Reagan’s Legacy
The Great Communicator’s Lasting Impact
By Dale Beck
On Monday, December 13, 2010, the United States Postal Service honored President Ronald Reagan with a Centennial Postage Stamp. The stamp was unveiled by James C. Miller, III, who was a member of the President’s Cabinet and a member of the National Security Council from 1985-1988.
Bart Forbes of Plano, Texas, created the piece based on a photograph of Reagan taken in 1985 at Ranch del Cielo, near Santa Barbara, California. This is the second stamp dedicated to Reagan. The first, a memorial stamp, was released February 9, 2005, the year following his death.
To understand the legacy of Ronald Reagan, one must appreciate the context of the times. Not long before his nomination to the presidency in 1980, oil had climbed above one dollar per gallon, fifty-two American citizens had been held hostage in Iran for more than a year, the United States had boycotted the summer Olympics, and President Carter’s popularity had sunk to a new one-term low. Armageddon was more than a passing thought as the arms race continued to escalate. And national self-confidence was in short supply.
Ronald Reagan accepted the presidency in 1981, immediately seeking to restore the population’s inner strength, citing in part core values upon which the country had been founded. During his two terms in office, he spoke of his four pillars of freedom: individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride.
It’s on the last of these that he excelled, reaching the American public in a way few others could, seeking and finding the American soul. As Time Magazine noted, he “...presided over tumultuous times with wit, warmth, and charm, whether it was invoking the American spirit, poking fun at himself, or confronting the Soviet Union.”
Mr. Reagan, with his charismatic personality, had the rare ability to inspire, both on a personal level and before the masses. Maybe the speech that defines him the most was delivered at the Brandenburg Gate in June of 1987 when, addressing an enthusiastic audience, brought the crowd to its feet, the climactic moment coming when he spoke openly to the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, saying “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” words that reverberate in today’s history books.
Sincerity was a hallmark of his speeches. Another occasion when he truly “connected” with the American people was the announcement of the space shuttle tragedy, when Challenger exploded shortly after launch. It was both sad yet uplifting as he masterfully linked the day’s tragedy with the risks of exploration and the need to continue forward as “part of taking a chance and expanding man’s horizons.”
While some accuse him of excessive rhetoric, most believe his success in speaking came from a deep and unabashed pride in his country. Non-apologetic, he termed America “a shining city on a hill.” An eternal optimist with respect to the nation and the world, he was never ashamed to stand up for American values. With strength and character, he continuously touted the greatness of this country, and in so doing, fueled a passion for America by Americans.
Yet it was the man himself who denied that he was a great communicator. In his farewell address to the nation, Mr. Reagan said, “…I communicated great things, and they didn’t spring full blown from my brow, they came from the heart of a great nation. “
As we reflect on the leadership of Ronald Reagan, let there be no doubt that during his eight years of national leadership, he fostered a growing self-confidence in this nation. Ronald Reagan believed in America, and through his vision, we did, too. From his first days in office, he successfully helped a turbulent nation turn the tide, helping it to believe in itself, its people, and its destiny.
