Reagan’s granddaughter, Kevin McCarthy honor Reagan’s legacy on 115th birthday
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Hundreds gathered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Friday to commemorate the late president’s 115th birthday; It was a very moving tribute, especially given the death of his son, Michael Reagan, earlier this year.
Reagan’s granddaughter, Ashley Reagan, was among those in attendance, and Reagan said the annual tribute helps preserve the legacy her father Michael spent much of his life preserving.
“Even though he had recently passed away, it was very important to my entire family that we were here to honor my grandfather and his legacy and everything he represented,” she said.
“What he lived for was to make sure my grandfather’s legacy continued,” he said. “He’s now carrying on my grandfather’s legacy and my father’s legacy.”
MICHAEL REAGAN, ELDER SON OF FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN, DIES AT THE AGE OF 80
President Ronald W. Reagan speaks to the press during the Iran-Contra hearings. (Diana Walker/Getty Images)
The annual memorial service in Simi Valley, California, drew family members, political leaders and longtime fans of the former president.
Fox News Digital spoke exclusively with Ashley Reagan and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to reflect on Reagan’s legacy and the importance of his leadership in today’s deeply divided political environment.
Ashley spoke candidly after her father died on January 4 following a battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.
“He was definitely a big personality. He spoke his mind. You always knew where he stood in politics as well,” Ashley said. “He was someone who always told the truth.”
Ashley said her father, a nationally syndicated radio talk show host, shares his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, “no matter who they are.”
Ashley Reagan, granddaughter of former President Ronald Reagan, at her birthday tribute at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on February 6, 2026. (Nora Moriarty)
“I think it came from many years of watching and observing and kind of watching how my grandfather interacted with people, how he communicated with people, and how his communication didn’t depend on who someone was.,” explained. “That’s why he was able to accomplish the things he was able to accomplish while in office.”
Ashley also emphasized that the version of Ronald Reagan that Americans see as president on the national stage is no different from the “grandfather” he knows at home, calling him “the heart of the world.”
“The person you saw was the person who was with us,” Ashley told Fox News Digital. “We rode horses with him; we went to his house and ate lunch with him all the time; he was fair, he was grandpa.”
Throughout her adult life, the Reagans spent a lot of time at their Santa Barbara ranch, Rancho del Cielo. (Getty Images)
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When discussing how Reagan would perceive today’s political climate, both Ashley and McCarthy suggested the theory that history is repeating itself, saying it bears similarities to the tumultuous period Reagan faced when he took office in the 1980s.
“I think it reflects when he took over in the ’80s,” Ashley said. “I think if you go back in history and look at where the country was before he took office, it reflects that time period.”
“Hyperinflation, America’s embarrassment at what happened to our hostages, the difficulty of convincing a sitting president that the best days are behind us… So many similarities.”,” McCarthy added.
Ashley said his grandfather would emphasize unity, especially at a time when political divisions run so deep.
“I think it would encourage us to reach across the aisle a little more, but unfortunately we see history repeating itself in many ways,” he said.
Marines stand at the President Reagan Memorial Site at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley during a ceremony celebrating the 115th anniversary of Reagan’s birthday, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Los Angeles Daily News via Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Getty Images)
“He was all about togetherness and always said the only way to get things done was to reach across the aisle and work with the other side. And he was able to accomplish so much because he didn’t just focus on like-minded people, he worked with everyone,” she added.
McCarthy, a keynote speaker at Reagan’s 115th birthday commemoration, told Fox News Digital that the former president was a major influence in determining his political philosophy.
“I grew up in an all-Democratic family,” the speaker said. “He and Abraham Lincoln are the reason I became a Republican. I rejected what I heard at home.”
55th House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at former President Ronald Reagan’s birthday tribute at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on February 6, 2026. (Nora Moriarty)
“I remember in grade school watching Jimmy Carter tell me that the best days were behind us. [Reagan] take to a catwalk, say no to pastels, fly the bold colors and head to that bright city on the hill. That’s who I wanted to follow. That’s what brought me to the Republican Party,” McCarthy added.
The speaker also described Reagan as a “happy conservative” who believed that strong principles bring more freedom; He is the kind of leader America needs today, he said.
“He actually invited more people to the party,” McCarthy said. “There were what we called Reagan Democrats. These people were educated through him and said, ‘I want to be with him. I want America to be better.’ Those are the candidates we should be looking for.”
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Ashley said part of how she carries on the Reagan legacy is through her work with the Young America’s Foundation (YAF), which operates the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, California; He explained that this site is deeply personal to the family.
Michael Reagan speaks at a Young America Foundation event. Reagan passed away on Sunday, January 4, according to the family statement. (Young America Foundation)
“My father’s passing gets us more involved in these things because we don’t want to miss the connection we had with Ronald Reagan,” he said.
“Young people are still inspired by President Reagan’s words about freedom. Noting his birthday highlights his extraordinary impact even today,” former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, YAF President, told Fox News Digital.
