Michael Reagan, eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, died at 80.

That honesty extended beyond family. When Michael publicly revealed he had been sexually abused as a child, he did so without spectacle. At a time when male survivors—especially within conservative circles—rarely spoke openly, his quiet truth-telling required courage. He framed disclosure not as accusation, but as clarity.

Faith became central to his healing. Calling himself “twice adopted,” Michael reframed pain without denying it. Forgiveness, to him, meant survival without bitterness. As a commentator and radio host, he defended his father while resisting simplification. In doing so, Michael Reagan humanized a powerful legacy and claimed authorship of his own story—showing that honesty can be an act of integrity, not disloyalty.