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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Ronald Reagan at 100 --remembering the most Irish of presidents

Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2011 at 10:31 PM

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Happy 100th birthday Ronald Reagan, in many ways the most Irish of presidents. As the You Tube video makes clear, there were grand celebrations back in your ancestral town of Ballyporeen when you were elected.

Reagan enjoyed his Irish visits. He had the humor and wit of the Irish , but also the incredible communication skills sometimes known as the gift of the gab.

There was a deeply sentimental side to him too and he captured how many Americans wanted to see themselves, straight shooters with firm ideas and an ability to get things done

This was a guy who was born with a wooden spoon in his mouth. He didn't go to Harvard or Yale, but rather Eureka College in Illinois.

His father wasn't blue blood,instead he was a shoe salesman and a bad Irish drunk.

If you look at the fathers of recent presidents they sure were not role models. Reagan and Clinton's were alcoholics, Obama's never stuck around.

Because or in spite of such poor male images, these men all succeeded in getting to the highest office in the land.

Reagan has three separate careers, as a mainly 'B' movie actor, a pitchman for major corporations and then a late blooming political career which saw him leap from governor of California to the White House.

I wasn't in America long when Reagan ran for president. I think his campaign was one of the greatest of all time.

The morning in America montage at a time when America was reeling from the Iran hostage crisis and a foundering economy was masterful.

A few years later I got a VIP tour of the White House along with a journalist I was dating who was very friendly with the press secretary.

As we exited the West Wing, Reagan suddenly appeared in the distance making his way to the Air Force1 helicopter.

He made an indelible impression, tall , tanned, big cowboy boots, great shock of wavy black hair.

He turned and waved vaguely in our direction.

This was a man with presence.

He proved it when president. As a Democrat I disagreed with a lot of what he did, but he did change the argument from what could government do for you to what could we do for ourselves without government.

That debate is still going on but I doubt it would have the same rancor if Reagan were still around.

The definition of Irish genius is telling a person to go to hell in such a way that he actually thinks he will enjoy the journey.

Ronald Reagan had that ability, always pleasant no matter what compared to the dour humorless characters we have today.

I cannot imagine Obama and Boehner yucking it up like Reagan and 'Tip' O'Neill used to do when politics for the day was over.

He told Gorbachev to tear down the wall and changed history but he changed America too, for the better I feel in many ways.

So happy birthday Ronnie Reagan. The relatives back in Ballyporeen still say hi.

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32 Comments

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tommymccarthy | Apr 10, 2011, 02:21 PM EDT

DON'T TRY TO RUN DOWN THE MCCARTHY'S (BOOKMAKER)

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paddypower | Feb 10, 2011, 10:44 AM EST

"This was a man with presence." Oh gawd help us. That was surely the monkey Bonzo. Not only had the emperor no clothes..he had nary a brain and was an McCarthyite FBI snitch on top of that. Ronald Reagan's Criminal Administration: "By the end of his term, 138 Reagan administration officials had been convicted, had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations. In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever." from p. 184,Sleep-Walking Through History: America in the Reagan Years, by Haynes Johnson, (1991, Doubleday),

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edmundburke | Feb 09, 2011, 08:03 PM EST

Great piece Niall, you have it right. The comments have drawn the usual Finner/Leftie suspects, but the fact is that polls consistently show that Americans consider Reagan to be one of the top ten Presidents ever. They have had the opportunity to hear all of the slanted criticism repeated in the Lefties' comments here, sift the evidence, and still conclude that Reagan was one of the greatest. He turned the US economy around, brought a new respect for limited government, revived American patriotism, and won the Cold War. In so doing, he improved the lives of millions both in America and abroad. And he was always proud and respectful of his Irish heritage. His contempt for the IRA, both in and out of jail, is a badge of honor in my opinion and enhances his prestige.

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jamieLM | Feb 08, 2011, 12:06 PM EST

I think JFK was "more Irish" than Reagan in being seriously proud and knowledgeable about his Irish roots. He was raised by his mother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, who was always proud of her Irish family and taught her kids about their accomplishments in the U.S. Unfortunately, Joseph P. Kennedy was no role model as a father. He was a boot-legger, a "wheeler-dealer" in the film industry, and flaunted his mistress Gloria Swanson in front of his wife and children. Still, JFK was closer to his father than Reagan ever was to his. JFK and Reagan had personal charisma and knew how to charm people, even those who disagreed with their political views.

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seanomelbourne | Feb 07, 2011, 06:30 PM EST

I'm glad you agree with me Maloney it's about truth and facts.

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RedBranch | Feb 07, 2011, 03:15 PM EST

Nice observation CitizenWhy, you're right MalcomAC and John Wayne is the business, end of story! Regans visit in '84 coupled with a Vatican and D-Day commemoration was subject to much protesting of youth in Dub and Balyporeen. The feeling his Irish connections being exposed in election year (He never finished his pint of Smithwicks). The smart money though went to Ballsbridge where they were giving out B2 visas FOR LIFE. There was a low budget documentary/movie of the event called 6 Days in June or something like that. I couldn't find reference to it on the web, if anyone does find it let me know (not that its Citizen Cane or anything). Oh and tcenname don't forget how he helped Perfidious Albion retake the Malvinos. Viva Ron.

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tcenname | Feb 07, 2011, 02:50 PM EST

Self correction. It was during the Jefferson-Jackson day celebration in 1981 not 1980.Please excuse error

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tcenname | Feb 07, 2011, 02:14 PM EST

I don't think that he was the most Irish of presidents and I think you people have very short memories. It was during the year 1980 at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner when Prince Charles of England was here to celebrate it that young Bobby Sands was dying of hunger strike in Maze prison in northern Ireland over his principles for ultimate social justice in Northern Ireland. President Reagan had only to open his mouth and ask Prince Charles to allow Sands and the other IRA members there to wear there uniforms and therefore not be regarded as terrorists and the whole hunger strike movement would have ended . He did not and 9 others after Sands were to go on hunger strike to the death. So please don't praise Mr.Reagans Irishness. It was for show and press only. However i will admit he was good at telling Irish jokes with Tip O'Neill on St.Patricks day

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maloney | Feb 07, 2011, 12:59 PM EST

It's about truth & facts seano. It's a shame you refuse to aknowledge either.

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seanfer7 | Feb 07, 2011, 07:38 AM EST

Hey Joseph O Casey You didn't address any of the things that I said about President Reagan. You asked me to reply and he is my reply. He left the country in debit. He fired working men and women. He did tear down the wall in Berlin Solidarnos did. He did have a senior monment during the debate. You talked about things I never mentioned. He claimed to have served by making war commericals he invded tiney Granada and traded arms which would be a treasonable offense. Why is it that conservatives keep trying to re wrtie history. Sean you're and idiot sorry for you

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seanomelbourne | Feb 07, 2011, 01:16 AM EST

Maloney he claimed he had a bad knee (football Injury) never stopped him riding horses or running.Give yourself a break Maloney " a true American hero" a gutless snitch he was. Deny that he used the courts system and why use it when a medical report would have sufficed.It's not about left or right, it's about truth and facts.

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maloney | Feb 06, 2011, 10:08 PM EST

seano...my mistake, I knew there were health problems but he was 3A then 2A. The story you tell is liberal propaganda. He was hated for his conservatism by the left. If you really want to know the truth go to Wayne, John newworldencyclopedia.com and for a more complete history of his pre-war time & war time go to John Wayne bighollywood.breitbart.com. I know you really aren't interested in the truth about anything conservative but you don't have to admit that John Wayne WAS a true American Hero. The truth shall set you free. Try it sometime.

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seanomelbourne | Feb 06, 2011, 09:14 PM EST

Maloney if Wayne was deemed unfit why did he use the legal system to escape the call-up.By the way if he was not fit for combat there was plenty of administrative jobs available. He took pleasure in demonizing servicemen who fought for their country and naming them to that cross dresser Hoover.How the Hero's are vanquished by a coward.O'reilly-Hannity-beck-Ingraham and dead beat Malkin never wore their country's uniform and denigrate the bravery of others who have because they refuse to toe their right wing agenda.

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OurselvesAlone | Feb 06, 2011, 08:37 PM EST

Niall, Given your status as a confirmed "Clintonista", I would have thought that you would know that Roger Clinton (the alcoholic) was Bill's STEPFATHER, not father. Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe IV, or Billy Jefferson (BJ)Blythe the fourth, although I think the moniker BJ 4 Blythe is the most fitting and more reflective of his contribution to modern politics. His behavior forced many parents of preteens back in 1998 to have explain to them what oral sex was. A shining example of what the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the esteemed senator from New York called "defining deviancy downward."

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Felicia | Feb 06, 2011, 07:30 PM EST

Thank you Mr. O'Dowd, what you have written about President Reagan is so true, it touched my heart.

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