The Reagan family in 1976. Patti is on the left; this is around the time of the alleged assault.
Ronald Reagan’s daughter Patti Davis Reagan has published an opinion piece in the Washington Post detailing an encounter in which she was sexually assaulted.
Davis says in roughly 1976, a prominent music industry executive sexually assaulted her during a meeting to discuss the use of her songs. One of Davis’ songs appeared on the Eagles album, One of These Nights, and she hoped to turn that into a songwriting career.
Davis details all the things she remembers about that fateful event and why she chose not to share it with the world until now. With Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh facing down numerous sexual assault allegations, including from Christine Ford, Davis felt it was an appropriate time to divulge her long-held secret.
Davis says after chopping up lines of cocaine on a mirror in front of her, the unnamed industry executive approached her and raped her. Here’s her account of how things went down more than 40 years ago.
“He crossed the room. There was a dark-green carpet, but his footsteps seemed loud, hard. He was against me, on top of me — so quickly — with his hands under my skirt and his mouth on mine, that I froze. I lay there as he pushed himself inside me. The leather couch stuck to my skin, made noises beneath me. His breath smelled like coffee and stale bread. He didn’t use a condom. I remember leaving afterward, driving home, the night around me glittered with streetlights and alive with people out at dinner or bars. I felt alone, ashamed and disgusted with myself. Why didn’t I get out of there? Why didn’t I push him off? Why did I freeze?”
Davis posted the opinion piece to share with readers how a traumatic event can shape the way things are remembered.
“Your memory snaps photos of the details that will haunt you forever, that will change your life and live under your skin. It blacks out other parts of the story that don’t really matter much.”
Reagan’s daughter supports Christine Ford’s request for an investigation into the events that are alleged and shared her own experience at the hands of a music exec in support of her. This piece is the first time Patti Davis Reagan has ever mentioned being the victim of sexual assault.