That it has to be two weapons. Yeah. That's all we were asking. Have you read Unspeakable? Yes. Robert, RFK recommended it. It takes all of the evidence that is there, including the stuff that's been released, and...

Puts it into a cohesive grunt in the Times, but it's a 360. Right. And Bellucci's theory. He thinks it was the intelligence community. I mean, he's told me that himself. There's three frames. Yeah. There's three frames missing in the Zabruta tape.

And I think Bellucci might have had a good theory. He thinks the security agent in the front seat, he pulls out his weapon. Then there's three frames missing. He thinks he accidentally fired and that's what killed him. Oh, that's you mean. Is that what he went through the sign? Are you talking about? No, there's three frames actually cut out of the subruta tape. But it is part while it goes through the sign. Right. I mean, if that's what if it's just gross incompetence.

That actually I mean, that's kind of where we are on the Trump investigation, because the Secret Service had so many fall downs on the job that a lot of people are saying they were in on it or somebody was in on it. And my instincts as a reporter covering Washington for 20 years is always vote for incompetence. You'll be right. It is a wound that is still there.

Since 1963, I remember that day. Everybody remembers that day. And there's a wound that is still there that is never, because you feel that things were withheld and the truth is out there. And we need to know in order to heal even as a nation in order to go on.

I don't think any president is ever going to let us know. Trump had the chance to release. Right. And but I mean, you would think Trump would have, you know, he was big on like pulling back the curtain and busting things up. But he didn't. Tucker was just on last week saying it's because of Mike Pompeo, who told him not to do it. But now he's saying that he'll put RFKJ in charge of.

certain things. So, I mean, maybe we'll finally get to see what happened to his uncle. He wanted to. You're more optimistic than I am. Wait, Dan, can you tell the story about the three dummy bodies that they shot through? They had three dummy bodies. They had a tower set up. The distance, by the way, isn't as far as you think from the window in the book depository to the actual building.

John F. Kennan. But they shot from there and not once did that terrible weapon go through three body density dummies. Then they put three dummies and they went straight on, head on with it. It didn't go through three. So that thing about the bullet going through. The magic bullet. Yeah, make it a right turn. That's crazy. That's insane. Yeah. Into his

Yeah. Through his wrist and into his back. Yeah. Get out of here. I mean, if you buy that, I got a bridge going to Brooklyn. I'll ask you as somebody who's actually served our country honorably and worked on this commission to figure out who was behind a presidential assassination. I just heard a disturbing story about a group of Democrats who I know who celebrated when they saw the Trump assassination attempt.

I was shocked to hear this. I wasn't there, but I was shocked. I don't know why you would be shocked, but I think we have negatives going both ways. I can't imagine celebrating the attempted assassination of any Democrat, even somebody who I can't stand politically. I just can't imagine that. Well, when Kennedy was shot, there were those that were celebrating as well. There were, too. Yeah. There were. At the time, you take the boot of the country and what was going on. There was a whole...

the idea that Kennedy had really kind of, in a way, lost control of the administration as far as behind the scenes of Vietnam and what he was trying to do with that. He would get these scenarios of nuclear attack that we ought to

And remember that Kennedy, one of the first advisors, the first person he called about should we go forward was President Eisenhower. He went right to the military. Can you imagine if after the Trump assassination attempt, this is when we still had Joe Biden at the helm on the ticket to run again, if he had shown up?

at the site or at the hospital. Well, he called immediately the next day. I know, but I'm just thinking like... And he said there's no place for violence. Yeah. You know, I think he did what he could. I just think that Tip O'Neill showing up there was an extraordinary act of like...

politics are irrelevant, right? Here I am. And it would be wonderful to see somebody do something extraordinary. Yeah, I don't think that we should take that the wrong way, though. You know, in a sense, because we don't know what was spoken. Trump was actually very gracious about that telephone call himself. Yeah, yeah. I'm not blaming Joe Biden. I'm just saying that I think the American people need... Well, I think the major difference is that Tip O'Neill and Reagan have actually become friends.

I don't think politics had anything to do with Tip O'Neill going there or Reagan letting him in when no one else was. I mean, there were Republicans who couldn't get in the room, but Tip he allowed in. And I think if more of our politicians took time to be friends.

You know, we'd have a lot more compromises. You meet the other person's kids. You meet their spouse. You meet Miss Peaches, their dog. And you fall a little bit in love with them as a human. Yeah. John McCain, who I worked with twice, his first choice for vice president was not Lieberman. It was Biden. And Biden gave the eulogy in Arizona.

He was, you know, and they were very close friends and they worked together, especially on foreign relations. They worked together a lot. And that was true of Tip and Reagan, too. That was the area in which they found some common ground. I would hope that after this election is over, no matter who wins, that we learn to talk to one another, one again, to get back together.

to that place. You know, it's been a big experiment going on for the last four years. And America does that. We did it back in the 60s. You know, we were pretty out there in a sense. And we do that and we come back to a center place

where we can work together, be Americans. That's a good point. We had a civil war and we managed to find our way back to one another. Hope springs eternal. We're not done. Dennis and Dan, stay with me. And up next, Nancy Reagan, Penelope and Miller joins the party. Don't go away. This is the sound of your ride home with dad after he caught you vaping. Awkward, isn't it?

Most vapes contain seriously addictive levels of nicotine. And, disappointment, know the real cost of vapes. Brought to you by the FDA. I guess there's only one thing left to do, and that is to launch an exhaustive and detailed investigation. Well, of course, I've retained an attorney. Oh, there won't be any need for that. We can knock this out over dead. Excuse me? Yes, we can discuss it then, but I can't be late. I, uh, yes, I have a really studio call tomorrow morning. Oh, well...

I'll have to check my date book. Just kidding. Yes. Yes. Um... Well, well, I think I can manage it, but I have an early call, too. Well, then it's a date. Yes. Yeah? Okay. Pleasure. Pleasure. Goodbye for now.

That is Ronnie and Nancy meeting for the first time, as shown in the movie Reagan, which hits theaters tomorrow. As I said to you before, a couple of weeks ago, run, don't walk. Make sure you go and support this movie. It's such a special piece about our country and ourselves and offers just a sprinkle of hope that we can find our way back home.

to each other. Actors Dennis Quaid and Dan Luria are still with me, stars of the film, and now the woman who brings it home, Penelope Ann Miller, who plays Nancy Reagan. So nice to have you here. Thank you. It's so nice to be here. Thank you for having us. You nailed it. You nailed this part. What was the secret to doing that?

Oh, my gosh. Well, it was a daunting task for sure. And I was very nervous about playing somebody so iconic and so famous. And just so we know, Peaches the dog is snoring. If you're wondering what that sound effect is. I don't think it's hitting air, but we're enjoying it. Sorry, I just wanted to make sure they didn't think I was making weird noises. So what's wrong with Vanellica? I was like, she's making some weird noises.

Anyway, just to clarify, but, you know, I did an enormous amount of research and I just really wanted to honor her legacy and pay tribute to this woman who existed and was quite prolific and a stateswoman and...

And I just I wanted to do right by her. And so it was really important that I get it right. And I really wanted to capture her essence and her spirit rather than doing some sort of superficial external portrayal. And so to humanize her, obviously reading her memoir was huge for me. I read her book called My Turn.

which it was. It was her turn. And and, you know, just to hear things from her point of view, I spoke to her press secretary, Sheila Tate. I read her book, Lady in Red. Here I am wearing Nancy Red and spoke to many, many people and watched videos and interviews and much like Dennis. I mean, we just didn't want to do these impersonation like SNL characters or something. So she channeled Nancy.

It was really, it made my job so easy. I mean, it was, it was even in the lunch line. I mean, it was, it was just was Nancy award ceremony where Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper were like staring at each other. Everybody thought they were having a real life affair after that movie. Um, the way we were. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. The star is born. Thank you. Some idea. Everybody was like, are they actually, because it's,

The chemistry was so strong. That's how it was between the two of you in this movie where you're like, they seem, I realize it's acting, but like genuinely in love with each other. The pond scene, the plane, I'm going to show the plane scene. After the assassination, the attempted assassination, when I said I should have been there, I wasn't there. I always walk on your left side. That scene really moves me. Right. Because they really were inseparable and they were not just a power couple, but they were a partnership. They were truly inseparable.

In love. In love. And he wrote her love notes. He was crazy for her. Every day, even after he was shot. Well, I think after his first marriage, I think he was so disillusioned. And I think he couldn't believe that he could find someone that would truly love him for him and believe in him. And I think it was her belief in him and belief in his greatness and his greater purpose that

is actually what catapulted him not only from governor of California, but to then to turn president. She did not know she was marrying a future president at all. And she was very apolitical, actually. She just didn't care what he did. She was a smitten kitten. And you see that in that first scene. I mean, she was crushing on that man. Yeah. For the listening audience, there was nothing in Nancy's date book whatsoever. She was just pretending she was busy. She was so excited. And I read this in her book. She was...

I don't know if I can use this word, but she was titillated and very excited to, um, to meet, to meet Ronnie. And when she, there was, there was more than one Nancy Davis and, and, and she was, the other Nancy Davis was connected to the communist party. And so when she was working with Mervyn Leroy, who's producing a movie, she said, you know, I need help with my name. And, and he said, well, I, I, you can meet with the president of screen actors guild, Ronald Reagan. And,

no joke. I saw this in an interview. She said, well, that would be just dandy. So she was very excited to meet Ronald Reagan. And she would, I think, go to his, his, his talks or speeches and,

and watch him even when he was SAG president. But Gene Wyman, on the other hand, I think just wanted him to be a movie star. She's played by Mina Savari, who's wonderful in the film. Yeah, she really captured her as well. But she didn't seem to have much of an appetite for Ronald Reagan as his wife, unlike Nancy, who came along and saw Prime Rib and was all in. And they

They lived a very modest life. I mean, you know, he was working for General Electric to make some money, and then she would do the commercials with him, which you'll see in the movie. He was broke when they met. Yeah. It's amazing. You always think of, you know, Hollywood types. Yeah. Or just being around rich people. Well, you also have to understand, too, that that was back up until, what, 1952 or whatever.

90% tax bracket. Oh, gosh. You know, from the Depression onwards, that's what it was. 90% in the upper bracket. 90% of what you made went to Uncle Sam. And we could be going back there soon. Yeah, and then you got state tax after that, by the way. Oh, gosh, the state tax. Okay, that's horrifying. Well, I have all three of you here because in a minute it's just going to be Penelope and yours truly. Can we talk about the attempted censorship of the movie? Yes.

And how crazy this is? Well, I said last I checked, Reagan wasn't running for president. So I'm a little confused since it was, what, 40 years ago or something, you know, that he was in office. And it's part of our history and our culture. And I

I actually don't even know. I know people from both sides of the aisle and in between, and I feel people are genuinely excited to see this film because these were the Reagan years, and I grew up in the 80s, and I don't understand it. I don't understand why. This is not a political film. Did this happen to you when you played Mary Todd Lincoln? Well...

Also a political figure. Yes, but Mary Todd was vilified like Nancy was, which we can get into later. But anyway, go ahead. Well, I think people from both sides of the aisle, my friends too, are outraged about any kind of censorship. Right. We're talking about free speech. We're talking about a free market. Right. And it's, you know, if it can happen once, it happens, then it's going to happen to you eventually. Right.

it's always going to happen to the other side eventually. And our site, if we as just as a people just wind up having this silent assent to it over, you know,

period of time, then we get used to it. And the next thing you know, we say, where did our freedoms go? Well, it's very interesting because Mark Zuckerberg is out there this week saying we were pressured. This is him in writing saying we were pressured by the Biden administration during COVID. And we

submitted and we shouldn't have submitted. We should have been more skeptical on the things that they wanted us to censor. And we regret that. And we're not going to be doing that anymore. And at the same time, the Reagan, it's not, it's been a couple of clips that have gotten censored, but the, the paid promo to promote the movie much in the same way we just showed the audience with the trailer has been censored repeatedly. They said it was a mistake and

And yet they continue doing it. The reason it was censored was because it was an attempt to influence an election. That's what they claimed. That's what they said. That's what they said. And my point is, is that you banning or censoring it, that is itself an attempt to influence an election. Mm-hmm.

By keeping information from or one side of information away from the American people. There's also many people in this film, you know, including Dan and Mark Moses and Xander Berkeley. I mean, I could go on and on about people in this movie.

who aren't conservative Republicans. And it's surprising to me because when we made this film, which was four years ago, it wasn't during an election. We didn't do it for political reasons. We did it because we're actors, we're artists. We want to play real people. We want to have these opportunities. And we did it because we thought this story about Reagan had never been told. Right. There's not a ton of movies about him that we don't choose from. No.

Well, in a way, I think it was fortuitous that COVID delayed everything and it hit now because we're at a political fervor, which makes people more interested, I think, in our historical figures and the politics. But it was just nonsensical for Facebook to, whether it was the automated algorithm or otherwise, they should have corrected it and said, for sure, we need people to see this, same as we need to see information about any of our political leaders. Yeah.

That's why even—we were talking about this earlier—even the people who were—who posted about GLAAD or like he missed, you know, about the Trump assassination. You know, in the end, you have to defend their right to say anything that they want. Sure. In the end. Otherwise, it's—

It's free speech. That's what it is. Yes. You're allowed to say, and this is something the young people today don't understand. Hate speech is protected by the U.S. Constitution. That's what makes America special. That's one of the gorgeous things about us. You can say dumb things and hateful things. That's why we live in a free country. We want this. We want to stand by those. Our forefathers created this and got out of it.

communism and dictatorship. That's why we live here. And then somebody can stand up and tell you you're an idiot. That's fine, too. That's why it's okay to burn the American flag. The people versus Larry Flint. There's so many things. The Civil Rights Movement. We go back to the House of Un-American Activities. All of that stuff. Dennis told me that...

I that my quote I gave was censored, that I gave it to a publication in support of the movie. Right. So that got censored, too. Yeah. Well, just wait to see if this gets because the thing was, it's that it happened. We I I wrote a letter to Newsweek, which, you know, turned into an article saying,

Facebook, two hours later after it came out, apologized that it was their automated systems that had picked up buzzwords or whatever it was. It was because it was trying to influence an election and that they were going to correct that and they were sorry about it. Fine. We'll move on. But then three days later, it happened again and it happened the next day and it continues to happen. And so why is that?

Well, I'm going to read a quote right here because I have a lot of here is what I said, what I wrote. The irony in Facebook banning Reagan ads is that this is a movie about a historical figure who, yes, was a politician, but whose bipartisanship and friendship with Democrats is an important theme of the film. It's a movie about America and how we used to talk to each other and respect each other, irrespective of political differences.

On cue, Facebook bans promotion of the film, apparently seeing it as socially divisive. Facebook has embarrassed itself and done a disservice to the nation with this moronic decision. I was right. Stand by my statement. I mean, if we allow this to keep on going, it's the social media. I mean, the tech giants have gotten so big. I mean, there's getting to the point of

they may be more powerful than the government. It's certainly as far as getting the word out and things like that. I'm a liberal. I'm against all censorship. You're good. Old school liberal. You guys didn't bring that in. And if we allow this to keep on going, then we're headed towards oligarchy. Dan.

Dan, conservatives don't want to ban books. They don't. Well, I can speak to this from somebody who's pushed for some of these so-called bans. I don't want to lose this. I don't want the disgusting sexual content in K through 12 schools. That's what you can get it online. We can get Amazon. Yeah. But see, there's no definition of what you call sexual. Well, we have a list of books. There's

There's a list of books that goes around. Oh, yeah, there's a list of books, and I wouldn't ban those. Well, look, I mean, I'm not talking about poetry. I'm talking about, like, here's how you do anal sex. It's a no, no, no, no. I don't think you'd find anybody who would disagree with you on that. I have. But when you take out certain words out of books because they're not right, or you're going to place God in the book where it isn't supposed to be, that's just as bad as sex. You start getting into Lenny Bruce territory. I'm not disagreeing.

Let me get it straight. I'm not disagreeing with you about the Reagan movie. That's terrible. If that's true, that is terrible. You'll have as many liberals fighting for you as you will conservatives. But to be, again, where are those areas of compromise? And I think when you say sexual intent, who's going to prove that? I mean, you know, men don't understand that about the abortion issue. Roe v. Wade, how it affects men.

Because in it, there's a clause about profanity. And the first thing about profanity that the person who brought it up was transgender. Then the next step will be anal sexist profanity. And then we'll go all the way back to interracial marriage.

So I think when somebody blatantly says sexual content, well, what do you mean about sexual? Well, it's true. I mean, sexual content can be. We have to define those things. What is profanity? And you're going to find more and more people like us will agree once we.

discuss this and put limits on it. Because once you start doing that, I guarantee you it's going to come back at you and it's going to happen to you. Yeah. But I will say, look, I mean, we've been covering this in depth. You guys are, I understand, informed, but in a different business. We cover this at length on the show. And if I pulled out the list of books and the content right here, you would be totally uncomfortable. I'm on your side about that. I think that's a thing for parents to decide, actually.

I just don't want it in my kid's elementary school. Like, if you want to share that with your kid, God bless. You can get on Amazon and do that. I just don't want my kid wandering by some kid reading about that stuff. We all remember when sex education was in school and how controversial it was until we determined that it wasn't until the junior year of high school, at least in New York it was. I don't know about the other places.

And then it was, okay, we can deal with that. Yes, older kids can handle more than the younger. Yeah, because we saw enough kids getting pregnant and getting involved too early. So there are compromises on these things. Agreed. But I just don't like the blatant, no, they're wrong. Look, I'm old enough that I remember the whole, like— Do parents have the rights over their children? Yes. You're sure about what they're going to have versus the government. Well, that's why they have that. We do. So we're getting deep into the weeds. That's why they have the weeds.

And on that note, Sally, we had to say goodbye to Dennis and Ed. But to be continued. You guys, congratulations. What a wonderful film. Always have a fantastic time. Thank you for having me. Really, thank you, Megan. All right, to be continued. You've got to check out the movie if you want to see more. You won't be disappointed. You will thank me. You will send me an email, Megan, at MeganKelley.com and thank me. But Penelope stays with me because we've got to get into the love story. And I have to tell you, Dennis, I know, has been reading Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance.

I see a lot of parallels here in some ways between what Usha, JD's wife, has done for him and what Nancy Reagan did for Ron. So we'll talk about her role in this story in two minutes.

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Penelope Ann Miller, who plays Nancy Reagan in the incredible new movie, hits theaters tomorrow. Reagan is with me. So Penelope, you studied Nancy Reagan and she, it does occur to me, as you pointed out, she was absolutely pilloried by the media when he was actually the president. And you said that was also the case with Mary Todd Lincoln, which I actually don't. No, there's some parallels because I played Mary Todd Lincoln too. And she was vilified. I mean, as we all know, you know,

President Lincoln, Abe Lincoln was very admired and, and beloved and, and they didn't like Mary. And, and I think the same for, for Reagan. I think Ronald Reagan was a very popular, beloved president. I mean, some people obviously didn't like him, but, but as far as Nancy goes, my goodness, I mean, they really attacked her and it started almost right away because she redecorated the white house and,

And when she said she got there, she said it was in shambles. I mean, the plumbing, the electricity, the rugs were frayed, the furniture, the curtains. And she thought of this. She said, this isn't my home. This is the people's home. So she was panicking.

proud and thought, you know, I want it to look appropriate when we're having people come to visit. And it was actually Mary Todd Lincoln that started the public viewing of the White House. She did the same thing. She redecorated the White House. But I think because it was a civil war and the depression and so on and so forth, I think she was maligned for it. Whereas Nancy raised privately funded money to it wasn't taxpayer money to redecorate the White House. And then there was the whole the China controversy where she got all the new red China

It was because I think their first dinner was Margaret Thatcher and they said, and there was some comment about how there were so many mixed china sets. And it's because there was not a complete set anymore. They'd either been shipped or broken or stolen. People take a little bread plate and put it in their purse and say, I've got a souvenir. So once again, she said, we're having politicians and presidents and dignitaries from all over the world. I want to have

proper china so she was maligned for that as well and and their fashion so mary todd

loved fashion was getting like the finest silks from France and having a dressmaker and they, who happened to, they started an abolition, um, charity together. Um, Mary Todd Lincoln was fascinating. We can get into that. All I can think of is the hair, the middle part. And she lost three boys, three sons. She had melancholy. She was also, you know, people laughed at her cause she had seances. And I think it was her way of dealing with her grief. Yeah. Um,

Whereas Nancy did astrology and, you know, attempted assassinations, very similar parallels between those two women. And, uh, and Nancy said she cried a lot of the eight years in the white house in her memoir. She, she really felt attacked and didn't know why people disliked her so much. And it's funny when you look at her, you see this very stoic, regal woman. Yes. And I think, and maybe it made her seem cold and she was very like,

fiercely protective of her husband. And I think it just made her maybe not appear warm and fuzzy or approachable, but I think it was sort of an armor. I think it was a protective shield.

That she had. That makes perfect sense. But she needed that strength behind the scenes. He needed her strength behind the scenes. And this is what the point I was trying to make before we went to break, you know, Dennis had mentioned, you know, before that he's reading Hillbilly Elegy or recently read it. And I know J.D. Vance a bit. And I know that.

Usha, his wife, played and continues to a critical role in his life and his development as a man. Yeah. That she, he told me personally, she helped show him how to love, how to be in a relationship. Yeah. That's so interesting that you point that out. And because...

As I mentioned before, he was really hurt from Reagan was hurt by his first marriage to Jane Wyman. She was a movie star. She wanted him to be a movie star. He started to get more political being Screen Actors Guild president. And she had absolutely zero interest in politics. She hated it. And.

he really wanted to help. And that was something that he felt very strongly about. And so that was sort of the demise of, of their marriage. And so by the time when they got, and he also believed you marry once and, um,

And I think he just didn't trust that he could find that kind of relationship. And so it took him longer. I mean, as I said before, Nancy was quite smitten immediately, but she was really patient with him because I think to trust again and to believe and to believe in a marriage and to believe in a love. And I do think, just like you said about J.D. Vance's wife,

And that's why he wrote her all these love letters is because I think once he found this and it was real and it was true, that I think he just appreciated her so deeply that he wanted to prove it to her all the time. And he wrote this book and that's the cover of the book and it's called I Love You, Ronnie. And it's all the love letters he wrote her.

and notes, um, just telling her how he appreciated her and the fact that, you know, no one, she don't sign up for the job of first lady and, and, and how much he also appreciated her constant support. And, you know, that thing with a man behind a woman or behind every great man is a woman, but also you can be, there's a lot of misogyny there as well. Cause I think

When there's a woman behind a man, she's manipulative and conniving and devious. And I'm sure you've dealt with this in a lot of areas of your career. But a man behind a man is a strategist. Right. You know, and I just feel like they don't like strong, powerful women anymore.

And she wasn't somebody who was seeking power. No, she really was. We saw that with other first ladies. She wasn't like that. No, she didn't care about being famous or powerful. I mean, she liked wearing her fancy dresses. Oh, interesting. Just really on a side note, the one person who did all this and redecorated the White House and had great fashion who was beloved was.

Jacqueline Kennedy. Yes, that's true. So it's interesting. And look at what happened to Melania. I mean, I'm sensing a pattern here with the Republican firstly. It is kind of interesting, I have to say. But I do think that she really was, she believed in his greater purpose and that she wanted him to be happy. And there's that scene in the movie where I say, or Nancy says,

you know, I've had to share you my whole life, but that's what I signed up for. And I want you to be happy. And she knew when he, he didn't win the second time he ran.

And he wanted to, she knew he wants to run again. And I believe in this man and I believe in his greatness. And he even said, and so did Ron Jr. at the memorial, my dad would never have been president of the United States if it wasn't for my mother. I believe that. Yeah. And I think she propelled him. Watching the story. And also I think,

she was important because he was so sunny and optimistic. She was the realist, you know, like, listen, you're in trouble. We have a bit of that in this one scene before I show it. Can you just tell us what the air force one shots? Cause this is shot on air force one. Yeah. We got to shoot at the Reagan library as well as the Reagan ranch, which was incredible because of course all their furniture hadn't been touched and their clothes in the closet and

But going to the Reagan Library was incredible because we were on the actual plane, Air Force One, that they would fly in. So we're sitting in the chairs and doing these scenes that they were in and walking around. And it's not a Trump plane. I mean, this is...

It's a little plane, you know? So not as big as it used to be, but we were also on Marine One. And just to be able to shoot in those places that they actually lived in and just feeling their spirit and their energy. And it was pretty phenomenal. It raises the stakes for you. Oh, it does. Oh, gosh. I'm sure you want to do... Thank God for the hair and the makeup and the wardrobe because that team, that creative team that we had on the movie...

did an amazing, amazing job of recreating us to look as close as possible to these people. Yes. I was saying to Dennis, you totally forget that you're actors embodying these parts. You think you're looking at the actual people. I hope so. That's what we hope. Here's a bit of a scene when Ronald Reagan, Iran-Contra hit, did we trade arms for hostages? And he was in danger of being impeached and his wife, Nancy, knew it. Watch.

You know Washington, you know the way it works. It's politics, that's all. - Ronnie, they're talking impeachment! - No impeachment. - Yes, they wanna destroy you. They're putting you on trial, removing you from office. This isn't about politics anymore, this is about you. Everything is at stake. One more headline, one more star witness, one more arrest and they will do it.

I have cooperated with him. I appointed a special prosecutor. I've turned over every document I have. What would you have me do? I want you to fight or this is all over. And he listened to her. Yeah, he did. You know, she she was influential in a lot of ways. I mean, she really pushed for the peace talks as well. And she she was actually because I read it in her memoir. You know, she said, you better go before another person.

Another one dies because they kept dying, you know, the the Russian presidents. And so that was really important for really important. That's portrayed in the movie, too. It's like the Russian. They keep dying. So another one dies. Another one dies. It was it was wild. It was it. There's so much that you don't know.

that I found and I love history too. And I, I feel like, you know, I don't, I want us to remember our history. You know, it's, it's, um, it's part of our heritage and our culture. And I think it's so important that,

But there's so many things that I found that people have seen this movie, including myself, who did the research too. And there was so much that I didn't know. There was so much about Reagan I didn't know. And I think what's cool about a film like this is, and it's not a political drama, it is a biopic.

And it's finding out about all the things that we can't see, like being the fly on the wall and finding out about these relationships. And that's why at the heart of it is the love story. How about the guy who's camping out in the tent who becomes a speech writer? Oh my God, hysterical. Is that real? I actually forgot to ask Mark Joseph whether that's a real story. Apparently it was. That's insane. It's insane, right? And then she says,

oh, you know, he, he'll won't talk to you for five minutes. He'll talk to you for hours. That's why Nancy won't let the guy in the tent come in. Yeah. And she, that's, once again, she said, it's my job. Your job is to be out there and be charming. And he was, he was disarming and charming and, and wanted to be loved and everything, but it was, she felt it was her job to be paying attention and to look out for him. But she, those love letters are really telling because

And when the movie closes with Reagan's Alzheimer's diagnosis, which is just so sad that this is plaguing 6 million Americans and we still don't have a cure and doesn't look like we're really close to a cure all these years later. How many have to go? Margaret Thatcher had a he had that issue. Obviously, she was an American. Sandra Day O'Connor. So many millions of Americans. But he when he found out he had it, wrote a love letter.

To all of us. Yeah. To the American people. And to Nancy. Wanted us to look out for her. I know. It's so heartbreaking. Yeah, because he knew how painful and the grief that she was going to have watching him living through this horrible disease.

Um, and it's really quite beautiful, uh, actually. And, and we don't talk about enough the, the Alzheimer, uh, disease and, um, how, how tragic it is, but to see this great man and to see this man that she loved. So, I mean, I, even at the end of the movie and the credits when she's, I mean, that's what got me where she won't let go of the casket. She's literally like

leaning on over it and kissing it and kissing it. And it's just, it's so heartbreaking. I know. Even, you know, my other favorite, well, that wasn't a scene in the movie, but it's a real life thing, but it was after the assassination attempt when she comes to the hospital and she's

saying, you know, I should have been there because they were really inseparable. And she said, I always walk on your left. And then he said, but it would have been you then. And she felt so guilty for not being there for him. But the thought of losing him then was horrifying. That is one of the things that's most beautiful about the movie. So I watched it with my husband. I watched it with Mark the first time. And then I watched it with my husband the other day. And I really think that was

Like when we watched it together, that was our number one takeaway. It was just a reminder of how lucky we are to have each other, to have found true love. I like to believe, and I do, that my husband and I love each other the way those two loved each other. And it's great to see that celebrated.

Yeah. So often like the TV these days is talking about the extramarital affairs and this one's three people in the relationship. It's like, yeah, it's a beautiful relationship, a beautiful marriage in which they both loved and supported each other and a true partnership. And I think it's so, like you said, refreshing to see in a film.

And I think that's what tugs at your heartstrings and that's what makes it emotional and why you care about these people, regardless of how famous they were. It humanizes them. And also it's a great example of a real love and a partner where you lift each other and you support each other and you have each other's back. And she was his rock. And...

I think it is beautiful. And I think that's why people get emotional at the end of the movie. And this is what's fun about going to the movies is to me is to have, you know, to feel something, to not just be assaulted with these special effects and, you know, horror movies that are assault on our heart.

you know, uh, totally bodies and, and, and emotions. I feel like to be able to actually have a character driven story, a good old fashioned movie about a real person. You learn, you learn about history, but you also are entertained and, and you also feel something. And I think that's why we love going to the movies. So I hope that,

will be the reason people want to go see it. So last question, have you had any weird feedback because you're the Nancy Reagan, a Republican in the movie about a great Republican? Is that dicey at all for you in Hollywood? I really like Nancy have stayed very out of the politics of it all. I, I, you know, I, I never get into politics. I honestly, very smart. I honestly feel people don't care what actors think.

That's very smart. I really think that it's actually, it makes people wall their eyes. I'm not here to have, I'm not here to tell anybody who they should vote for, how they should vote. That's not my business. That's not, I'm not even in that line of business. That's, you know, other people out there such as yourself and other people go at it, you know, but my job is to be an artist, to entertain, to embody different people, to

no matter whether you like them or not, I don't judge who I'm playing. You know, I played Dahmer's mom, you know, I played Mary-Kate Letourneau went to prison for, you know, I mean, I played some pretty controversial characters. Um, but I, I,

I feel it's my job to play people that we can learn about and maybe be inspired and maybe say, hey, I won't make that choice or I'll make that choice. Or this was an America that was a really interesting time like the 80s were and the Reagan years. So that's my job. God bless you. I think it was comedian Andrew Schultz who came on the show and said, we'd be so much better off if everybody would just

Do their job. Stay in their lane. Just do the job that you actually have. Yeah. And there's some wisdom there. It's so nice to meet you. So nice to meet you. The film is spectacular. Thank you. I'm sure it's going to be a wonderful few months for you. I hope so. Yeah. Don't forget, it's called Reagan. It hits tomorrow.

run, don't walk and take the whole family. Take the whole family. You can take your littles. I mean, maybe not like five-year-olds, but certainly 10-year-old and up. My 15-year-old really enjoyed it. My family, my kids too. And my youngest is 11 and he absolutely loved it. And they had a bunch of follow-up questions and it's historical film. So they'll learn something about history in our country. All the best. All right. You too. Thank you. All right. Up next, country star Clint Black joins us

He also put me in tears and I'll explain how when he explains his role in this movie next. This is the sound of your ride home with dad after he caught you vaping. Awkward, isn't it? Most vapes contain seriously addictive levels of nicotine and disappointment. Know the real cost of vapes. Brought to you by the FDA.

Joining me now, musician Clint Black, who plays a very powerful role in the new movie Reagan, and it's an unexpected one. Clint, welcome to the show. Thank you. Okay, so let me tell you something. Yeah, that was a very unexpected role for me. I went, I saw this film with Mark Joseph, the producer, and I loved it, and I cried, and it was spectacular. Then I saw it this week because I wanted to remind myself of everything that was in it in advance of today, and...

Up pops Clint Black singing a song that will bring me to my knees in tears on a regular day, never mind when it's sung by you, over Ronald Reagan's final moments in this scene. Here's a little bit of Clint Black singing a song you will all know. Gather round her, miner's lady, stranger to blue bar.

Ugh.

Just a crusher, Clint. You've sold over 20 million albums. So what gave you the confidence to actually dip a toe into the John Denver world? I've had my toe in that world since I was a teenager. I've sung that song.

Oh, I don't know. Who knows? 10,000 hours worth, along with so many of his other great songs and got to sing with him on a TV show once. And, you know, these things come your way. You don't expect them and you don't say no.

So you don't say no, but you're recognizing the bigness of the moment, right? Because you've got Don Vendor, of course, but you've got the final scene about this epic American figure who's a hero. So does that affect the way you're going to do this or whether you take it on at all? Yeah, you have to do it with reverence both to the original artist and to the scene, all the people behind the scene.

and the man they're portraying in that really special moment in his life. You have to be reverent. You were not the only big star to lend his voice to the movie. Bob Dylan and Gene Simmons, both singing songs for the movie, which is pretty extraordinary. Why do you think you and these other guys are willing to participate in this? Because none of you really needs the money. So what's the point?

Well, first of all, Dennis is a pal and I would support him in anything. I'm a huge fan. Very happy for him to have such an important role portraying an American president revered by so many. So I was thrilled to jump in just because of Dennis, but also understanding the context and

and singing a song I've sung so many times, which I think is just an amazing composition. I just didn't even give it a second thought. I had to really work hard to get it done. I came in on my tour bus, got a little bit of sleep, got up the next day, worked all day,

into the evening to get my part done and then got back on the bus and left town. I don't usually work that way, but I was not going to miss this chance. No, I know that you've got a little bit of experience with Donald Trump because I know you were on Celebrity Apprentice and he fired you. But did you have any kind of experience with Ronald Reagan? I mean, what did you think of him?

I didn't have any, and I had limited impressions because in my youth, I didn't pay that much attention, although there were big moments that you couldn't not see, even though I didn't get a lot of TV watching time. I was either setting up my gear, playing in a bar, bringing my gear home, and sleeping all day to do it again. So I didn't see a lot, but looking back,

There's a lot of context. I read a biography on him. I read as many as I can. I'm a big history buff. So I did have...

more well-rounded impression of him. And what I loved about him most was his sense of humor. I loved his joke telling. He was quick on his feet. I loved, you know, communism in some ways is getting a good name. I don't like it. I'm glad that that was his mission in life to fight it. Apart from that, I don't go much deeper

To me, you know, he was I think I think we were all all of us, no matter where we stand on politics. I think in his time we were much closer together than we are now. And it's sad to see.

I'm already blocking people on Twitter for attacking me for singing a song in this movie. And yeah, I don't give it more than a second of my life. I've gotten very quick at blocking. I don't have any time for intolerance. I have friends from every walk of life and every political persuasion. I always joke that I allow the people I love to be as misguided as they need to be. Right.

And I love them for what is lovable. And I try very hard not to hate. That's very Reagan-esque of you. I mean, I know what you're saying. I actually, I'm always kind of disappointed when I see somebody I love as a performer, especially a musician, because...

Music is so transformative. It just, it can improve your mood like that. It's just such a special piece of most people's lives that I don't want any negative associations with the person whose music I love. So as a consumer of the product, I thank you for that. I don't, I think we should have less politics in our music than we have right now. I mean, I'm sure you've seen a lot of this happening around you.

Yeah, I feel like if someone's passionate about a policy or a principle, that doesn't affect me. If they turn ugly about it and start attacking people who disagree with them,

And on a personal level, I think policy debate is it's where it all started at the Continental Convention and all the compromises that had to take place to form this union. And if we can't have that.

then, uh, we don't have a country, but if you turn it into something personal, then I think you've gone down the wrong path. What do you think? I mean, I do wonder, cause some people aren't that ginger about it. They go off into the political lane in music. And then to me, it seems like you'd be having your audience, right? You'd be cutting your audience right in half. I, uh, I respect my audience, uh, too much. I appreciate them too much to, uh,

to make them feel like I don't respect their role as an American, their ability, their rights, and all of that. I want to entertain them so badly that I will do my best to not taint that with something that's offensive. What do you make? Because one of the things I love about Reagan is you cannot help but feel patriotic when it ends. You know, you...

You're just reminded of the things that make us special as a country, as Americans. And I think given your line of work, you experience that more than most on a daily basis. So where do you think we stand as a country right now when it comes to our patriotism? You know, I feel like we mostly...

I think we mostly all want the same things. We want to look after that single mom who almost doesn't stand a chance to raise her kids well. We all want the education to be the best in the world. We all want the security and the safety in our communities. We all want so many of the same things.

And I believe where the disagreements come in are how to achieve that. And I often think of it in terms of mom and dad. Mine were very different. My mother was very tolerant and would

we could just make her bend over backwards so far. My dad, he said no once, and if you pushed it, you were gonna be in trouble. And I often think of that as an analogy to our political climate. And I think if we all appreciated that we all really want the same things and let's find the compromises to get those things,

we would be much closer together. Having been on the road and performed in front of so many different venues and to such success, what do you love about this country? When you go out there and you meet real Americans all the time and you see people behind the scenes, what makes you love the country?

Well, I appreciate the history. I appreciate the sacrifices to create this document that governs us, the Constitution. I appreciate the fact that I was living hand to mouth and have managed to build a business and raise a family. I appreciate how much alike we all are.

I don't care if you're in New York or Maine or Alabama or Texas. If you get away from the hustle and bustle of things and meet people one on one, I think we're so much alike.

you know, country folk or country folk, city folk or city folk. And if you get people out of the city and away from the stresses of a city, then they'll be so much like country folk, you just wouldn't believe it. We might need a few lessons in order to survive on the ranch, however. Just a little training. And a lot of country folk would be happy to give those lessons. Yeah.

Clint, thank you so much. Thank you for bringing me one of my favorite songs in a new version that was spectacular and that really did make me cry the ugly cry, but in a good, in a great way, all the best to you.

Thanks for having me on. Anytime. Anytime. And my thanks to Dennis Quaid, Dan Loria, and Penelope Ann Miller. Please check out this movie. Yes, I know the filmmaker, but I would not be selling it to you in the way that I am if I didn't believe in it, if I didn't believe that you will love it.

that would be my credibility on the line. Um, so trust me, it's amazing. You can find out more about the movie if you want at Reagan dot movie, and then go see it, go see it with your family and your friends and talk to, to us about it. You can email me Megan at Megan Kelly.com.

Tomorrow, we are going to have our reaction to the big Kamala Harris interview tonight with her emotional support governor. We'll see how she does with her big white blankie next to her across from Dana Bash. We'll see. Thanks for listening to The Megyn Kelly Show. No BS, no agenda and no fear.

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