Now, there was some inquiry as to who the "Norman Thomas" was that Ronald Reagan referred to in his speech against socialized medicine.  I guess, I should have clarified this in my personal weekly editorial and earlier blog.

Reagan starts of this speech by describing Norman Thomas, "Now back in 1927 an American socialist, Norman Thomas, six times candidate for president on the Socialist Party ticket, said the American people would never vote for socialism. But he said under the name of liberalism the American people would adopt every fragment of the socialist program."

Thomas, a Presbyterian Minister, from Marion, Ohio.  Thomas eventually left the Ministry and joined the Socialist Party.  Thomas made several unsuccessful runs for the office of New York Governor and New York City Mayor.  Thomas had siix unsuccessful runs at the office of President of the United States between 1928 and 1948 on the Socialist Party Ticket.

Thomas was the poster child for "democratic socialism,"  and cofounder of the National Civil Liberties Bureau (which preceeded the American Civil Liberties Union of ACLU).