Letter from Ronald Reagan to his son

As an armchair history buff, I love famous historical people who were also prolific letter-writers. It gives a great insight into the person, especially when the letter was between family members or close friends and never intended for public consumption. (Reagan was one of these people) As much as I like Letters of Note for the great letters, for me having a stream of letters makes the person much more three-dimensional.<p>The book on the Adams-Jefferson letters has been on my reading list for a year now. Can't wait to get time to read it. <a href="http://amzn.to/MudjlA" rel="nofollow">http://amzn.to/MudjlA</a> I believe there is a similar book for Reagan, but I haven't researched it. Enough stuff on the list already.

Regardless of the fact that this was written by a former US president, what’s truly amazing is that somebody could take a subject old as the world – love and marriage and write such a simple, genuine, straight to the point message, without a hint of bullshit that happens to reads like a novel.

I'm not as impressed by this letter as others seem to be. Reagan's only advice is don't cheat and say "I love you" every day? Who goes into a marriage expecting to cheat? And if you even have the slightest inkling of wanting to cheat at the start, you're almost certainly marrying the wrong person. The letter provides no insight that I didn't already have by the time I was ten.<p>The true challenges of marriage come when the other person doesn't support your ambitions in life, or you don't support theirs. When you feel that they are constantly critical of you, or you of them. When they gain 100 pounds, or when you do. When for no particularly good reason you become engulfed with jealousy. Or they do. When infatuation gives way to whatever deeper feelings lie beneath. Or maybe you discover that the deeper feelings aren't there and you need to cultivate them if the marriage is to survive.<p>The challenges and joys of marriage are so much deeper than this letter conveys. This letter is like the "Just say no" to drugs campaign. Everything is boiled down to meaningless simplicity.

Great, unconventional advice on marriage to his son. This is time-proof advice for any generation too.

I would be more inclined to accept his message if it could not be boiled down to "If it is not working for you, you are not trying hard enough". Also, more marriages have probably failed due to the husband being a wimpy "I love you every day no matter what"-kind of guy than due to adultery. Adultery is the consequence of a failing marriage, not the cause. When you are the president with power over a nation it can counteract the wimpyness. For a software developer? Not so much.

Very wise words. And a very interesting look at the personal, family world of a very public figure of the late 20th century.

I wonder why Michael got a divorce a year later. Maybe he didn't read the letter?

How qualified was Reagan to give marriage advice? How many marriages did he have? Was he a marriage counsellor? Did he study marriages? Statistics on couple behaviors?<p>Or is this like listening to the Kardashian's opinion on... child rearing or something?