Ninety seven years ago today, in the small town of Tampico, Illinois, a future president of the United States entered the world. Ronald Wilson Reagan, born in very humble surroundings, ascended to the heights of international leadership and power. Today we honor the man who inspired and lead the Conservative movement.
Last week the Republicans held a debate at President Reagan’s library in Simi Valley. As I watched the debate, I was struck once again at how Reagan’s legacy is still such a powerful influence on our party—twenty years after he left office. Every Republican candidate for public office, from president to city council, seeks to wrap themselves in the Reagan mantle. Romney, McCain, Huckabee—and all the previous candidates for president—have listed their conservative credentials in an effort to appear the most “Reaganesque”. But simply touting your presence at the Reagan Revolution or recounting the actions that verify your commitment to conservative ideology is not enough.
What was it that made Ronald Reagan such a dominant and lasting presence? As I reflect on my own affinity for my personal hero, it’s not so much the sound conservative policies or the strong support for our national defense, but the way President Reagan communicated “America” to the people and the world.
It was more than eloquence—and he was a very eloquent speaker—but an eternal optimism that was shared by so many of our nation’s greatest leaders. Our Founding Fathers believed in the success of our nation because of the character of its citizens, and Reagan was able to capture the essence of that vision. His passion for our heritage and vision for our future reinvigorated a demoralized nation. “The Great Communicator” is the perfect title for such a leader.
As the presidential race continues to unfold before us, we should be mindful that there will not be another Ronald Reagan. But if candidates seek the kind of political immortality that Reagan has obtained, they should remember that the presidency is not just about taxes and foreign policy, it’s about giving America hope and vision. This is not hope or vision without sound principles, which guided President Reagan’s every decision, but a belief that despite our flaws, we are a good people, with an honorable history and an even brighter future. Should any presidential candidate start communicating that vision for America, they could build another Reagan coalition.
Or as The Great Communicator so eloquently described America in his farewell address to the nation:
“And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was eight years ago. But more than that; after 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she’s still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.”