Reagan, Like Washington and Lincoln, Showed Us the Way to Lead

 

Happy 113th Birthday to President Ronald Reagan. 

Due to the addition of various holidays, we no longer recognize February 12 (Lincoln) or February 22 (Washington), but merely recognize the institution on Presidents' Day. This is a shame since we wind up lumping together true titans (Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Reagan), whose accomplishments unquestionably improved our nation, with utter disasters (Buchanan, Johnson, Harding, and....fill in the blanks). 

Our country has never been perfect, but we aim to be a more perfect union. When citizens lose their history to demagoguery, false narratives, or revisionist propaganda, the shared values that represent the fabric of our nation unravel in a sea of moral relativism. 

Today, reflect on the underlying decency and patriotism of President Reagan, who inherited from Jimmy Carter an unprecedented economic morass (stagflation with persistent double digit annual inflation); a 35-year Cold War with the USSR that had sublimated hundreds of millions throughout Europe, Asia, and Central America; a deflated military and depressed national mood that had suffered indignity at the hands of hostage-takers. 

However, during Reagan's eight years in office, the USA enjoyed lower unemployment and significantly lower inflation (that lasted 40 years until the pandemic); the Iron Curtain unraveled, freeing Eastern Europe and the various republics of the USSR; and a stronger military and united NATO allies secured a peace dividend that brought economic prosperity to most corners of the world, until 9/11 triggered different global threats.

Reagan did not demean or dehumanize his opponents, but won over many Democrats to support his policies. Reagan forged deeper alliances with the UK, Japan, Germany, and the Vatican to foster trust, shared responsibilities, and democratic values that overcame the existential nuclear threats that had divided the world. 

His two Presidential elections were not controversial nail-biters where the Electoral College diverged from the popular vote. His margin of victory was nearly 10% in 1980 and 18% in 1984. The electoral votes were 489-49 (44 states to 6) in 1980 and 525-13 (49 states to one) in 1984. It was not Red States and Blue States. It was truly the United States. 

It is possible for our country to overcome division and malaise and cynicism. We have a roadmap, we have proud history, and we have precedents. Let's learn from history, not tear it down or muddle it with watered down moral relativism. Washington showed us the way. Lincoln showed us the way. Reagan showed us the way.

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