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Today in History: Ronald Reagan Acknowledges AIDS Crisis Publicly

9/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

On September 17, 1985, President Ronald Reagan publicly acknowledged the AIDS crisis for the first time, four years after the disease was identified in the U.S. His response to the epidemic has faced criticism from LGBTQ and AIDS advocacy groups, highlighting the controversy surrounding his administration's handling of the health crisis.

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Story summary

On September 17, 1985, President Ronald Reagan publicly acknowledged the AIDS crisis for the first time, four years after the disease was identified in the U.S. His response to the epidemic has faced criticism from LGBTQ and AIDS advocacy groups, highlighting the controversy surrounding his administration's handling of the health crisis.