Gipper’s son wants GOP unity

The eldest son of the late President Ronald Reagan said Friday at a political conference in Newport Beach that he wanted to unite conservatives under the values of his father.

“Everyone is talking about my father, but they’ve gotten away from what he stands for,” said syndicated conservative radio talk-show host Michael Reagan, at a news conference for the Western Conservative Political Action Conference.

“My father made friends out of enemies and changed the world. We need to get back to that,” he said.

From packets of gum printed with the slogan “Liberals Lie” to recruiting materials for The Heritage Foundation internship program and Ann Coulter books, the conference exhibitors hall, hosted at the Newport Beach Fairmont hotel, is a one-stop shop for political conservatism.

About 6,000 are expected to attend this year’s conference, which uses the slogan “Preserving the Reagan Legacy.”

“This is the single most important gathering for the conservative movement, because it’s a place for conservative activists to come together,” said David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which is sponsoring the convention.

Reagan spoke Friday about the need for conservatives to unite.

“When our family gets together for Thanksgiving dinner, the one thing we agree on is that we all like turkey,” Reagan said. “We need to focus more on the things we are for instead of the things we are against.”

The two-day event, hosted at the Newport Beach Fairmont hotel, continues today with panel discussions on immigration, fiscal conservatism, the future of conservative talk radio and terrorism.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.