Mr. President
June 11, 2004
Sometimes images tell the whole story. Today the nation says goodbye to Ronald Reagan. Imagine what the world would have said if you had shown them this photo when Reagan took office in 1980. One time adversary Mikhail Gorbachev was one of thousands who paid their respects in the Capital Rotunda Thursday. Later he visited with Nancy Reagan, who told him, "I'm so glad you came."
Lincoln had this same quality. Lincoln was often underestimated and labeled as a less than legitimate thinker. Remember his War Secretary Edwin Stanton and his famous words at Lincoln's deathbed, "Now he belongs to the ages"? Years before he had called Lincoln every name in the book, openly referring to him as "that monkey in Washington". Patience and an understanding of a higher calling helped Lincoln win over Stanton. He knew that the Civil War must be won, and Stanton was the man for the job. There is a lesson in there for all of us.
Reagan learned it somewhere along the way too. With tough love and unmatched determination he eventually won over the then young and cocky Russian leader. He didn't just beat him, he befriended him. There was just something about Reagan that brought that out of people. Try finding this in politics today...
Reagan was my first president and I echo what I have heard many people say this week, he will always be Mr. President to me. Was he perfect? No. A great president? Yes, but that's not for today. Today is to to honor a great man and his contributions to America and the world.
Filed under Life in General, News
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