Politics

Heritage Foundation celebrates Reagan’s birthday with Facebook app

Josh Peterson Contributor
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Monday was President Ronald Reagan’s 101st birthday, and the Heritage Foundation launched a Facebook app using the new OpenGraph technology to commemorate the occasion.

The app allows users to write messages to Reagan — yes, to the late President Reagan — and wish him a happy birthday. Heritage ran a “soft launch” of the app last Tuesday. As of late Monday evening, Heritage had collected 5,367 signatures with the app.

Heritage communications director Rory Cooper told The Daily Caller that the Washington, D.C. think tank was looking to commemorate the event in a manner different from the previous year’s centenary celebration.

“We worked with Facebook to make sure we could get the OpenGraph technology in time for Reagan’s birthday,” said Cooper. “They were great about understanding what we were looking to do.”

Facebook users also paid their respects on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Facebook Page. One user posted a picture of herself with Reagan, taken during the opening of the Reagan Library.

VIPs in the conservative political sphere wished the Gipper a happy birthday via Facebook, including former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. “On Ronald Reagan’s 101st birthday,” Rumsfeld wrote on his Facebook page, “let’s remember what strength abroad, confidence in the private sector & optimism can do for America.”

GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum also paid tribute to Reagan.

“Ronald Reagan once said, ‘There are no easy answers but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right,’ the former Pennsylvania senator recalled. “We celebrate his life and legacy today on his 101st birthday.”

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