Mints, Book, Airport Among Reagan’s Gifts

Former President Ronald Reagan celebrated his 87th birthday Friday with his favorite meal - macaroni-and-cheese - a festive office party and a family gathering to watch the Olympic opening ceremonies.

Amid a cloud of red, white and blue balloons, Reagan was serenaded with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” by Girl Scouts who also gave him some thin mint cookies.

“Is this all for me?” Reagan asked.

Hours earlier, President Clinton signed a bill to change the name of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

“As the nation celebrates President Reagan’s 87th birthday, we wish him and his family well. He is in our thoughts and prayers,” Clinton said in a statement.

Reagan had lunch with his staff and unwrapped a package containing the book “A Shining City: The Legacy of Ronald Reagan,” a collection of his speeches that was published Friday.

“It was the first time he’d seen it. He was so excited,” Reagan spokeswoman Joanne Drake said.

Reagan doesn’t look much different today than he did during his eight years at the White House: the thick thatch of hair (although gray is taking over), the avuncular grin and the friendly wave.

Reagan goes to his Century City office each day and often walks in a park near his home. But he has rarely been seen in public since November 1994, when it was disclosed that he had Alzheimer’s disease - the irreversible neurological disorder that destroys the brain’s memory cells.

Evangelist Billy Graham, recalling a recent visit to the Reagan home, said he had been talking to the former president for some time when Reagan suddenly pulled out a piece of paper and told his wife that he had an appointment coming up - with Graham.

Nancy Reagan told her husband that’s who he’d been talking to.