Natalie Gonnella
President Reagan's legacy is one of strong and authentic leadership. During his time as America’s commander-in-chief, Reagan had the courage and - commonly overlooked by his critics - the understanding needed to make the big decisions. He based his decisions on solid, well-informed ideas, many of which he had spent a long time thinking about. His conviction was communicated to voters, who saw in their President a leader who could provide certainty and direction.
As Peggy Noonan pointed out in her column this week, “it wasn't [Reagan’s] eloquence people supported, it was his stands…voters weren't charmed, they were convinced.” And in a post this week in the City Journal reflecting on Reagan's "four pillars," the Manhattan Institute’s Nicole Gelinas highlighted the astuteness of Reagan’s policy approach:
The Gipper didn’t achieve all [of his] goals, and [Washington] would need to adapt his example to a different time, of course…but the mission is the same: economic growth. And the principle behind the four pillars also remains the same: government shouldn’t compound crisis-induced economic uncertainty by adding more uncertainty.
Reagan provided the kind of certainty and determination that just about all potential GOP presidential candidates hope to emulate. Here is a snapshot of what a few in the 2012 field have been saying lately about the "The Gipper":
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels:
Watching him as President really reinforced for me the idea that if you get the opportunity to have public responsibility or hold public office, you should hunt big game. Public leaders should always have the long-term future of those they serve at the forefront of their minds. They need to concentrate on those big ideas and goals and recognize that they can’t do everything. This seems like an obvious point, but in truth lots of people don’t get it. Reagan was great in this regard. He took the long view and focused on the big things that America needed at the time…He would encourage us to remember that we have only opponents, not enemies. He learned how to turn the other cheek and never lose sight of the fact that we are all in this together – as Americans. He would never stoop to the level of personalizing things, even if his opponents were doing it to him. It’s really important never to demonize groups or people in political life, and he led by example in this regard.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich:
Concerned about the economic and international threats to our prosperity, Ronald Reagan, a former FDR Democrat, reminded us that America’s choice was not between Left and Right, but between freedom and totalitarianism.
Gingrich went on to add
Ronald Reagan’s greatest legacy encompasses so much more than his economic and diplomatic accomplishments. His vision for peace and prosperity came true not only because he believed it was possible, but because he helped America believe it was possible
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin:
Reagan showed us that despite a deep recession, there could still be morning in America. He could speak to the economic troubles facing ordinary Americans because he understood what it was like to live through a Great Depression where families scraped to get by. And yet, he saw us recover from our Great Depression, and under his leadership we experienced the greatest peacetime economic boom in our history. He could speak to our fears that our years as a superpower were over, because he understood what it was like to see America at war and really fear that we might lose. And yet, he saw us win two world wars, and under his leadership we won the Cold War without firing a single shot. Reagan's belief in American greatness was rooted in historic fact, not blind optimism. He was a sunny optimist because he knew that our best days are yet to come.
Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty:
Don't confuse being nice with being weak. Ronald Reagan was a great example of that…You can be hopeful and optimistic and strong, but you also need to make sure that you, you know, are willing to back it up.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
His policies, foreign and domestic, reflected his optimistic spirit…Reagan's words were even more significant. He rang the bell of freedom and gave courage to brave souls resisting one of the great tyrannies of modern times — the "evil empire," he was not afraid to call it. …Here at home, Reagan saw a federal government that had become, like a diseased heart, enlarged and sclerotic. Paving a path trod today by the Tea Party, he sharply cut taxes to restore economic growth. He took painful measures to rein in double-digit inflation. He fought to cut federal spending. He sought to restore our Founding Fathers' vision of American greatness and limited government...Reagan's legacy is very much alive. Only amiable dunces cannot see that.
South Dakota Senator John Thune:
What impressed me about Ronald Reagan was the strength of his conviction, his belief in American exceptionalism, his optimism about the future, his hope in the greatness of America, his understanding that America’s greatness isn’t defined by its government bureaucracies and institutions in Washington, D.C., but by the strength of its people’s character, by creative, ingenuity, innovation and hard work of the people of this great nation…. Ronald Reagan understood what was so unique about the American experiment: fundamentally we believe in freedom.
As we celebrate President Reagan's 100th birthday with so many people paying tribute him and GOP hopefuls trying to wear his mantle, it is important to remember what Byron York said in the Washington Examiner today: “echoing Reagan's words and being Reaganesque are two different things." As Human Events (President Reagan’s favorite conservative publication) has warned, “the political landscape is littered with too many individuals who can be referred to as RINOs (Reagan in name only), falsely laying a claim to Reagan’s legacy.”
America needs a nominee with bold ideas and sturdy footing, someone who, like President Reagan, offers serious and thoughtful solutions to take on the formidable challenges facing the nation (something ConservativeHome's Ryan Streeter has been saying here, here and here.).
We need a Reagan-esque, not Reagan-ish, leader as we tackle massive domestic and global uncertainties. A Reagan-esque leader won't just repeat Reagan's past policies or focus too much on his power of communication, but rather adopt his skill for making the well-informed tough decisions that our nation needs now. Repeating Reagan's policies, words, or style of communication isn't enough.
In his farewell address in 1989, reflecting on the resurgence of national pride and patriotism during his presidency, Reagan commented that “this national feeling is good, but it won't count for much, and it won't last unless it's grounded in thoughtfulness and knowledge.” Those vying for the 2012 nomination would do well to take note.
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