Reagan: A Man of Convictions

Cal Thomas | Syndicated columnist | Published: Jun 08, 2004

Reagan: A Man of Convictions

And now he is gone.

It seems Ronald Reagan was always with us -- his commanding presence...his strong convictions about communism, lower taxes, and smaller government.

Some things he succeeded at -- like lowering taxes and the defeat of communism in Russia and the eastern block. Others, such as smaller government, not even he was powerful enough to achieve.

Ronald Reagan demonstrated what convictions can do. They can inspire. They can lead. But they can't do for people what they are unwilling to do for themselves.

No leader can lead where people do not want to go.

Reagan had limited influence on the social agenda, mainly because a majority was not prepared to roll back Roe vs. Wade.

He could have done more. He wrote a great essay about human life, but he names two justices -- O'Connor and Kennedy -- who have kept abortion legal and been the swing votes in all efforts to curtail it.

Ronald Reagan's legacy will live as long as America lives. Thankfully there is enough information available about him on video and the internet that not even the media or the liberal historians will be able to distort what he accomplished.

I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.


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Reagan: A Man of Convictions