Farewell,Gipper!
...ull of toys. The optimistic boy was put in a room full of horse manure. An hour later, the pessimistic boy was found crying in a corner and begging to be let out. The optimistic boy was found throwing manure over his shoulder and saying "There HAS to be a pony in here somewhere!". Reagan was always looking for the pony. In a time when national pride was at an all time low, he reminded us that it was "morning in America again." He kept that attitude through two Presidential terms, no matter what the crisis. The press never knew what to do with him. They were used to ones like Nixon and Carter who they could literally crucify if they wanted to. Reagan turned the tables and had them eating out of his hand. Sam Donaldson once made reference to the fact that Reagan always seemed to blame the Democrats on anything that went wrong. He asked if Reagan would bear any responsibility. Reagan replied "Yes. For many years I WAS a Democrat." For most of my formative years, he was a constant. If I picked up a newspaper, he was there. If I turned on the television, he was there. His name became synonymous with the term "President". When he left office, it seemed strange. Nobody else since has held the nations imagination and encouraged its hopes and dreams like he did. Oh, sure.. Clinton had the charisma. However, he did not have the integrity. You heard Clinton speak and you wondered if you could believe him. With Reagan, you knew you could "take it to the bank." And G.W. Bush has the conservative principles. But Reagan had a way of taking his values and causing the majority of Americans to embrace them as well. Let's face it. There has never been a President like him. And there never will be. Perhaps Peggy Noonan, his former speechwriter, said it best: Toward mankind he had the American attitude, direct and unillusioned: He figured everybody is doing as much bad as he has to, as much good as he can. He was a modest man with an inte...