Posted on 06/11/2005 9:39:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) -- Karl Rove said critics are wrong to portray the president as a good-natured bumpkin.
George W. Bush's top political adviser wasn't talking about his boss. He meant the late President Ronald Reagan, who like the current White House tenant was mocked by some comics and critics as being intellectually shallow.
"Reagan was a man of ideas" who had "a first-rate mind," Rove said during a guest lecture Saturday at the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
"He was a great communicator because he had great ideas to communicate" and was right in his view that communism would fail, said Rove.
"Ronald Reagan's optimism about America was anchored in reality," Rove said, "an understanding of the strength and basic decency of the American people.
"We were very blessed to have him and we still miss him."
Rove got a standing ovation before and after his speech to about 300 people.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan also visited the library Saturday. She received the keys to a U.S. Secret Service vehicle that completes a motorcade display that will open this fall.
She thank more than 100 retired Secret Service agents for coming to the ceremony.
"I just want to give each one of you a big hug," she said.
"It brought tears to my eyes," said John Bartlett, a retired agent who worked with Reagan almost up until his death last year. "It was very nice of her to do this."
In this photo released by BEImages, Nancy Reagan places a bouquet of white roses on the gravesite of her late husband, former President Ronald Reagan, to commemorate the one year anniversary of his passing at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif., on Sunday, June 5, 2005. (AP Photo/Alex Berliner, BEImages)
He also had something many politicos lack. COMMON SENSE.
He truly loved and cared about people. And not just Americans. His demeanor and expression was genuine when he stood before the wall in Berlin and told Mr. Gorbachev to tear it down.
People who thought he was cold and mean spirited don't even have a clue. He demonstrated that the true purpose of conservatism is to better the lives of people, from the unborn to the elderly.
I miss Ronald Reagan....but, I believe his legacy lives on in the current President's administration!
I am glad Rove said this. There have been times when someone would say about a person, "He has a way with words." and I would think, Words are just symbols of thought. He has a great way of thinking.
Ronald Reagan was the only significant intellect to ever occupy the White House.
While Ronald Wilson Reagan is my hero, and the man who shaped my ideology, I have to respectfully disagree with this statement. Thomas Jefferson was a "significant intellect" in his own right, as anyone who has read his writings will attest.
I have read Jefferson's writings, and while I will admit that he was an excellent mathematician, his social ideas were largely without basis in reality, and his spiritual thinking was gnostic to a large extent.
"I miss Ronald Reagan....but, I believe his legacy lives on in the current President's administration!"
GWB is a good president, but hardly great like Reagan. Time will tell though..
All those people across America who attended gatherings in his honor, in small and large towns across America would agree with you.
Lets see what happens when Carter passes away. Whatever the MSM says or does it wont resonate with the American people the way Reagans passing did.
He was the best, ever!
GWB is a good president, but hardly great like Reagan. Time will tell though..
Regan remains to be a hero of mine but I think that time will tell that GWB is just as great or maybe even greater, maybe..
AYear already, wow. and yet some x presidents are like bad b-movie monsters that you can't get rid of.
With all due respect, I believe your belief system might be experiencing a slight malfunction at the moment.
Ronald Reagan still remains the shining star of the modern conservative movement - it is by him that we should navigate and set our course.
Regards, Ivan
Your name has always said it best for me!!!
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