Reagan Has High Old Time on 75th Birthday

For many, the passage of another year is cause for concern, if not downright alarm, but, for President Reagan, who celebrated his 75th birthday Thursday, it was a time to joke about passing the three-quarter-century mark.

“Remember, that’s only 24 Celsius,” he told congressional leaders, adding that the approval of his budget by House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill Jr. (D-Mass.) and others would make “a great present.”

About 3,000 Administration appointees celebrated Reagan’s birthday at a party at Washington’s historic Constitution Hall. As First Lady Nancy Reagan wheeled out an enormous five-tiered cake topped with American flags, the surprised President said playfully: “Ever have a roommate trick you?”

The crowd joined the Reagans in singing “God Bless America” as a huge American flag swung from the ceiling and a sparkling birthday card “from all of U.S.” appeared as a backdrop. Vice President George Bush and members of the Cabinet also were among the well-wishers.

“The Democrats have taken special note of every candle I add to my birthday cake. They keep hoping that I won’t be able to blow them all out,” Reagan joked. “As you know, your wish comes true then, and they know what I’m wishing for.”

He confided that he “blew out every candle” on another cake that Mrs. Reagan had given him that morning, “so there will be no tax increase this year.”

The President’s birthday speech was full of the rousing rhetoric that made him a crowd pleaser on the lecture circuit long before he was elected to the White House. After quoting 18th-Century economist Adam Smith on the evils of high taxation, Reagan added: “And, you know, it made sense the first time he told me that.”

White House political advisers once were concerned that Reagan’s age could be a political liability, but his obvious buoyancy and light-hearted attitude toward the passage of time has put those concerns to rest.

Reagan began his birthday celebration at the annual congressional prayer breakfast, where he recalled his humble beginnings. “Seventy-five years ago, I was born in Tampico, Ill., in a little flat above the bank building. We didn’t have any other contact with the bank than that,” he said, pausing for laughter. “Now, here I am, sort of living above the store again.”