Reagan's lasting hope

President Ronald Reagan was laid to rest last week after a 10-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease. I must admit Reagan was not my favorite president. His administration's policies have had a devastating effect on workers, the indigent and, ironically, the mentally ill. \nStill, as I listened to the many commentaries during the week-long celebration of his life on television and radio last week, I could not help but think of the large contribution to this society he made while he was alive. \nReagan, a former Democrat and labor leader, began having political thoughts for himself when he worked for General Electric. While traveling to GE production facilities throughout the country, he came to realize the value of relating to the working man and motivating him (Time, June 14).\n"The Great Communicator," as he has been called, realized from that point on that the important thing about leadership is the message. \nMany great presidents understood this principle. Themes such as "the only thing to fear is fear itself" (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country" (John F. Kennedy) have resonated through time because they have defined us as a country. Ronald Reagan's theme was "It's morning in America." \nAt the time, America needed a new morning, a different outlook on life. Terrorism and hostages in the Middle East, inflation, the energy crisis (with the corresponding high cost of oil and everything that came from it) and unemployment had stymied the country. The prospects for the future were indeed depressing. \nThen-president Jimmy Carter, whom I still like as a person, seemed to be a man who could handle the details involved in correcting these problems. In fact, I remember how he artfully explained to the entire country the need to conserve energy. I also remember how well the country responded to that message.\nCarter's problem, though, was twofold: In the end he had too much to juggle, and he seemed to lack a great overall theme.\nThat is where Reagan triumphed and where his legacy is. "The Great Communicator" was not concerned about how to get the job done. He knew that people needed hope and the rest would take care of itself. \nReagan taught us many things about image over reality and style over substance that our society still values today.\nHe taught us that we really did not need to balance the budget, as long as we proclaimed fiscal responsibility. He taught us it was all right to trade arms for hostages with terrorists, as long as we said we do not negotiate with terrorists. He taught us to better ourselves, as some of us did, despite the fact that there was little opportunity or resources left to do so. Some were not as lucky as I was.\nEvery president since Ronald Reagan, including Bill Clinton, has tried to reproduce some of the magic that was Reaganism. Perhaps that is why we still have much of the laundry list that plagued the Carter administration (terrorism, energy problems, unemployment, etc.) and few answers. \nMaybe the answers were not important, and maybe they still are not. Maybe we as individuals have to start looking for answers on our own and for ourselves. Once we do that, we will know what to do.\nThe noblest way to remember Ronald Reagan is to carry on his legacy of hope in America. It would certainly be a breath of fresh air these days.