I never liked Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Between his preaching small government while tripling the national deficit and her insufferable smugness because she was lucky enough to be born petite, they were not my favorite White House couple.
One thing to be said about Reagan as both candidate and President, though, was his exemplary, gentlemanly demeanor. He consistently showed respect for others with his civility and manners. From “I paid for this microphone, Mr. Green,” to “There you go again” in the debates with Mondale to the famous Jack Dempsey quote, “Honey, I forgot to duck” following the attempt on his life, Reagan was grace under pressure personified.
Perhaps that’s the advantage of being the son of a shoe salesman rather than the offspring of an aristocrat.
I don’t miss Reagan’s reckless “trickle down” economics or his brinkmanship with the military budget, but I do wish for a President who mirrors his soft-spoken manner, gentility, empathy for the average voter, and easy grace.
John McCain, for example.