We are living in the age of Reagan said presidential historian Douglas Brinkley at a panel discussing Ronald Reagan’s legacy Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Richard Reeves, author and historian, was more succinct. “Ronald Reagan is still president,” he said, meaning the country is living with a political philosophy set out by Reagan. In the same way, Reeves continued, Franklin Roosevelt was president for 30 years.
Reeves said Reagan changed American politics by reversing the populist political attitude of one that believed business was the villain to making government the adversary. Reeves called this an “incredible political achievement”
As part of the celebration of Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday on February 6, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation has partnered with four universities around the country to examine the life and times of the 40th president. The first session was coordinated with USC’s School of Policy, Planning and Development.
The panel discussion focusing on Reagan’s biography and legacy was moderated by former NBC news anchor, Tom Brokaw. The panel included Reagan biographer Lou Cannon, historians and authors, Reeves and Brinkley, and former California Governor and U.S. Senator, Pete Wilson.
Brokaw revealed one historical tidbit that he learned that day at lunch with former First Lady, Nancy Reagan.
Ronald Reagan’s path to the presidency, most scholars agree, began with a powerful speech he gave on behalf of 1964 Republican presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater – a speech that almost didn’t happen.
Mrs. Reagan told Brokaw that Goldwater’s aides did not think Reagan’s speech would work with a national audience and did not want him to give it. The actor who would become governor of California and president of the United States said the speech, which he had polished over many years, worked well so far and he would make that speech to the television audience.
Brokaw said Nancy Reagan wondered what would have happened to her husband and to history had her husband not made the Goldwater speech.
The panelists at the legacy session said that Reagan was both pragmatic and underestimated by his opponents, which was part of the secret of his success. Brokaw felt Reagan, as a product of Main Street and heartland America, came across to the public as “one of us.”
Cannon said Reagan’s self-depreciating humor served him well, recalling when Reagan was asked what kind of governor he would make, the actor replied, “I don’t know, I haven’t played a governor before.”
Wilson told of sitting down with the former president soon after Wilson won the California governorship. Reagan marveled at the experience Wilson brought to the office (assembly member, mayor, US Senator), something Reagan did not have when elected governor. Wilson told the president that as governor and later president ‘you may not have had experience but you knew what you wanted to do with the power of the office.’
Lou Cannon discussed Governor Reagan raising taxes to deal with the deficit he faced when he took over the office. Cannon said Reagan decided to raise taxes quickly while people remembered who was responsible for the need to raise taxes, his predecessor Pat Brown.
Ironically, a discussion of Reagan’s legacy may not have interested the man himself.
Reeves said that when an aide questioned President Reagan’s decision on a certain issue, suggesting the decision might hurt his legacy; Reagan responded he wasn’t worried about legacy. He reasoned, history would probably distort the truth and, besides, he wouldn’t be around to read it, anyway.