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Neil Reagan
Neil Reagan
Neil Reagan
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John Neil Reagan (September 16, 1908 – December 11, 1996) was an American radio station manager, CBS senior producer, and senior vice president of McCann Erickson. He was the older brother of the Hollywood star and United States President Ronald Reagan.

Key Information

Life and career

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Neil at his brother's inauguration in 1981

Neil Reagan was born in Tampico on September 16, 1908.[3] He was baptized as a Catholic,[4] the faith of his father. As an infant, he attended his mother's church, but later became affiliated with his father's religion. His younger brother was baptized and raised in their mother's Disciples of Christ church.[5] Neil was described as a boisterous and gregarious personality in his youth.[6] His family and friends called him "Moon", which came from the Moon Mullins comic strip.[1][2]

In 1933, Neil graduated from Eureka College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.[3] He followed his brother to California and established a career as a television producer and advertising executive.

From the 1930s through the 1950s, Neil Reagan directed the radio series Dr. Christian, starring Jean Hersholt. In between he launched a brief Hollywood career as a supporting actor in films such as Tugboat Annie Sails Again (1940) and Doughboys in Ireland (1943). Neil Reagan directed his brother in the television series Death Valley Days.

He served as president of both the Hollywood and Los Angeles advertising clubs, and also served on numerous community and professional boards including: the Crippled Children's Society of Los Angeles, the Kennedy Child Study Center in Santa Monica, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. He was an alternate delegate to the 1972 Republican National Convention from California, and a delegate to the 1980 Republican National Convention.

The Reagan Physical Education Center on the Eureka College campus was dedicated in 1970 in honor of both Ronald and Neil Reagan. Twelve years later, Ronald Reagan would return to the Reagan Center to make one of his most important foreign policy speeches of his first term known as the START speech, or Eureka speech.[citation needed] Reagan died from heart failure at a hospital in San Diego on December 11, 1996, at age 88.[2] He is buried in Des Moines, Iowa, at Highland Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Family

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His wife, Ruth Elizabeth "Bess" Reagan (née Hoffman;[3] 1908–2010), whom he wed in 1935, died in 2010 at the age of 102. The couple had no children.[citation needed]

Selected filmography

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References

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Bibliography

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Neil Reagan

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John Neil "Moon" Reagan (September 16, 1908 – December 11, 1996) was an American advertising executive, radio broadcaster, and , most notably recognized as the older brother and only sibling of U.S. President . Born in , to parents Nelle and Reagan, he grew up alongside his younger brother in a modest household before the family relocated to . Nicknamed "Moon" by family and friends due to his jovial personality, Reagan pursued a career in media after graduating from . Reagan's professional life spanned radio announcing, , and production roles, including early work as a newscaster and sportscaster at KFWB in and later as a senior vice president at the advertising firm McCann Erickson. He directed episodes of the Western television series , for which his brother served as host in the mid-1960s, contributing to Ronald's rising public profile ahead of his political career. Additionally, Neil Reagan leveraged his media expertise to support Ronald's 1966 gubernatorial campaign in , handling and promotion strategies. Known for his outgoing demeanor contrasting his brother's more reserved style, he maintained a low public profile despite familial ties to the presidency. Reagan resided in for much of his adult life, engaging in Republican aligned with his brother's conservative principles, though he avoided the political spotlight himself. He passed away from in at age 88, predeceasing his brother by nearly eight years.

Early Life

Birth and Childhood

John Neil Reagan was born on September 16, 1908, in , to parents John Edward "Jack" Reagan, a traveling shoe salesman of Irish Catholic descent, and Nelle Clyde Wilson Reagan, a Scottish-English Protestant who worked as a seamstress and . As the firstborn son, he received the nickname "," derived from the popular character Moon Mullins. Reagan's younger brother, Ronald Wilson Reagan, was born on February 6, 1911, in the same small town of , a rural community in Whiteside County with a population of around 800 at the time. The brothers' early years were marked by frequent relocations driven by their father's unstable employment, including stints in Monmouth and , amid the economic challenges of the early . In 1920, when Neil was 12 years old, the family settled in , where they resided for the remainder of his childhood; Dixon provided a more stable environment, with Neil attending local schools alongside his brother. The Reagan household faced financial hardships, exacerbated by Jack's struggles with , though Nelle's religious faith and homemaking efforts offered structure to the boys' upbringing in these Midwestern towns.

Education

Neil Reagan attended Dixon High School in Dixon, Illinois, where he grew up after his family relocated from Tampico. He subsequently enrolled at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, a small liberal arts institution affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), following in the footsteps of his younger brother Ronald, who graduated a year earlier. Reagan earned a degree in economics from in 1933. In 1937, after beginning his broadcasting career, he briefly attended Columbia Technical Drafting School in , though this short-term program did not lead to a formal degree or alter his primary professional trajectory in media and .

Career

Early Radio Work

Following his graduation from in 1933 with a degree in , Neil Reagan entered the radio industry in , initially working at WOC in Davenport, where he advanced to program director. When his brother joined WHO Radio in Des Moines after the 1933 merger of WOC with WHO, Neil followed as a staff announcer. In 1939, after Ronald's relocation to Hollywood, Neil moved to and took his first position there as an announcer at KFWB in . From KFWB, he transitioned to , where he worked as a producer and director, overseeing programs including the Dr. Christian starring , which he directed for nearly 20 years beginning in the late 1930s. The series aired from 1937 to 1954, emphasizing ethical dilemmas faced by a small-town physician and reaching national audiences on and later the Mutual network.

Advertising and Management Roles

In 1945, Neil Reagan joined McCann-Erickson, one of the world's largest agencies at the time, marking the beginning of his prominent career in the field. By 1948, he had been promoted to manager of the agency's key Hollywood office, leveraging his media experience to handle for the industry. In this role, he directed radio programs, including guiding actor Jean Hersholt's portrayal of Dr. Paul Christian. Reagan advanced to senior vice president of McCann-Erickson and head of its operations, positions he held until his retirement in 1973 after more than 40 years in and . His expertise earned him leadership roles in industry groups; peers elected him president of several associations, including a notable position in 1951. In management capacities tied to advertising, Reagan contributed to political campaigns, including directing McCann-Erickson's advertising efforts for his brother 's 1970 gubernatorial reelection in . Earlier, in 1962, he secured a hosting for the series , drawing on his advertising connections. These roles highlighted his ability to bridge commercial advertising with talent management in Hollywood and beyond.

Film, Television, and Production Involvement

Neil Reagan appeared in minor roles in three films and one television program during the early 1940s. His screen debut was as an uncredited reporter in the 1940 comedy Tugboat Annie Sails Again, followed by a credited role as a in the 1943 wartime Doughboys in Ireland. He also made a brief appearance on the 1950 episode of the anthology series This Is Your Life dedicated to his brother . These roles marked the extent of his on-screen career, which remained limited despite his relocation to Hollywood in the late to join Ronald in the entertainment industry. Transitioning from acting, Reagan established himself as a producer and director in radio and television, leveraging his advertising background at agencies like McCann Erickson. In the 1930s and 1940s, he produced and directed the popular radio series Dr. Christian, starring Jean Hersholt, which aired nationwide and focused on small-town medical dramas. By the 1950s, he advanced to senior producer at CBS, overseeing television content amid the medium's expansion. His most notable television production work came with Death Valley Days, a long-running Western anthology series sponsored by 20 Mule Team Borax; as producer and director, he managed episodes from the late 1950s onward and played a key role in 1964 in selecting Ronald Reagan to succeed Stanley Andrews as the on-air host, a position Ronald held for three seasons starting that year. This involvement intertwined family ties with professional duties, as Neil directed his brother's hosting segments. Reagan's production efforts extended into advertising-integrated content, reflecting his dual roles in and ; he rose to senior vice president at McCann Erickson, where he headed the Los Angeles office and produced promotional television spots until his retirement in 1973. His career emphasized behind-the-scenes contributions over performing, contributing to the commercialization of broadcast media during radio's decline and television's ascent.

Family and Relationships

Marriage and Children

Neil Reagan married Ruth Elizabeth Hoffman, commonly known as Bess, in 1935. The couple wed on August 31 in , and remained married until Neil's death in 1996. Hoffman, born in 1908 in , outlived her husband by over a decade, passing away on October 22, 2010, at the age of 102. The Reagans had no children.

Brotherhood with Ronald Reagan

Neil Reagan, nicknamed "Moon," maintained a close and supportive relationship with his younger brother , known as "Dutch," from childhood through adulthood. Born on September 16, 1908, in , Neil was three years older than Ronald, born February 6, 1911, and the brothers grew up together after their family relocated to , in 1920. Their shared upbringing in a modest household, marked by their father Jack Reagan's struggles with and shoe salesmanship, fostered a strong bond. Both attended Dixon High School and later , where Neil earned a B.A. in in the early . In their professional lives, the brothers' paths intersected in broadcasting and advertising. During the 1930s, both worked in ; Ronald as a sports announcer at WHO radio, while Neil handled advertising and sales for the station's parent company. Neil's career in advertising later provided direct assistance to : in 1939, , then an emerging Hollywood actor, invited Neil to visit and tour Warner Bros. studios, helping launch Neil's West Coast connections. Conversely, in 1962, Neil, as an advertising executive, negotiated 's contract to host the television series , which sustained 's public profile amid his shift from acting to politics. Politically, the brothers aligned as Republicans in the early , with Neil preceding Ronald in the switch from Democratic affiliation. Neil actively supported Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign, efforts in which Ronald also participated prominently through his televised speech "." Described in obituaries as Ronald's "jovial brother," Neil complemented Ronald's more reserved demeanor, and their lifelong correspondence and mutual encouragement underscored a fraternal dynamic rooted in shared Midwestern values and ambition. Neil's death on December 11, 1996, from at age 88, occurred as Ronald contended with advancing , preventing direct attendance at the funeral but not diminishing the enduring nature of their brotherhood.

Later Life and Death

Retirement and Final Years

Neil Reagan retired in 1973 as senior vice president and head of the Los Angeles office at the McCann-Erickson , concluding over 40 years in radio, television production, and advertising. He and his wife, Bess, resided in , where he led a low-profile life focused on rather than professional pursuits. Known for his jovial personality—earning him the lifelong nickname "" from the comic strip character—Reagan remained close to his brother , supporting his political campaigns earlier in life but stepping back after his own . In his final years, Reagan's health deteriorated, particularly in 1996, amid ongoing contact with , who maintained communication during this period of illness. His retirement allowed reflection on a career that paralleled yet diverged from his brother's path in and , emphasizing personal loyalty over public prominence.

Death and Tributes

Neil Reagan died of on December 11, 1996, at Scripps Memorial Hospital in , , at the age of 88. He had resided in . Former President and his wife, , issued a family statement announcing the death and expressing grief, stating, "We will miss him terribly" and noting their recent constant contact with Neil's wife, Bess. The Reagans' message highlighted the close sibling bond, with Ronald, then battling at age 85, unable to attend public events. Public tributes were limited, reflecting Neil Reagan's lower public profile compared to his brother, though obituaries in major outlets such as and portrayed him as a jovial advertising executive and loyal sibling who supported Ronald's early career. He was interred at Highland Memorial Gardens in .

References

  1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1996/12/14/broadcaster-neil-reagan-dies/e7b2f641-ef65-41f4-aaaf-8f08398ee767/
  2. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-12-13-mn-8727-story.html
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/13/us/neil-reagan-88-ad-executive-and-jovial-brother-of-president.html
  4. https://www.shawlocal.com/sauk-valley/2025/02/13/a-piece-of-dixon-history-the-climax-of-neil-reagans-career/
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0713979/
  6. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/reagans/ronald-reagan/ronald-reagans-family
  7. https://www.shawlocal.com/sauk-valley/2025/01/18/a-piece-of-dixon-history-the-other-reagan-brother/
  8. https://millercenter.org/president/reagan/life-before-the-presidency
  9. https://www.dixongov.com/content/dixon-community/reagan-s-roots-run-deep-in-the-dixon/
  10. https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/education/2014/02/06/eureka-announces-major-gift-from/39385033007/
  11. https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/1996/12/13/ol-blue-eyes-turns-81/50836672007/
  12. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1996/rt9612/961213/12130085.htm
  13. https://www.shawlocal.com/sauk-valley/2025/01/30/a-piece-of-dixon-history-how-neil-reagan-became-popular-in-hollywood/
  14. https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/12/13/neil-reagan88-the-older-brother-of-former/
  15. https://buffalonews.com/news/article_8c10418d-c112-5f06-a5b1-5a11d121e7d5.html
  16. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KFRP-KGS/john-neil-reagan-1908-1996
  17. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82236867/ruth_elizabeth-reagan
  18. https://www.geni.com/people/Neil-Moon-Reagan/6000000007179405266
  19. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/12/15/neil-reagan-ex-presidents-only-brother/
  20. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1980/08/04/ronnies-big-brother/94583fd2-ed6b-469c-b5d8-f28e58135416/
  21. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/12/12/President-Reagans-brother-dies/2869850366800/
  22. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8893588/john_neil-reagan
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