President Ronald Reagan aged 74 (Hair by Grecian Formula)
"A superficial, disengaged, intellectually-lazy showman who didn't do his homework and clung to a naive, unrealistic, and essentially dangerous worldview. Foreign leaders have said they were appalled by Reagan's lack of knowledge of the issues." - President Gerald R. Ford speaking about President Ronald Reagan
Question: Does the fact of Ronald Reagan suffering from and dying of Alzheimer's entitle him to some respect?
Answer: Absolutely and unequivocally. His nobility in admitting to the disease, Nancy Reagan's public grace in dealing with it and her courage in subsequently supporting stem cell research - all command our respect.
Question: Does the fact that Ronald Reagan is now dead entitle his family and reputation to some respect?
Answer: Absolutely and unequivocally. Whatever one feels about the end-products of his presidency, he served his nation for 8 years. His family is entitled to be treated with respect in gratitude for his public service.
Question: Does the fact that Ronald Reagan suffered from and died of a tragic disease entitle him to be forever free from any criticism? Does it mean that astute observations about him by respected Republicans who knew him well - such as a former President of the United States - should be ignored?
Answer: No.
We can be sympathetic that Reagan suffered from a terrible disease, impressed with his courage facing it and respectful of his family's bravery in dealing with it - and STILL be honest.
President Gerald R. Ford - a life-long Republican was a decent, honest man. He knew and observed Ronald Reagan for many years.
This is what President Ford said about Ronald Reagan to Tom DeFrank who he knew and trusted for 33 years. Ford's sole condition of speaking honestly was that he wanted his words to be kept secret till after his death.
"A superficial, disengaged, intellectually-lazy showman who didn't do his homework and clung to a naive, unrealistic, and essentially dangerous worldview. Foreign leaders have said they were appalled by Reagan's lack of knowledge of the issues."
Kudos to Gerald Ford for speaking out truthfully. It's a shame that he wouldn't permit his words to be reported earlier. But better late than never.
Ford gives us all the permission to now speak out publicly about the rose-tinted, sepia-toned mythology that has been created and perpetuated about Ronald Reagan since he left the White House. A false image that - under the cover provided by his illness - has been buffed and polished for 20 years. The perpetraitors (sic) of this myth have shamelessly used his illness and subsequent death as a new Teflon shield to protect the hagiographic image they want the world to see.
And what's behind the Teflon shield? A Pravda-esque portrait straight out of the Cold War propaganda-era. The real Ronald Reagan is being hidden behind a Wall of Obsfucation.
Mrs. Reagan - Tear Down This Wall!