and on sundays book tee feet bring to the latest in nonfiction books and authors. funding for cspan2 comes in these television companies and more including charter communications. >> a charter is proud to be a recognizes on the best internet providers. and we are just getting started. building 100,000 miles of new infrastructure to reach those who need it most. charter communications length these television companies support cspan2 as a public service. was cbs news and vice presidential debate simulcast live tuesday c-span as minnesota governor tim walz ohio stage go head tod for theebate first t c-span's live coverage begins with a p show followed by debate simulcast at cbs news a vice presidential

te simulcast live tuesday on c-span you can alsoatch on a free video app c-span now or online at c-span.org. >> ladies and gentlemen please welcome dennis quaid, tim walz,. [applause] [cheering] amanda righetti. [applause] will wallace. [applause] [cheering] >> good evening. welcome to the ronald reagan presidential foundation institute my name is david and it's my privilege to serve as president and ceo of this

foundation but we could begin all of our official programming with a pledge of allegiance i ask you please stand joining me and honoring of flag and all those who serve under it. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the nights it's of america. and to the republic for which it stands "one nation" under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [applause] before we go further there are few people in the audience i like to recognize. former u.s. representative ultimate gala glee and his wife janice. [applause] internationally known award-winning journalist, producer "new york times" best-selling author and fox news contributor anded editorial advisor raymond jarreau. [applause]

[cheering] there he is. producer of the reagan movie, mark joseph. [applause] director of the reagan movie, sean mcnamara and his son seamus who has a birthday today. let's give a hand to seamus. [applause] more broadly, there are several members of the reagan movie's cast and crew and the audience. let's give them all a big hand of applause. [applause] we are in for a very special evening. from small-town roots of the glitter of hollywood and then on to commanding the world stage, the reagan movie is a cinematic journey of a man overcoming the odds. exercising tremendous leadership in achieving remarkable results

as america's 40th president. the storiesto told to the voicef victor petrovich of former kgb agent whose life becomes inextricably linked with ronald reagan's when reagan first got the soviets attention as an actor in hollywood. the movie was not a reagan foundation project. however, we are really excited to have a conversation with members of the cast and play a handful of clips from the film. in eight moment we joined the following forecast members i ask you please hold your applause until they join us on stage. so first of course is dennis quaidd and the two-time global nominee for his best route in movies such as the rookie, the day after tomorrow, the parent trap and many, many more. a household name his work expands multiple generations of beloved films. in addition to acting dennis is a musician multiple albums and is currently promoting a new

gospel album titled the fallen on gospel record for sinners. wit since we are all sinners it's an album for everybody. janice said playing ronald reagan was one of the greatest honors of hisis life and he was inspired by the many parallels each of them had in their lives. next, elya baskin attended moscow's procedures arts college as both a considerable career in tv and film. he is also a regular on the long run internet program at low radio where he makes amusing commentary on contemporary topics. next,s amanda righetti moved to los angeles at age 18. a year later was cast on hits of the seat when warner bros. and peter roth recognized her talent. after being part of the ocs success, she's known for many television film roles including inn north shore, the mentalist,

chicago fire, and captain america the first avenger. and then we have will wallace who has acted in, produced, written and directed numerous award-winning films including the thin red line, i am sam, rules of engagement, and broke sky for which a he received a bt actor nomination from san fran indie fest. will has also played rollsle in such roles as beverly hills 90210. and baywatch. pretty cool but with that i ask you to join me and warmly welcoming to the stage the cast members of the reagan movie. [applause] welcome. [applause]

have a seat. [laughter] i'm going to start dennis of course. and thenth as you said publicly yearsas ago that ronald reagan s your favorite president. so how did you come to that assessment? what drew you to theag role of playing ronald reagan? >> well, i was aware of ronald reagan from when i was driving down to galveston from houston as a boy. my dad was listening to the speech on the radio when he was pounding the -- and said yes, yeah, yeah. that was first politically. i remember him from selling soap on death valley days. and then ge theater. but when it came time to vote, i voted for ronald reagan. i went home in los angeles.

my roommate said would you vote forward i s said it reagan he sd you are kicked out of the hippies. [laughter] so i turned in my hippy card, which i never really had any way.ri he was my favorite president. >> yous mentioned the speech that's a reference ice in the 1964as time for choosing speech. that was his breakout speech thatol had them burst out onto e political scene. you were randomly in the car with your dad listen to radio? >> yep. that was it. it's kind of my introduction to the political world. i could see how he inspired my dad. and my dad was just -- reagan was his hero. and i remember, even like talking with him i think it was in 72 he was saying we need ronaldag reagan. and he was right. >> is an early adopter, right?

>> yes oh yes all the way. >> it was it maybe because of that and this -- these formative experiences relatively early in your life that because you just say a few years ago you said publicly that the shiver of fear went up your spine at the prospect of playing ronald reagan. you are highly accomplished actor. you actually played bill clinton in a movie prior to that paresis is not new territory for you. but what if you have a shiver of fear? >> well, because he was my favorite president. and you know i do, just like there's a lot of things. i felt unworthy. i felt like why would anybody want me to play it reagan? i don't really look like him or sound like him. and really what it is, he is like mohamed ali. he has known all over the world. until everybody has got an opinion of imports has probably fear being judged too and all of that.

which is still here by the way. [laughter] but, usually that shiver of fear goes up my spine it's a sign i should do that because it is out of my comfort zone. so it took me a while to say yes. but i went to the reagan ranch and drove up the 5 miles of the worst road in california. i got up on top and as soon as i came out into the clearing there, i felt like yes, i could feel him. i felt him as a human being and when he was. was not a rich person and i could just feel him in all of his work up there. and so i saidd yes. >> how did you approach the physical transformation? i had the privilege of seeing it in advance of the film you are playing ronald reagan from the

time is in his mid- 30s until andjellies well into his 70s. so as an actor, how do you approach that? >> i was lucky that i had a year that turned into two before we shot the movie. >> because of covid question. >> yes because of covid and a number of things, getting things together to do it. i mean joseph was 2009 you'd been trying to get it together that? it was a long journey. i went to youtube, you too it is so great, isn't it? for things like that. everything is available to you as far as the exterior of how he talks, walks, and that. and of footage going back to his time in the movies. and the subcommittee. and his voice of course is very high. we had to work on the voice over

that period of time and map out the transitions. and he had a crooked smile. and where does that come from? i work from the outside in. it was really about feeling him. i'm still dennis quaid playing ronald reagan and the like. i did not want to connect in the way as an idol as a human to what makes people tick? that is the question. >> someone of your acting stature must still have had a real challenge trying to capture some of those iconic lines. there is one clip i would like to play. >> by the way i changed it yesterday. [laughter] i wanted to get it more like the way he said it.

after that will invite dennis' comments. >> general secretary gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek change come here. mr. gorbachev, open this gate. [cheering] mr. gorbachev, tear down this wall. [cheering] [cheering]

[applause]of one of the advantages is i had lived through all of it. those at times, those are great times. they are inspiring times. what reagan did, really for all of us along with all of us was like the voice of the american people i think. >> a while. i want to bring in will hear. and to a fairly early part of the reagan presidency. let's play clip number one. >> mr. president air traffic control is threatening a strike. >> can they do that?

>> no, sir. they've all signed a no strike contract. toxic contract is a contract. that's the way i learned it. they forfeited their jobs. >> is so this is a very significant a moment to the reagan president and it comes very early on. will invite you to comment and kick it around. >> it is such a powerful moment. i believe this is august the third , 81? eighty-one. yes. i just think, just be a part of that. i was fortunate enough that mark joseph was able to set up a time for me too zoom during covid with mr. meese. so i got to meet him via zoom and seek his insight. and i think -- i mean reagan --

>> for those who may not know the full context, president reagan fired the air traffic controllers who had gone on strike. and a wills character, ed meese, who subsequently became the attorney general but was at the time is a key long-standing adviser to president reagan. he is explaining to the president the momentous nature of this decision. and so you get to deliver that. so you are in touch with the actual ed meese. >> yes. >> is a first real test of his presidency i think. you know, howbe tough he is goig to be. in fact, it affected the soviets are. >> absolutely. >> they would just shut down all the airspace of the united states. what will he do to us if he does that to his own people? [laughter] >> and further to yourt, points, ronald reagan was not only a union member but a former union president. >> right. >> it sent this profound signall

how tough he was. >> yes really amazing. >> a contractth is a contract. >> that is right. >> maybe we will switch gears. let's talk a little bit about the young ronald reagan. and his mother his mother, nellie reagan. a man that what was it like preparing to beat ronald be ronald reagan'smom? [laughter] >> they are really big shoes to fill. [laughter] but there is not about nelly in terms of -- i think for dennis there is plenty on youtube to search for ronald reagan and be able to embody a physical attribute and work from the outside in. and for nelly there wasn't that kind of. >> she died in 1962. she was on a public figure. >> correct. >> of most of my research and most of things i found out about her were from reagan's hand. i was reading his autobiography

in some biographies that were written about reagan that his mother sort of found her way into the stories. god and ronald reagan actually was the, the most poignant part of the research because that was the most information about her. and also really the impact she had on his life. and what she instilled in him as a young boy he really carried with him for his life. >> so, what were some of those things? did you start out with essentially a blank slate that you'ret going to learn about nelly reagan? what did you learn about her? what came of that? >> i learned she was the youngest of seven children. her mother passed when she was 17. her and her father had a very strained relationship.e she fell into the arms of jack reagan he was a catholic but she

was a protestant which was a big no-no back then. she stuck with her protestant roots raised her children in the faith of god. really led them without strong hands in a very strong moral compass. i think she dove into the church world. i don't know if it was a way to escape the hardships of her own life? she survived influences in 1918 part she almost died and her faith in god really grew strong. that was something she profoundly put upon her children raised her children. >> i do want to come to the faith element which is very, very significant in just a moment. but before that let's play clip number three. we willha invite you to tell us what that says about nelly and what she's trying to instill on a young ronald reagan, dutch

reagan. let's play clip number three please. [inaudible] that's what bullies do until you send up to them. it is time for you to settle this, dutch. go on. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] so, tells about that seeing a band. what is going on? how did you approach it? what, what was embellishment or was in the historical record? >> so, the reagan's moved a lot

and dutch got picked on a lot. and he was bullied quite often. and i think it got to a point in his life that he was old enough to grow a backbone. and she really sorted help kick him over that and get to the place where he needed to stand up to the bullies inin his life that were coming up against him and giving him a hard time. so, i, i don't know. it's a tricky scene. it's a, it's a, it's a funny thing to walk. it's in love but it's also a little bit ruthless. so i can, i think my approach was -- she was a very loving mother. and so i wanted it to still have it come from a place of love. not for a place of do this or else. historically, i don't really know what it was. we sort of built in the spaces that we could based on what we knew. >> well, one part we know very

well with the profound nature of her faith. and i would like to actually then, in a moment go to clip number two where the character features prominently at but it's both you amanda and you ilya go to clip number two and then i will invite them to comment. >> i finally traced his disdain for communism. >> people are frightened, hungry, delighted. >> visited his church. >> state rooms and t controls everything to the smallest detail. your speech, your actions. >> to know what they took away from us first thing? god. church,hi this. people don't have business of it in the closeout most of them. and there clergy many are dead. americans shoot no more because

it's coming here. freedom is only one general way from extinction. [applause] and just like that the seed was planted. [applause] quick so amanda, tell us what nelly reagan as doing and then elya tells the nature of the character you are portraying? >> nelly is exposing reagan to soviet communism. i think ultimately, that is the crux of it. and i think back and then soviet communismht was the big bad, right? and i think reagan, a lot of his presidency was fighting soviet communism and the darkness that came about with it.

the character that is visiting the church at that time, remind me. >> elya tell us who you are portraying it why it matters so much. >> oh, because it's actually happening right now in this country. with the misinformation that goes around. when that real people speak out, when people tell the truth, university and most of the left-wing organizations they just don't want to deal with those people. they don't listen to them. and that is what my character in this movie was trying to explain to his audience in this church were young ronald reagan for the first time i heard that the soviet union was not the paradise that a couple of famous peopleeo were telling americans.

not only americans and westerners, there is a group of writers that went to the soviet union by invitation of joseph stalin. there was herbert wells, very, very well-known writers. they were treated like they were kings, with royalty. they were shownvi villages i dot know what it is, during the czar time the general was expecting how peasants lived and they lived awful lives. but to show the general they lived they spelt a special village for everything was just marvelous and everybody could only dream about life like that.

and so that's where the baton can village comes. that is when stalin invited those writers, treated them. when they came back they started saying, writing that the soviet union is a paradise. that everybody c in the working classes happy. and everybody has everything they need. >> a worker's paradise. a worker's paradise? >> a worker's paradise. >> so you grew up what was then the soviet union or in latvia which is now free country but at the time was part off the soviet union. and when did you come to the united states? at what was your perception of the protestants generally and ronald reagan specifically? [applause] quick that's a good question i cameme here in 1976 at the end f the ford administration. and then the next president was jimmy carter.

after a couple of years living under jimmy carter, i started to wonder did i do the right thing? [laughter] [laughter] but then came ronald reagan and i knew that was the right thing. >> well, i want to pose to all of you. [applause] as each of you prepared for your respectivewh roles, what if anything surprised you? dennis, you were very familiar with ronald reagan. you grew up with him. but, as you went really deep what surprise you? what did you learn that caught you off guard? >> so much. just that clip right there brought up a lot. you know freedom is just a general way from generation away from extinction.

i always kinda went yeah, yeah, to that until recently. [laughter] and it is true how we have to really guard and hold precious all these gifts that we have gotten from our forefathers because we can lose them. and that is very real. the other thing, reagan was fighting communism very early on from his time. he was an actor who became vice president, then president of the screen actors guild. and he was fighting communism there in the screen actors guild. >> in the film very, very compellingly conveys that. >> yes, they were trying to take over that guild and the unions for every bird that thought that

was a big wives tale after the soviet union fell, they found all the files of course. and it was exactly as they said. and he was dedicated to that. and at a time when our country, we are idealistic and want to be friends with everybody, and we think you make a promise you keep it. and we expect the whole world is likeke us. but they didn't grow up like us. they do not have the freedoms of us. we appeased and appeased and appeased the soviet union for just about every presidency that i remember in my lifetime. and reagan was the first to come along and say no. and so many people were afraid. oh, we don't want to make them out and everything because they're going to attack us. but it's, it took, it took a

cold warrior like ronald reagan to win the cold war. because they respected him. >> and at the same time your portrayal also can fail is that he was a happy warrior. he wasn't an angry abrasive man. >> he had a sunny disposition. [laughter] he likes people. you know? and they liked him. and you know, it does not take a genius to figure out that way of life, that people and most of the worldy was living under really. then it was, thank god for him. his idea that he formed even before his presidency was to bankrupt them. that would be the way to bring down the soviet union. and it business.

as part of the the the the on that you raise about engaging with people think also has is reflective of the broader i think implication of the movie that there's tremendous resonance for today. and in a moment i want to go to clip number five but there are >> in a moment i want to clip number five, but there are many parallels between the late 70s early 80s and today. one of them is how divided we are as a kearnt how contentious it is. let's play clip number 5 that is where tip o'neal and ronald reagan and gents, take it away. >> mr. speaker, mr. president, congratulations. welcome to the bigs. you enjoy tonight because

tomorrow we go to work. >>ec i've been well briefed on u tip i'ma told i probably better get a good head start. >> plenty irish of you. planning to go ten rounds. just remember every day has a 6 p.m.as >> what do you mean by that? >> after 6 we are two irish men having a beer. [laughter] >> deal. >> tell us a little bit more about that. what went into the scene and what did your research tell you about that? >> that scene really happened, and it became where tip o'neal was over at the white house a lot more than he had to be because they were friends in advance -- you know, tried to figure out some kind of compromise and come closer to each other than got to be my way or the highway

compromise is what america was built on. and reagan had a great way of saying he would say -- just because he disagrees with me about 20% of this issue, that a --'t make him he's not a 20% enemy. he's an 80% friend and they had ad way of coming together. i mean, emblematic way i we shall we can be like and we still can be to get back. to working together as americans. and -- >>d well said. [applause] it's important to note ronldz reagan never had both houses of congress and pass anything he had to bring democrats onboard, and he and "tip" o'neill would duke it out but major

legislative victories that required democrats coming loon. >> "tip" o'neill besides nancy was first person to visit him in the hospital. >> let's go to that. that's our last clip. that's number four and invite you to comment on that clip number four, please. >> heel do anything to get that damn tax cut. >> -- how are you doing, pal? >>g i don't recommend getting shot. no. you tip, think there's any -- there's reason for all of this? there's a big job left to be done, and whatever time i have left it -- belongs to him. >> even though i walk through the valley of the shadow of

death for that will art with me. goodness and mercy will follow me all of the days of my life. and i will dwell in the house of the lord forever. [laughter] awe -- [applause] >> those who may not have the context this is in immediate aftermath of president reagan being shot less than 80 days into his presidency so tell us a little bit about more about that scene and all -- there's so much in there.i >> like i said he was, you know, first president come -- in the white house in the hospital, and they prayed together there. and democrat and republican -- democrat and republican -- catholic -- exactly. and they worked together. you know, they would after reagan got shot, he really did

believe that, you know, that his life was no longer his own. that -- it was god's purpose for him, that was what he was going to work for. and that's what he did, and they -- you know, "tip" o'neill really raked him over the coals over other things they were bitter political enemies. but they kept an open mind about each other. that little -- 10%,20% of an open mind that you could learn from the other one or maybe of a little bit of a good idea. you know big saying that reagan used to say you can get a lot done in washington if you don't care who gets credit for it. and -- i think they worked that way as well. we actually have a plaque in the gift shop that has that quote. >> listen up a little bit maybe light hearted moments kind of --

filming the movie just anything amanda, will, just what was your experience like doing a very serious historical film like this? >> i feel like it was in a completely separate movie because all of my stuff was in the 20s and 30s so we had all of the model tees and everything was -- the costumes everything or i guess you guys were all -- your costumes were -- period piece costumes too. but i c felt like the stuff thai got to do was really -- it, was really cool to see allf thero costumes and -- i really enjoyed that. it was really fast and furious i think -- my portion shot for maybe ten days. >> what was that out of curiosity? >> in oklahoma. i don't know did you guys film all of it there? >> we came back here and shot a little bit in the -- air force one. which was how cool is that?

i had to pinch myself so many teams. again for context you actually were in the plane that president reagan used as air force one which is -- >> yeah. a hundred, 200 yards -- doing a scene with nancy penelope and miller and i'm wearing reagan's actual jacket. you know, it's -- it's very eerie what a feeling. you know, i hardly knew how to describe that and then we shot at the reagan ranch and doing scenes that happened there. actual events that happened there.at and i don't think ron and nancy ever imagined. >> i'm glad i know her because it has been said that one cannot possibly understand ronald reagan and the reagan presidency would understanding crucial role

that mrs. nancy reagan plays how did you and penelope work that out deep on that? >> there wouldn't have been -- wouldn't have beena a president ronald reagan without nancy. their love stories central -- to the movie and it's central to their -- their lives. he -- the support and the strength that they drew from their love story, and it was a love story. itlo truly, truly was. you know, i can't begin to say enough about it. and he wrote her love notes every day. and i think their relationship taught me about like -- relationships.io an example of one that is like eternal that works and true love story. you know, you can't manufacture

that. >> i think she really -- the twoly of you had an amazing connection eve to say she was i don't know penelope was sending out christmas cards -- you and her merry christmas from the reagans, and -- [laughter] >> channeled nancy it was like wow. even in the lunch line she was channeling nancy. you know, but she was protecting you as well when nancy was -- when she was on i felt a fear of god. she was -- there. >> really made is so much easier and their performance is incredible. >> as each of you reflects on the film do any of you care to share a favorite scene or something that was particularly fun to shoot or i'm you know what ilya or -- >> i haven't seen the film. >> you'll have to stick around after. [laughter] >> for me just -- form some reason, the berkeley

riots back in the 60s that was a really fun day. when ronald reagan was governor therer were very significant campus protests, there was unrest, and again more parallels between that era and this era. and so tell us about this scene where ronald reagan goes, tell us -- >> i think -- and that was one of the questions remarks that zoom with mr. nice i was able to ask about. his answers to me seemed more as you remember them zoom to be answers that were -- that had -- had time to change over the decades. and i asked him if he could to reanswer the question, his mindset behind riots at berkeley, back in the late 60s and t how it was then because hinged sight it is 2020 but he

was. he was gracious and kind of readapting the answer to his question and -- so i would try to internalize that mindset rather than today on it and whether or not he feels responsible for atrocities based on his decision that he made or nots. you know -- >> i would love that was the favorite scene. berkeley riot, and it was the california governor reagan. you know, it was -- something about him then, you know, wear brown suits and wear them so great. i get up like the sheriff in town reagan. you know? and at the same a time, he had such great -- disarm people with his walk through the crowd of the student protesters having a silence or whatever got tape over their

mouths and stops at door and turns around and goes -- sh -- and just crack them all up made them laugh at themselves. [laughter] it is really -- it was really disarming that way. and not many people have that ability. >> he was telling jokes. reagan he was always a performer. >> opened with a joke. the other -- was the second debate of i will not for political purposes take advantage of my opponents use at inexperience. [laughter] you know, it was set up and you canyo see it come and he was suh a great actor that -- i think he was channeling he and

jack benny -- [laughter] solve jokes for each other because he did a jack benny what made it so funny is that everybody laughs including mondale he's laughing and he knows also that while this election is over. [laughter] reagan said it and took it and he tookat the water and sipped water just elongate the moment a little bit, you know, cagey thing to do there that was definitely jack benny. >> any other thoughts? >> i also would say shawn had so much to do our director here. you were just always on top of it. i was amazed you were flying around pulling off miracle every day or two, and kudos to you on that. >> we -- [applause]

it is such a timely thing to have this movie now when the country so divided. >> we were -- it was like well we don't want this to be a political movie and that's what he thought -- and i definitely didn't want it to come out during an election year. [laughter] youu know, it is going to get lost or that or that it is just going to add -- now, it came out and turns out what do i know? because it's the perfect time to bring it out i think -- [applause] it really is.tene and again you could have never predicted this from campus protest tom a presidential candidate or i'm sorry a former president getting shot or getting shot at -- it is just really striking. so in a moment we're going to go to audience questions if

reminder that questions nend a question mark. and what i would like to do is a quick lightning round for any of the cast members who would care to comment short -- short statement, given that we are at the point demographically in this countryoi we're about hf of the population roughly has no memory whatsoever ronald reagan because they were simply born at aim time where it would have ben impossible for them to have a -- a memory of ronald reagan. what do people need to know about ronald reagan and what would you like them to come away with from seeing the film? >> well, those born after 1980s they will have a chance to really see what this country was like and what it can still be. of us that were born before u 1980, we can have a

reminder. and i wanted to entertain, and inspire people. that's what it's for. we go to the movies to feel and see things. i hope it is a uniting thing. [applause] >> ilya. >> i think it will make america great again. [applause] >> and just to underscore or put some context around that. that was actually a ronald reagan campaign slogan in 1980 make america great again and -- >> it was. >> i think you summed it up earlier just what you were talking about scene with "tip" o'neill and president reagan, and just democrat, republican, i think there's just a amazing

amountam of hostility between te two parties right now. and it's -- i would love if anything for people to remember how it was in hose days in the learn from that, and to work together issue by issue, and not be so hung on just which party you are, and what -- >> personality, what that means. [applause] >> i think it is a story with politics as a back drop and what i really appreciate about the film is you see reagan as a human being. but really touches on the love story between he and nancy, and i just think there's a human element to it that we don't really see in politics and it has the opportunity to see what it was fleshing him. >> to underscore your point as somebody who watched the film -- there's real struggle in his life. you mentioned how they moved around a lot. he kale from --

>> d struggles with alcohol inc. >> big time. rongd reagan had great times and not so great times and movie exposes the tunes that. >> he also -- i think he had a lot of failures in his life and it is the story of being able to get back up on the horse, and you know, ride with that -- that white flag of hope i think reagan really offered that. >> right. we have folked with microfen and going to the fabulous phyllis sitting in the front row and dave next. >> thank you very much for being here. i really enjoyed the presentation. as you all are very well aware, hollywood, media and the political parties have really i

think, added to the division in this -- i'm wondering if you're expecting or if you've gotten any blowback from hollywood, anything that you feel might occur once the movie comes out. >> well, there were two attempts to cancel me when i was doing thes movie. in fact, i don't know if i would -- say that was the cause of reagan at the time. but i -- and reagan was -- reagan was like everybody's dad back then. at least for my boomer generation. he was our dad. and that was for better or for worse. if you're for him or oh you

know -- didn't want to hear his discipline or whatever you were in life back then he was -- he was kind of like the dad of the nation. and so people had very strong feelings just like they do about their dad, and i found people there are people out there that still carry those strong feelings with them. there's -- there's overwhelmingly more great feelings than there are, you know, bad memories about it and i think with people. in fact, a lot of student protesters and people that were, you know, dropout -- the society and you know, drop in all of that. they -- sts they wound up on wall street and made a bunch of money. [laughter] shoot the greatest thing in the world and reagan had a --

slow lasting effect on people. he grew on them as well. >> w let's go back to the front row with dave santrel here. : congratulations on just a wonderful movie, wonderful film. so as you were studying for your roles, what did you learn about the character you're playing that surprised you the most about them? >> surprise me the most was the great communicator so many people that knew him always remarked that how there was a private place in reagan you could not penetrate. and that was the challenge for me in playing him is actually to get to the human. that was there -- and you know, i think because he

was the great communicator or whatever, i think he had to have a private place in him that i think had a lot to do with the relationship he had with his mother. and god -- but who he was listening to -- and really formed, i think, that was formed the core of who he was there in that silence, i think. >> any other surprises? >> iftion most surprised at humble beginnings. and how economically like -- how the hardships of the reagan family and his father being an alcoholic those were all aspects of him that i never knew about until the film was presented to me. so i actually learned a lot

about reagan through the process about learning about -- >> he was the first president who had been divorced but he -- you know there's certainly many folks with privilege backgrounds that became president but he grew up when money was tight. dad struggled with alcoholism. it was a -- >> i think alcoholism also affected their -- their ability to live. that's they were moving constantly because of the economical hardships on the familyhe and that was really -- you know, i think jack's contribution to the reagan family, you know, but nillly really tried to protect the children from that demon that jack would have to find at bottom of a bottle. and i think that made them stronger in some ways. but it also taught the kids

really valuable lessons. >> let's go all the way in the back i see trisha with a microphone so please handle -- >> thank you. born and raised in coach i sovit union i was a student when the cold war was over in this movie what did you learn about your relationship with reagan and gorbachev? >> they you know, what happened really in that -- first meeting starting with that first meeting with them had never really happened. at -- before in a summit where i was -- i was really surprised to learn because i didn't know this before about how managed presidents were scripted even.

scripted and managed at as far as communicating with another leader. you know, it's leak you had to be chaperoned or something and reagan for the first time invited gorbachev into the next room and sitting there by the fire. andea really just getting to knw each other on a very basic level. you know talking about their mothers -- how they've grown up. and you know they saw i think they began to see each other as humans and the human cost of what nuclear exchange would be. and empathy -- for each side as part of the equation. and but that really surprised me about how personal that it was.

and i think is it took that in iceland i have to mention when they got together in iceland we all thought it was -- there were going to be no more nuclear weapons. and there were something was going to happen there, and i myself when reagan walked out i thought oh -- what? he turned it into an old, whatever he got right up to and missed the opportunity. >> this is the summit -- 1980s summit and ronald reagan walks out because he's not log to give up this strategic defense -- initiative. >> even offered to share it with him. offered to share the technology what didn't exist by the way. [laughter] at the time. was willing to play that game, not a game, it wasn't a game but he said no to them and that was

where he said no. and walked out and the soviets always figured we would cave. that we would appease. and he didn't, and i think that didn't knoww it then but that ws the moment. that the cold war was won. [applause] you certainly have company that that was a pivotal moment in the cold war. another question over here. there we go right there. >> hello this has been delightful as an actress also in a political thriller playing mary madeleine in vise i'm having so much fun listening to you all and iptsed to ask you, i'm always a ufo person -- and reagan saw ufo's by the way and married to a personal

astrologer so curious as someone who didn't fit everyone's box did you bring up metaphysical those kinds of things in the femme as far as ufo sighting or his interest in astrology? >> we did bring up the -- the preacher who met with reagan while he was still governor. and started -- they held hands to pray in a circle. and he had a vision. he started to speak i guess you would call it tongues that he said that you'll reside at 1600 pennsylvania avenue. and going into kind of a translike state, and so we did deal with that. but it was -- i think they were mixed on how they make big deal about what that was. but i think there were mixed

about how they responded to that. so that was in there. there was other things that you know that were in there that like not a complete love letter to reagan. you know, his response to aids at the time that it -- came upon us was not what it could have been. but then, you know, it was about the k times that we were in. as well as response of that. i think he did come around as well with that. ... etter. you know, he was a human being and but i do think he was the greatest president of the 20th century. we have time for or two more questions right over here in the

front. oh, let's wait for the microphone. there it is. sorry i just wanted to know how you picked a i just wanted to knowr he picd a composer. i worked in the film business for 30 years. there are many republicans. [laughter] >> i think you would be surprised. [laughter] [applause] who's next. [laughter] right over there on the aisle. >> thank you very much. i native california, seven years. i remember pat brown driving ralph my father and ronald reagan, if he were alive today, would he be the kind of person

he was back then champion conservative causes trying to get california back on the map is a commonsense state? [laughter] >> he was all about common sense, wasn't it? i think invented common sense. that's what he was all about when he came to office. because are you better off than four years ago? it's a very simpleu question. don't look behind the curtain over there. you know? people can feel it and that's when he tapped into. he tapped into everyday people and he appealed to common sense. i mean, common sense -- but the solutions are not as difficult for a lot of things we choose to put our focus on. >> you have a question also near

the aisle right over there. >> hi, have you heard from the reagan family? and if so what did they think about the film? >> and michael was very supportive. i have not seen him since we shot the film. i understand from way back marked relief sought out the family. sought out the library to. to make sure we got reagan right. that he had a voice. because it's very important about the way he is betrayed we wanted to get things historically right, emotionally right because the truth is a lot

mightier. it really is. we won it to be authentic more than anything else because reagan was so authentic. >> dennis, and a moment of going to ask you to tell the audience when and how they can see the film. but, as we close what should someone who doesn't knowga muchr anything about ronald reagan may maybe they live in a blue city or blue state, why should they see this film? quick there's a lot of it reagan democrats two. it's kind of funny how in a way after 40 years even like roosevelt who i consider to be the second greatest president of the 20th century or really up there. don't really remember the politics.

you remembered the deeds and what we all did as americans and how we came together. democrats and republicans were at each other's throats pectin behind each other's backs doing things and whatever. but the politics fade it's amazing how we make peace with the ghost of the past. what we remember is the man when we remember the story of us. and thank god for ronald reagan that he came along. i heard it said one time. [applause] america deserves the president that they get. it reflects -- and at the present reflects was going on in

.ur society it's we the people. that's why this is such an important election. [applause] everybody really need to take a side in the selection and not be afraid to talk. to be able to s speak up. because if we do not speak up freedom can be gone in a generation that is for sure. by speaking up we teach our youngs ones how to speak out. do not be afraid how to converse and argue and work it out. so republican or democrat pick a side and vote.

and then let's get on with that, right? [applause] as individuals or groups how do people see the film? calexico see the film starting august 30, right mark? it's opening in a whole bunch of theaters up. i am hoping this is going to be the biggest baby boomer movie at the theater's. [applause]t [applause] go student theaters. really with an audience and have the experience. you can always watch it streaming like later on. for the abc movie of the week. [laughter] >> show business is a business. if thee business does well thee will be more movies like this, right?

>> it is the idea anyway. [laughter] go see it until your friends about it. don't take my word for it, tell your friends about it. you yourself have an opinion of it if you like it or not. i think you will. i'm very proud of it. i think we all are. it's beend the honor of my life it has become the favorite movie i've ever made the right stuff just the honor of being able to spend my time thinking about reagan every day it was really thee honor of my life. so thank you people, thank you so much. >> i cannot think of a better note to end on dennis, amanda, well, thank you so much for

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