WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- On March 23, 1983, in a speech to the nation announcing the Strategic Defense Initiative, U.S. President Ronald Reagan pledged to make "nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete." The left immediately attacked Reagan and his initiative was ridiculed as "Star Wars." Ironically, President Barack Obama is on his way to making good on Reagan's pledge. And for that, he is being roundly criticized by the far right.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday racism is not the "overriding issue" in criticism of him and his administration's policies.

LOS ANGELES, June 23 (UPI) -- Famed U.S. television personality Ed McMahon has died, his agent said Tuesday. The former "Tonight Show" sidekick and "Star Search" host was 86.

WASHINGTON, June 2 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday created a panel to plan events in honor of the late President Ronald Reagan on what would have been his 100th birthday.

SAN DIEGO, May 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department will expand temporarily its Homeowners Assistance Program with $555 million in stimulus funds, Vice President Joe Biden said.

SALINAS, Calif., April 12 (UPI) -- Actress Jane O'Brien Dart, whose husband Justin was a key confidant to the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan, has died at the age of 90, her family says.

WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama, in a break with his predecessor, will allow the release of presidential records from the Reagan administration, documents indicate.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., March 12 (UPI) -- Lenore Annenberg, widow of Walter Annenberg, the publisher who became U.S. ambassador to Britain, died Thursday at the age of 91 in California.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Actor William Shatner, possibly following the footsteps of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald Reagan, said he might consider running for Canadian prime minister.