Reagan documentary, Secret Service presentation, among events  to mark
Reagan Museum’s 15th anniversary at Eureka College

Eureka College will observe the 15th anniversary of its Ronald Reagan Museum this academic year with several events, including sponsorship of a Reagan documentary, a presentation by a former Secret Service agent who protected Reagan, the second annual Ronald Reagan Day in February and sponsorship of a Peoria Symphony Orchestra performance with a Western theme.

The college will sponsor a showing of the documentary “Reagan” from PBS’ American Experience series on WTVP Channel 47 at 8 p.m. on Sept. 22 and Sept. 29. The college will be the sole sponsor of the broadcasts, and Eureka College President J. David Arnold will air messages before and after each one.  “Reagan,” which originally aired on PBS a decade ago, uses testimony from family, friends, historians, biographers and other witnesses to Reagan's private life and public career. Part I of the program is two hours long and focuses on Reagan’s early years and his career up to his second term as president.  Part II is two-and-a-half hours long and focuses on Reagan’s second term.

Click to watch this greeting from President Arnold which aired during the showing of the documentary "Reagan" on PBS' American Experience.

A presentation by former Secret Service agent Joseph Petro will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 in the Cerf Center. Petro was among only three witnesses at a 1985 Geneva Summit private meeting between Reagan and Soviet Union General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev that ushered in the end of the Cold War. Petro’s 2005 book, “Standing Next to History: An Agent’s Life Inside the Secret Service” recounts his four years protecting  Reagan and his 23-year career guarding others, including Gerald Ford, Henry Kissinger, Walter Mondale and Dan and Marilyn Quayle. He also discusses his supervision of the largest protective effort in Secret Service history – Pope John Paul II’s 1987 10-day, 114-stop tour of the United States. Cost to attend the presentation is $5, and reservations can be made at 467-6420. A reception and book-signing will follow.

Another event will be the second annual “Reagan Day” on Feb. 24. The college is finalizing plans for a nationally known speaker for the event, which also will recognize the 98th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth, which is Feb. 6.

Another event will be the college’s sponsorship of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s “Images of the West” concert at 8 p.m. March 28 at the Peoria Civic Center Theater. The college will sponsor the event to recognize and honor Reagan’s love for the West, including his Rancho del Cielo in Santa Barbara. Concert ticket information is available at 671-1096.

Additional events may be added.

The Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College opened in March 1994. It is named for the 40th president of the United States who was a 1932 graduate of Eureka College. Housed in the Donald B. Cerf College Center, the museum collection numbers more than 10,000 items with more than 3,000 on display from Reagan's Eureka College student days, movie and TV career, governorship of California and two terms as president .Most of artifacts were donated by Reagan. For more information about the museum, call 467-6407 or click.

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Contact:

Michele Lehman

Media Relations Coordinator

mlehman@eureka.edu

(309) 467-6318