You know my father as governor, as president, but I knew him as dad. I was so proud to have the Reagan name and to be Ronald Reagan’s son.

Michael Reagan contrasts the public’s relationship to Ronald Reagan—defined by offices and historical stature—with his own private, familial experience. The quote underscores how political celebrity can flatten a person into roles (“governor,” “president”), while a child’s memory centers on intimacy and everyday fatherhood (“dad”). It also conveys filial pride and identity: carrying the Reagan name is presented not as a burden of legacy but as an honor rooted in personal affection. Implicitly, the line invites readers to see famous leaders as multidimensional human beings and to recognize that public narratives often omit the emotional realities of family life.