What We Can Learn From Reagan
By Tony DiPasquale (06/23/04)
Ronald Reagan entered his first term as President before I was even a teenager, yet it was clear even to me, that this man had qualities that would lead to his being remembered as an exceptional man. Although many Republicans today revere Reagan and his philosophies, few actually exhibit any of his qualities in their political life. As the nation moves forward from the life of a great President, I can only hope that others will pay closer attention to what enabled Reagan to become such an effective statesman and one that will be remembered throughout history.
Perhaps Reagan’s most appealing quality was found in his personality, or as others would say, charisma. Reagan not only made us believe in ourselves, but he also had the ability to make friends with many of those who opposed his policies. The key here, and one that many present day Republicans forget, is that he managed to do this without compromising his values. Granted, not everyone can exude the type of personality that Reagan exhibited, nor can they tell stories and receive the same affection he did. Clinton, with his devilish charm and charisma, came close. Still, what Reagan had went beyond just mere likeability; he made us feel as though he was our grandfather and that he truly had faith in us. And who could not trust their grandfather?
As stated earlier, Reagan managed to gain the country’s affections without having to compromise his beliefs. Today, politicians scramble to adjust their positions to coincide with public opinion. Instead of succumbing to public whimsy, Reagan used polls as an indicator of where he was failing to convey his message. Subsequently, he would work to convince Americans why his policies were good for the U.S. In the end, this allowed him to be more successful in getting his agenda passed. Remember, Republicans did not control both the House and Senate back in the 1980’s. Today, with all three branches in the GOP’s control, how many Republicans can say the same?
One of the aspects of Reagan’s Presidency missed today has to be his optimism. He would constantly reassure us that we could accomplish great things, that no problem was beyond our capabilities, and that government was not the answer. Today we are constantly berated with pessimism. Of course, it is not always easy to remain optimistic, especially if you believe that the country is moving further and further from your ideals. However, all of us must remember that people tend to gravitate towards optimism and it is those leaders that exude this quality that typically have the best chance at implementing their agenda. This works in private life as well. Go ahead and try being more optimistic at work and then watch the change in the attitude of those around you. Be careful though, you may just end up getting a promotion with your new attitude. Think about it. How many people at work complain about their job and how many are positive? And where are they residing in the business hierarchy?
Reagan did not let his opponents dictate his agenda. He knew that the media, with its bias, would never look favorably upon him and so he never wasted his time trying to win their affection. Consequently, Reagan put his energies into doing what he believed was right, which incidentally worked to please those that mattered, the American public. If today’s politicians could only realize how much this country is yearning for a leader with conviction, and how successful that person would be. History remembers those leaders who stood for what they believed in, not those who hid behind what was popular at the time.
In any event, if Republicans would only put forth enough effort today to stick to their convictions, which would also serve to please their base, rather than trying to out liberalize the Democrats, or “steal issues” away from them, they would see a resurgence of support to the likes of 1994 elections. Most of all, Republicans today have to learn that Reagan was not just right-on with his delivery; he was right-on with his politics.
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