[Chancellor Palpatine]

After a few hours devouring the book, I couldn't find a single letter in which he didn't try to end on a conciliatory or friendly note. Well, one. It was to a ornery conservative activist who, early in Reagan's first term as president, had accused the president of selling out conservative principles. Reagan concluded: "And I must be honest and tell you I don't believe I am guilty of dividing and, yes, destroying the conservative movement at the very moment it has the greatest opportunity to reshape government philosophy it has ever had. But someone is." That someone was his correspondent, a man still throwing rhetorical bombs anywhere he can. But Reagan never sent the letter.

That paragraph says a lot.

[alnick]

It was to a ornery conservative activist who, early in Reagan's first term as president, had accused the president of selling out conservative principles.

That sounds all too familiar. :o)

[Ronin]

Any guesses on who he was talking about?

I vote for Pat.

[BibChr]

Yes.

I think Reagan was one of the most "misunderestimated" public men of the last century.

Though he's no Reagan in all particulars, I think we've got another one in the White House right now.

Dan

[Poohbah]

That someone was his correspondent, a man still throwing rhetorical bombs anywhere he can. But Reagan never sent the letter.

Wow. TLBSHOW was pulling this stuff back in 1981? (c8

[CheneyChick]

Wow - great find, CP.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

.

[Robert_Paulson2]

alan?

[tophat9000]

I loved this opening sentence to an angry woman in 1977, when he was recovering from his failed first run at the presidency: "I have been informed of your complaint about my broadcasts and your suggestion that they be taken off the air. I'm sorry you feel that way and hope you won't mind my writing a few words in my own defense." Why didn't he just throw the hate-mail in the dust-bin? Or in another missive, he could find a gentle way to inform a correspondent that his idea was preposterous: "I found your suggestion very interesting and yet as I turned it over in my mind it had a drawback - at least in my opinion." How's that for letting someone down gently?

So does this paragraph