My President, Way Back

Ronald Reagan was my president before he was yours. This was long before the governorship and the presidency; his film career was already over but he was still president of the Screen Actors Guild. We were then facing the first strike in our history, and the studios were determined not to give us the health and welfare plans we were aiming for, nor the residual payments for films and reruns.

“I’ll be with you through this strike, I promise you,” he said. “We’ll win this one; I promise you that, too. But then I’ll resign, and you should know that, of course.” To my surprise, he appointed me to the board, and put me on the negotiating committee as well. I decided it was something I should do. Of course I was a green hand at negotiating then, but I had a good teacher.

CH

About the Author

Charlton Heston

Ronald Reagan was my president before he was yours. This was long before the governorship and the presidency; his film career was already over but he was still president of the Screen Actors Guild. We were then facing the first strike in our history, and the studios were determined not to give us the health and welfare plans we were aiming for, nor the residual payments for films and reruns.

“I’ll be with you through this strike, I promise you,” he said. “We’ll win this one; I promise you that, too. But then I’ll resign, and you should know that, of course.” To my surprise, he appointed me to the board, and put me on the negotiating committee as well. I decided it was something I should do. Of course I was a green hand at negotiating then, but I had a good teacher.