Former President Ronald Reagan turned 80 Wednesday, surrounded by 900 of his closest friends at a birthday bash that mixed fund-raising with a touch of Hollywood glitz and international politics.
Heading the guest list was former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who jetted in from London earlier in the week to attend the star-studded birthday dinner for the avuncular ex-president.Reagan, the oldest man to serve in the White House and now the nation's oldest living ex-president, was accompanied to the party at the Beverly Hilton by wife Nancy and daughter Maureen. He received birthday wishes via videotape from President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
Among those who called Reagan with birthday greetings Wednesday were Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, former President Richard Nixon, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.