Reagan’s Nuclear Arms Analogy Loses Chicagoans in the Heavens

A day after denying he was under the sway of astrologers, President Reagan gave Chicagoans a start Wednesday when he imagined the world being threatened by “a power from outer space, from another planet.”

It soon became clear, though, that Reagan was referring not to an astrologically inspired “Star War” but to what it might take to eliminate nuclear weapons.

Asked after a speech to state “the most important need in international relations,” he said: “I’ve often wondered what if all of us in the world discovered that we were threatened by a power from outer space, from another planet.

“Wouldn’t we all of a sudden find that we didn’t have any differences between us at all . . . and wouldn’t we come together to fight that particular threat?

“Well, in a way we have something of that kind today . . . a weapon that can destroy the world.

“Why don’t we recognize that threat more clearly and then come together with one aim in mind--how safely, sanely and quickly can we rid the world of this threat to our civilization and our existence?”