A quarter century ago the race was on to replace the man regarded as one of the greatest presidents in American history, Ronald Reagan. The “great communicator” as he was called, was in the last year of his presidency when he visited Connecticut for the last time. It was May 19, 1988.

In a Face the State flashback that aired in June of 2013, we found a report from our archives filed more than 25 years ago by then Channel 3 reporter Jim Vicevich,* now a mainstay on WTIC AM 1080. He covered Reagan’s visit to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, where the nation’s 40th president addressed the graduating class of 1988.

Reagan was quite popular in Connecticut, carrying the state in the elections of 1980 and 1984, and he helped his vice-president George Bush take the state in 1988. Democrats have won Connecticut in every presidential election since then.

’84 was the first presidential election I voted in and I also attended a Reagan rally in Boston that year. Here I am in college under a souvenir from that rally, catching a snooze after a long of studying, or something.

You can watch the segment right here: http://www.wfsb.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8998089

Also, watch my chat with President Reagan right here: http://dennishouse.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/my-ronald-reagan-exclusive/

*As you may know Jim suffers from lupus, and you can help him in his battle Tuesday night. Learn more about it right here: http://events.connecticut.cbslocal.com/hartford_ct/events/mission-possible-benefit-lupus-research-/E0-001-057801501-4