• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content

The Days Forward

West Point Class of 1969

  • Starting Out
  • Stories
    • Authors
    • Map
    • Search
    • Archive
  • Contact

With a Fellow Football Fan – 1984

Bob Ivany · Jul 12, 2016

ivanywpres
Major Bob Ivany with President Reagan in the White House – 1984.

It was the summer of 1984 and I was a lowly major who had been recently transferred from the Pentagon to the White House. I was being ushered into the Oval Office to meet President Reagan and I was just a bit nervous. I had been carefully prepared for my assignment as his Army aide for a, hopefully, two-year stint. Now was the big moment to meet him.

President Reagan greeted me and vigorously shook my hand. “Major Ivany good to have you as my aide. I understand that you played football at West Point.”

West Point Class 1969
President Reagan in the Oval Office lobbing a football.

I was surprised at his question but, of course, answered that I had played for Army. “Well,” he said, “what position did you play?” I aanswered that I played offensive tackle. “Marvelous,” he replied, “I played offensive guard at Dixon College. Now what side of the line did you play on?” I played on the right side, I answered. “Wonderful,” he said “I played on the right side as well. The right side is always stronger!” Our short exchange only lasted a minute or two, but I never forgot his kind effort to put me at east, to show his personal interest, and give me a memory for a lifetime.

Bob Ivany
Members of the United States Military Academy football team in the Oval Office with President Reagan and the Commander-in- Chief Trophy after winning the 1986 Army-Navy game.

Filed Under: Bob Ivany

Previous Post: « Who, What or Where? – 1972
Next Post: Finally a Combat Engineer Platoon – 1970 Part 1 of 3 »

Reader Interactions

Historians and other inquiries.

Submit a Form

Join our community.
Subscribe to Our Bulletin

Copyright © 2019 — The Days Forward • All rights reserved • Site built and hosted by Ryan Keysar