The Reagan Mantle

Flannery O'Connor characterized the South as "Christ-haunted." In the two decades following the Reagan presidency, it seems to me the Republican Party must likewise be described as "Reagan-haunted." The numerous Republican debates were a classic example of the Reagan one-upmanship, with frequent variations of the phrase: I'm the one most like Ronald Reagan!

For viewers, the charade resembled a modern-day version of Cinderella; every time a candidate pressed his claim, the Reagan mantle never fit quite like it should ... try as they might, each one came away looking like a pretender.

In a recent conversation with Reagan era deputy press secretary Karna Small Bodman, Glenn Beck broached the subject of the Reagan Mantle. (The pertinent remarks are more than halfway down the page.) Beck queried Bodman whether she saw any politician with Reaganesque qualities.

Her response was most diplomatic: "not exactly." She went on to point out this focus on the Reagan mantle indicates how much the man is justifiably admired. She referred to Reagan's core beliefs guiding him.

I can't imagine Ronald Reagan ever considered himself being possessor of a "mantle" over which others would conceivably wrestle ... simply because he was at the task, day by day, of being Ronald Reagan. (He'd have been unable to focus on the responsibilities of the day if he'd allowed himself to be distracted by what "history" might say about him.)

In his farewell address, Reagan stated: "... when I'm gone, I hope [history] will record I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts." Classic Reagan ... in being who he was, he brought out the best of who we were. That's why the remarkable "Reagan mantle" will never quite fit anyone else who tries to claim it.

Instead of trying to claim Reagan's mantle, wouldn't it be refreshing for one of them to confidently craft his (or her) own?