Thinking About It
May 2, 2007
The popular fortieth president of the United States will be on all the Republican presidential candidates minds as they meet for their May 3rd debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. The GOP frontrunners and second and third tier presidential candidates will all invoke Ronald Reagan’s name not only because the first Republican debate is being held at his presidential library but because he is the most popular president of his party, possibly in this century. The 2008 Republican presidential contenders will try and sprinkle some of the Reagan magic on themselves as they attempt to explain to a nationally televised audience why they should become America’s 44th president. As some recent surveys of historians now rank Reagan as high as the fifth most effective president of all time and a new book based on his diaries is being edited by Douglas Brinkley for publication soon the 40th president’s legacy is extremely high among the base of Republican voters in 2008. Saying that they have the Reagan qualities necessary to govern effectively the GOP candidates will outdo themselves praising the former president and comparing their goals to his accomplishments. However, none of the candidates running for the Republican nomination have the qualities that made Reagan so popular. None of the candidates seems to be as secure with themselves and their core beliefs. As long time presidential observer David Gergen says in his book Eyewitness To Power: The Essence of Leadership From Nixon to Clinton, “Reagan wasn’t just comfortable in his own skin. He was serene. And he had a clear sense of what he was trying to accomplish. Those were among his greatest strengths as a leader. Nobody had to tell him those things. He knew where he wanted to go and how he might get there.” How many of today’s candidates are “comfortable in their own skin” and know what they want to accomplish as president? Senator John McCain, an admirable American who has served his country well, seems different than he was in his more open and relaxed presidential campaign in 2000. He seemed more presidential seven years ago and seemed more certain of his views. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, is another admired American who served New York and the country extremely well after 9/11 but do any of us know much more about him and his goals and objectives if he were to win the White House. His campaign so far has been mainly about fighting terrorism, certainly an important goal, but he needs other domestic and foreign policy goals. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney appears to be running away from his record as the Bay State chief executive.
He does not want to discuss his more moderate or liberal accomplishments for fear of losing the GOP core conservative vote. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has a plan for being healthy and for losing weight which is worthwhile but possibly not the stuff of a great presidential campaign. Ronald Reagan had goals and objectives. Voters knew exactly where he stood. He was for freedom, against communism and for free enterprise and a large and powerful military. He projected strength and confidence. And, unlike our current president he projected competence in pursuing these goals. A large number of Americans felt comfortable with Reagan as president and they felt proud of our country. As Richard Reeves points out in his book President Reagan: The Triumph of Imagination, “Through good times and bad for eight years, according to Gallup polls, he was the most admired man in America. He had a 63 percent approval rating when he left the White House, higher than the other popular presidents in the last half of the century—Dwight Eisenhower (59 %) and John F. Kennedy (58%). Among Americans between 18 and 29, Reagan’s approval rate was 87 percent.” Reagan was an original whatever one thought of his views. He didn’t waver in his core beliefs and he was respected for being faithful to his views and for working to achieve them. The Great Communicator’s skill will not be found on stage tomorrow night when the GOP candidates all invoke his name and try to claim his mantle in running for the white House. Even comparing a possible presidential candidate, Fred Thompson, to Reagan is not very plausible. Sure, both had careers as actors but the 40th president had more of the star quality when he entered a room than does Thompson. While Reagan was our oldest president (McCain if elected would be older) he seemed younger in his actions and his looks than Thompson does today. So, to all of you Republican voters out there do not be fooled by the debate. None of these candidates are Ronald Reagan.
None seems to have the core beliefs that he held. . .or his charisma. However, one of the candidates on stage tomorrow—or someone who has not yet announced—will attempt to show he is the person to carry on the Reagan Revolution. The candidate who convinces the core conservative constituency of the GOP that he will be the best person to carry on this “revolution” will win the Republican presidential nomination.
Robert J. Guttman
Founder and Director, CPFR
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