Now That’s Shrinking the Government

Reader John Harris found indications that the Social Security system may be in financial trouble (see photo).

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MYSTERIES SOLVED: The Los Alamitos News-Enterprise’s latest police log contained these exciting items:

* CYPRESS, Nov. 23, 6:20 p.m.: “The alarm in Encore Cards, Gifts & Collectibles was activated by a balloon.”

* CYPRESS, Nov. 19, 8:57 p.m.: “A resident inadvertently dialed 911 while trying to reach Mexico.”

* LOS ALAMITOS: Nov. 23, 6:48 a.m.: “A man wearing prescription glasses, a large rimmed hat and bright orange jacket was a city employee checking for cracks in the sidewalk.”

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ROLE OF A LIFETIME: In the new book “Dutch,” author Edmund Morris briefly mentions that Ronald Reagan once told screenwriter Malvin Wald he’d like to play President Theodore Roosevelt in a production.

Wald recounted the rest of the conversation in an article in American Heritage magazine. He and Reagan met during World War II, after Wald was transferred from Psychological Research Unit 3 at the Santa Ana Army Base to a public relations unit in Culver City.

“You’re too good-looking and young to play the part,” Wald told Reagan.

Reagan laughed and said, “Well, I could age.” He added, “Gosh, it would be fun to play a president of the United States.”

Reagan was 35 at the time.

Steve Harvey can be reached by phone at (800) LA TIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by e-mail at [email protected] and by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, L.A. 90053.