1980 was the first year I was old enough to vote in a Presidential election. Malaise is a word often used to describe that time and it's as good a word as any, though it doesn't describe it all. Double digit inflation, rising unemployment (over 7% in 1980), hostages in Iran, the USSR in Afghanistan, communist insurgencies in Central America. As a 19 year old college student I was pretty frustrated at the world I was stepping into.
Reagan stepped in as an optimist and a strong believer in America and our role in the world. By contrast, Jimmy Carter offered lowered expectations, retreat in the face of communism and hand-wringing excuses to the hostages in Iran. I voted for Reagan in 1980 and again in 1984 because he believed in us.
To his opponents he was an amiable dunce, not really running things, more of a puppet than anything. They squealed in outrage when he used terms like evil empire to describe the USSR. They mocked his vision of missile defense as star wars. In their confusion, fear, and self-loathing they were willing to consign millions of people to slavery under communism in perpetuity. Reagan was not.
In those times of self-doubt about our future at home and our role in the world, Mr. Reagan led us with a clear vision. America confronted the communists in Central America and yes, it was ugly on both sides. For all of the hand-wringing and self-righteous talk of the left in the 1980's though, as soon as they had the chance the people of Nicaragua threw the Sandinistas out on their ear.
America confronted the USSR in Europe, deploying intermediate range missiles over the howls of protest from the left in Europe and here. Reagan was going to destroy us all, visions of nuclear winter being the rage at the time. Instead Reagan reduced the risk of war by standing tall and saying in effect, We will fight for Western Europe, and through other means, Eastern Europe.
His ability to see the path to a brighter future in confusing times and uplift the nation was remarkable. His strength and willingness to do what was right for America and the world, in the face of withering personal criticism, will mark him as a great President. Some of those who were harshest on Reagan are the very same ones blasting our current President. Some of the names have changed, our enemies are different. But Mr. Reagan's greatest legacy is in the way he confronted the tough issues of the 1980's, and how those same principles apply today.
Thank you and rest in peace Mr. President.
Recent Comments