Ronald Reagan's influence on American patriotism and leadership

Ronald Reagan

CONTEMPORARY ROLE MODEL

The objective of this work in writing is to choose a contemporary role model, and for this work chosen is former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. This work will apply consideration to how one might emulate the characteristics, attitude, educational achievements and/or lifestyle of Ronald Reagan and what findings of a study of the life of Ronald Reagan might direct one's life. Scholarly articles will comprise this research in presenting what various scholars or writers have had to say about Ronald Reagan. Finally, this work will present a personal 'game plan' that would provide the opportunity to pattern the life of the writer after the role model of Ronald Reagan.

I. The Appeal of Reagan to the American Public

Ronald Reagan had an inherent understanding of the American public and according to Larry Hubbell in the work entitled: "Ronald Reagan as Presidential Symbol Maker: The Federal Bureaucrat as Loafer, Incompetent Buffoon, Good Ole Boy and Tyrant" Ronald Reagan "played on the public's resentment of the federal bureaucracy. For Reagan and his devoted audiences the federal bureaucrat was a symbol representing many of the qualities that are wrong with present-day society." (1991) Even after Ronald Reagan attained the Presidency he never lost his common touch and managed to keep the American public on his side. This appeal led the United States from what is described as a "...nation in decline." (Robinson, 2004) When Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, he stated that: "The crisis we are facing today [requires] our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds...And after all, why shouldn't we believe that? We are Americans." (Robinson, 2004)

II. Ronald Reagan - Profound Changer of History

Ronald Reagan instilled patriotism in the heart of Americans. Sidney Hook states in his work entitled: "The Hero in History" that the "...great man or woman in history is someone who we can say...that if they had not lived when they did, or acted as they did, the history of their countries and of the world...would have been profoundly different." (Robinson, 2004) Mikhail Gorbachev stated in an interview: "He was an authentic person and a great person. If someone else had been in his place, I don't know if what happened would have happened." (Robinson, 2004) When asked how history would remember him Ronald Reagan is stated to have replied: "I have no fears of that...Whatever else history may say about me when I am gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts." (Kengor, 2000)

III. Emulating a "Great Man"

Ronald Reagan was a positive individual who looked to higher ideals and believed that simple implementation of principles into government administration held the keys to success and to winning. Ronald Reagan believed that America was capable and strong and because of this strong belief, he led the country to victory over the dark days of nuclear proliferation when the question of who would push the first button, or launch the first nuclear warhead would hurl America into a war that had no winners. Ronald Reagan with his positive and authentic leadership led America to victory in what was known as "The Cold War." Emulation of this type of leader means that one possesses the ability to see the issues across-the-board and with a strong focus on positive attributes or the organization or administration and in the case of Ronald Reagan, upon the strength of the American people one has the characteristics necessary to lead a mass change that stretches all across the political landscape as well as changing the reality for all involved.

IV. Greatest Communicator the White House Ever Had

In the BBC News article entitled: "Reagan's Mixed White House Legacy" it is stated that during the eight years that Ronald Reagan was president "he left his mark on the lives of millions of Americans, and his presidency came to define an era." (BBC News, 2004) Related as well is that the origins of Ronald Reagan were "humble [as he was] "...the son of an alcoholic shoe salesman from Illinois." (BBC News, 2004) Early in his career Reagan discovered "...his trademark gift for communication." (BBC News, 2004) Reagan has been described as being "More of a figure head than a strong leader with a grasp for detail..." (BBC News, 2004) Yet, he is also said to be the "...best communicator the White House ever had and, for a while, made America feel good about itself again." (BBC News, 2004)

V. Game Plan for the Future with Ronald Reagan as a Role Model

It is not so much the individual given the greatest of talents but the individual given the greatest of visions that is able to lead others to a place of victory specifically one as large as the ending of "The Cold War." Ronald Reagan brought about changes on the world scene that only an authentic and visionary leader is able to accomplish and the reason for this is because to bring about such massive changes the requirement is that one is able to communicate that vision and rally those who they are leading to drive toward the realization of that vision. Ronald Reagan was just this type of individual. When America was down and out of a hope and vision for the future, Ronald Reagan communicated just this to the American people and caused America to believe again in the founding principles of the United States, which are freedom principles, free enterprise and equality among all. To fashion a game plan after the example of Ronald Reagan requires that one quite plain and 'simple' refuse to consider the possibility of defeat and secondly that one has the communication skills to relate this to those whom one leads. In his November 3, 1980 Election Eve Speech, Ronald Reagan stated: "Let us resolve tonight that young Americans will always...find there is a city of hope in a country that is free...And let us resolve they will say of our day and our generation, we did keep the faith with our God, that we did act worthy of ourselves, that we did protect and pass on lovingly that shining city on a hill."