Media Fondly Recalls "Mister Happy"

Washington, DC -- As foreign dignitaries and tens of thousands of Americans streamed through the Capitol rotunda to pay their final respects to Ronald Reagan, the death of the 40th President prompted tributes and fond recollections from scores of journalists who covered his controverial term in office.

"Although I never actually voted for him, I think it's really no mystery why we are seeing such a public outpouring of affection for Ronald Reagan," said longtime Washington Post reporter Haynes Johnson. "His rosy, almost narcotic optimism must have provided a needed tonic for the tens of millions of Americans he threw into wretched starvation in the '80s."

Johnson, whose 1983 book On The Brink: Bonzo's Dangerous Bloodlust for Global Armageddon was an early lighthearted look at the Reagan administration, said that the key to Reagan's popularity was his sunny disposition.

"It's really rather remarkable how ordinary Americans were enchanted and beguiled by Ronald Reagan's cheerful attitude and dazzling smile," said Johnson. "It really is amazing how history, for good or evil, can be affected by good dental hygiene."

"Like the rest of the country, we in the press will never forget Ronald Reagan's bright, bouyant affability, especially the happy-go-lucky way he sold his optimistic vision of worldwide nuclear holocaust," said CNN political analyst Bill Schneider.

Newsweek's Eleanor Clift theorized that Americans also enjoyed Reagan's flair for patriotic pomp.

"I think many people were enthralled and mesmerized by how President Reagan restored traditional American flag waving and exciting jingoism," she said. "Just look at the funeral, with its fearsome paramilitary color guards and screaming billion-dollar death machines -- vintage Gipper, and the mourners obviously eat that stuff right up."

Many in the Fourth Estate praised Reagan's prodigious powers of persuation.

"He was a true salesman, a craft he honed as spokesman for General Electric," observed veteran Washington Post correspondent David Broder. " When Ronald Reagan went on TV to pitch his latest hare-brained tax scheme to crush vital government programs, he had that dulcet voice and twinkle in his eye. The American people saw that and they responded, especially to his brilliant subliminal race code."

"The 'Gipper' really connected with the simple everday folk, the hoi polloi, that massive least-middle-denominator of average, and under-average, America," agreed ABC news anchor Peter Jennings. "Even for a jaded media member, there was something deeply cute and moving about their relationship, like two Special Ed students at the Prom."

Presidential Historian Doris Kearnes Goodwin said that Reagan's legendary popularity with journalists might have been due to his many intriguing contradictions.

"Reagan is one of the most fascinating presidential characters of the 20th century," said Goodwin. "I often find myself thinking -- what would have happened, had not Mikhail Gorbachov saved the entire planet from this fascinating, fascinating man? This question will be pondered by many generations of historians, when they are researching the Iran-Contra fiasco."

Chris Matthews, host MSNBC's Hardball, also credited 'The Great Communicator' for his legendary civility.

"Obviously the one single thing Ronald Reagan will be remember for, a hundred years from now, it will be his wacky friendship with immortal Tip O'Neill," said Matthews.

"Sure, those two old Irishmen could fight and argue over policy, but at the end of the day it was time for tall tales and jokes," laughed Matthews, a former O'Neill staffer, recalling a typical incident. "I remember one time when Tip went in a rage to the Oval Office, his famous tire iron in hand, during an appropriations debate. 'I'm gonna beat that imbecile nazi son of a bitch within an inch of his life,' I think were his words. When he got there, Reagan said, 'c'mon, Tip! It's after 5 o'clock, time for stories!'"

"Even though the White House Secret Service often confiscated Tip's tire irons and shivs, he never held it against Reagan," recalled Matthews. "It's really a shame that the current retarded freak in the White House has destroyed that kind of genial civility."

While he felt the coverage of his state funeral "bordered on the excessively hagiographic," Newsweek editor Evan Thomas said Reagan earned his salute.

"Let's face it -- when the story of 20th century presidents is finally written, he will rank near the top half," said Thomas.

Although he was saddened by Reagan's passing, Thomas said it was probably a good thing he became incapacitated before George W. Bush assumed his former office.

"Unfortunately for Ronald Reagan, his beloved country has been usurped by a corrupt administration led by a dimwitted cowboy warmonger," he lamented. "I doubt he would recognize the place."

Comments

[Rick The Lawyer]

Geez, and not one of them mentioned Abu Ghraib? They must be losing their touch....

[RichInOC]

...Oh. With that title, I thought they were remembering the Clinton administration. My bad.

[Melissa]

Beautiful. I clicked by Haynes Johnson on CNN, too.