Ronald Reagan officially became a Republican in 1962, although he supported Nixon's condidacy in 1960s. Reagan often said that his reason for leaving were what he saw as a major change in the philosophy of the Democratic party, away from individual rights in favor of a more collectivist philsoophy. He was quoted on at least one occasion as saying "I didn't leave the Democratic party; my party left me".

In the first decade of the 21st Century the Republicans became infused with right wing jingoism and rampant runaway spending. The Republican Party has become the antithesis of the Reagan Republican principles. Reagan would be quoted today, upon his change of party, "I didn't leave the Republican Party, my party left me."

why doesnt anybody ever tell the truith he left the democrats because they refused to support him and the republicans guaranteed him a nomination! I like how they like to praise a man who put this country in debt farther then we have ever been.. but no Bush is closing in on taking the lead, I suppose he will be a republcan god in 2o years too! GET REAL!!!

"A registered Democrat and admirer of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Reagan supported the New Deal before shifting rightwards out of a desire for a more limited federal government, endorsing the presidential candidacies of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 as well as Richard Nixon in 1960. Following the election of John F. Kennedy, Reagan formally switched to the Republican Party in 1962, saying "I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The party left me." During his work for General Electric, Reagan wrote his own speeches, laboring diligently and daily upon his prose. Although he had speechwriters later in the White House, he continued editing, and even occasionally writing, many of his speeches. Two years after switching parties, Reagan joined the campaign of conservative presidential contender Barry Goldwater. Speaking on Goldwater's behalf, Reagan revealed his ideological motivation in a famed speech given on October 27, 1964: "The Founding Fathers knew a government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing." The address soon became known as the "Time for Choosing" speech, and is considered the speech that launched Reagan's political career." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#Early_political_career

One only has to look up what city Reagan launched his campaign from, to know WHY he left the party. Reagan left the Democratic Party when the Dems decided Blacks were Human Beings after all, and deserved full rights.

Money, affluence and the desire to keep both.

in the eyes of republicans he was a god, he would make Mu'ammar Gadhafi disappear