ronald reagan leadership style essay

Ronald Reagan's Leadership Lessons

Author Margot Morrell talks about Reagan's Journey: Lessons from a Remarkable Career .

Leadership Secrets of the Gipper

What made Reagan's career so remarkable?

The fascinating thing about Reagan is he's this poor kid from nowhere. At the age of 14, at a time when only 7 percent of the population goes to college, he sets his sights on going to college. Then he graduates at the dead bottom of the Depression, the summer of 1932. Unemployment is at 24 percent. And through a series of conversations with his mentor that summer, he sets his sights on getting his dream job. From that point on, he coaches himself to the top of five separate professions: radio, acting, union leader, public speaker, and then, of course, politics. [Read: Missing Reagan Speech Note Cards Found]

How did he overcome difficult points in his career?

At every single crisis point in his career, he basically takes the time to rethink his strengths. After the end of his relationship with General Electric, he goes to Arizona to a resort and rides horses, talks to a friend, and thinks about, well, what am I going to do next? What's gone right? Where have the challenges been?

Was Reagan born a great leader?

Yes, he was a great communicator; yes, he had a knack for it. But he constantly worked at it. To wrap around to your question about his leadership skills, I really think he saw what he admired in the Screen Actors Guild. The Screen Actors Guild was an absolutely first-class organization started by Hollywood stars in the 1930s. [That's] where he got this skill—he referred to it as round-tabling things. He would sit in these meetings and not say a word and let everyone talk, and then he would synthesize a response.

What were his leadership methods?

He let other people do what they did best. He didn't micromanage people. You see that in the 1966 [gubernatorial] campaign, putting together that first-class team and then unleashing them to do their best. [See photos celebrating Reagan's 100th birthday.]

How would you compare President Obama's leadership so far to Reagan's?

President Obama, before the healthcare [vote] about a year ago, called the Republicans into the Blair House meeting. Reagan always listened to people and appreciated their input, took it into account, and very mindfully would not make his own feelings known in the meetings. With President Obama, it seemed to be he was just doing this to go through the motions of, "OK, I've listened to you." But he did not seem to be valuing the opinions. Obama has a very professorial, "I'm telling you this is how it's going to be" approach, and with Reagan, it was conversation.

What could Obama learn from your book?

The value of listening to people. That's what made Reagan Reagan.

How well do today's conservatives understand Reagan and his career?

I think we're now seeing Reagan in a way that we're understanding exactly who he was. At the time, in the West he was regarded as essentially a mainstream conservative, but his joke was that, as he flew [east] over the Mississippi, he became a "kook with horns." The mainstream press really loved to portray him as this sort of right-wing extremist, which, obviously, we can now see, could hardly have been farther from the case.

What can readers learn from Reagan about starting a new career?

That it starts with focusing on your strengths. By taking the time to identify your strengths and talents, and finding an area of expertise, finding something that you enjoy doing. That it won't come easy, that it will take practicing and polishing and honing, but look for ways to try out your skills in a safe, supportive environment. Stretch yourself by taking on challenges. Seek out role models.

How about facing career challenges?

Focus on your strengths. I knew somebody who was one of his agents in Hollywood in the 1940s, and he happened to have an office that backed onto Reagan's apartment, and he could literally hear Reagan making phone calls, and Reagan was constantly working the phone, you know, staying in touch with his connections, staying in touch with his agent, looking for opportunities, promoting his career.

What surprised you in writing this book?

That [his career] didn't come easily to him, that there were enormous challenges, and that he constantly picked himself up and moved forward.

• Read: Missing Reagan Speech Note Cards Found.
• See photos celebrating Reagan's 100th birthday.
• Check out a gallery of Whispers caricatures.

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Serve to Lead | James Strock

21st Century Leadership

15 Reagan Leadership Lessons

February 6, 2024 By James Strock

As with other consequential presidents before him, Ronald Reagan is emerging as a historical figure transcending the partisan politics of his time.

Reagan on Leadership   explores his leadership approach.

Here are 15 top Reagan leadership lessons:

1. Craft a Compelling Vision. This is something we all know—yet few master. Reagan’s vision of individual freedom is the foundation of every aspect of his leadership, throughout his career.

The most important thing is to have the vision. The next is to grasp and hold it. You must see and feel what you are thinking. You must see it and grasp it. —Ronald Reagan

2. Cultivate Durable Optimism.   Durable optimism was a hallmark of Reagan’s leadership. He believed, even in the darkest days, that brighter days lay ahead. This connected him to the young—with whom he had a unique bond as president—and to future generations. His enthusiasm helped restore America’s confidence in herself. Reagan’s understanding of the power of optimism in leadership arose, in part, from his youth during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

[L]ike most Americans, I live for the future. —Ronald Reagan

3. Study Your Part.   Actors study the characters they are asked to inhabit and translate. Ronald Reagan developed his notion of the “role” of leader with Franklin Roosevelt in mind. Young Reagan voted for FDR in each of his four presidential runs. Over time, Reagan’s politics evolved in another direction. He was nonetheless able to look beyond politics and partisanship as he evaluated leadership.

Franklin Roosevelt was the first President I ever saw. I remember the moment vividly. It was in 1936, a campaign parade in Des Moines, Iowa. What a wave of affection and pride swept through that crowd as he passed by in an open car—which we haven’t seen a President able to do for a long time—a familiar smile on his lips, jaunty and confident, drawing from us reservoirs of confidence and enthusiasm some of us had forgotten we had during those hard years. Maybe that was FDR’s greatest gift to us. He really did convince us that the only thing we had to fear was fear itself.  —Ronald Reagan

4. Communicate a Compelling Vision.  Reagan demurred on being called the “Great Communicator.” He preferred to say that he communicated “great things.” So he did. Polls showed that Americans well understood his top priorities.

5. Translate Your Vision Into Management.  Reagan’s clear communication of his vision fostered a supportive culture in the organizations he led. Everyone—from the general public to the many members of his presidential administration—understood the keystones of Reagan’s vision. This empowered people at every level to advance Reagan’s agenda.

Every day when I got up and went to work, I knew what I had to do. —Frank Blake, former Reagan administration official.

6. Personnel Is Central to Management.  Reagan’s presidential administration centralized personnel selection and management to an unprecedented extent. His team’s mantra was: “Personnel is policy.” Paradoxically at first glance, the central supervision of personnel management worked hand-in-glove within an overall approach of decentralizing and delegating authority. 

7. Compromise to Advance Your Goals.  Long before he entered electoral politics, Reagan served as a highly effective labor negotiator. He learned to fight hard for the interests of those he represented–and when to accept a compromise that would be in everyone’s interest. When he was unable to achieve all of his announced goals, he would frame the ultimate agreement in a way that would enable him to return for additional concessions in the future.

I’d learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: ‘I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to the bat.’ What I seek is the highest possible batting average. —Ronald Reagan

8. Seek Allies.  Some people seek out reasons to disagree with others. Reagan strove to find areas of common ground. He was skilled at building alliances. This included locating shared interests or concerns with people and organizations who might otherwise be viewed as in opposition. He did not hesitate to reach out to those who became “Reagan Democrats.” So, too, he made a point of working with members of his own Republican Party who were not 100% “Reagan Republicans.” The Reagan administration cobbled together an unlikely set of allies in its efforts to turn the tide of the Cold War against the Soviet Union. Then, remarkably, Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev moved from the Cold War to cooperation.

Somebody who agrees with me 80 percent of the time is a friend and ally, not a 20 percent traitor. —Ronald Reagan

9. Deploy Humor.  Reagan’s use of humor was legendary. He often disarmed foes and critics with a gentle but lethal touch. So, too, he would not hesitate to poke fun at himself. This enabled him to address legitimate, sensitive issues of public concern, such as his advancing age while serving as president.

I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue in this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience. —Ronald Reagan, debating Walter Mondale, 1984.

10. Maintain Perspective.  Reagan evaded the prideful temptation to conspicuously burn the midnight oil as president. He understood that the tasks only he could undertake—such as top decisions relating to life and death, representing the nation in various capacities—called upon his judgment and perspective. He spent the equivalent of a year of his presidency away from the White House, at his ranch in California. Of course, no president can ever entirely be “off.” Reagan was by no means detached from necessary decision-making, much less idle. He was separated from the day-to-day minutiae, better equipped to keep his eye on the big picture.

11. Protect Your Health.     The first duty of anyone entrusted with the well-being of others is to safeguard their own health. Reagan was memorably disciplined in terms of diet, exercise, and sleep.

[Reagan was] the most disciplined person I ever saw. —Howard Baker, Jr.

12. Don’t Be Limited by Others’ Expectations.   They said a professional actor could never be elected president. They said a divorced person could not be elected president. They said he was too old to be elected president. They said he could never reach agreement the Soviet Union to curtail the ruinous arms race. “They” could not faze Ronald Reagan.

13. Write.  In common with many other effective leaders, Reagan was a serious writer. He had been a professional speaker, as well as an actor, for decades prior to becoming president. Writing required that he think through many, many events and ideas. It enabled him to experiment with various ways to express his observations in the most persuasive way. Writing reinforced his capacity to be engaged in events. At the same time, the focused listening and observation that fuel writing ensured that he was always an outsider, always scanning the larger scene.

14. Embody Your Vision.   It’s often observed that Reagan, the actor, was memorably authentic. His life and work were unified. Reagan strove to convey integrity. He came to embody his vision.

15. Make It Look Easy.  Reagan believed that part of a professional’s code is to “make it look easy.” One might usefully recall another adage in this putting this in perspective:  It didn’t just happen.  

Theodore Roosevelt

“There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder… It is war-worn Hotspur, spent with hard fighting, he of the many errors and valiant end, over whose memory we love to linger, not over the memory of the young lord who ‘but for the vile guns would have been a valiant soldier.'”

Helen Keller

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”

Serve to Lead | The Four Questions

Who Am I Serving? How Can I Best Serve? Am I Making My Unique Contribution? What Am I Becoming?

Charles de Gaulle

“History does not teach fatalism. There are moments when the will of a handful of free men breaks through determinism and opens up new roads. People get the history they deserve.”

Untitled Leader

Ronald Reagan: Lessons in Leadership

The leadership lessons of ronald reagan: a legacy worth studying.

Ronald Reagan was one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century, and his impact on American politics and society is still felt today. He was known for his charismatic personality, clear communication style, and unshakable convictions. Reagan’s leadership style was distinct from other leaders of his time, and it earned him the trust and respect of millions of Americans.

Reagan’s leadership style was characterized by his ability to inspire, motivate, and unite people. He was a skilled communicator who could convey complex ideas in a way that was easily understood by the public. Reagan was also known for his optimism and unwavering faith in the American people, which helped him rally support for his policies and vision for the country.

Reagan’s leadership style was shaped by his experiences as an actor, union leader, and politician. He learned the importance of connecting with people on an emotional level and using storytelling to convey his message. Reagan also understood the power of a strong, clear message and worked hard to ensure that his policies were communicated effectively to the American public.

Throughout his career, Reagan embodied several key leadership principles that helped him achieve his goals and earn the trust of the American people. These principles included his unwavering commitment to his beliefs, his ability to build strong relationships, and his willingness to take risks and make tough decisions.

One of the most important aspects of Reagan’s leadership style was his ability to bring people together. Reagan was a unifying force in American politics, and he worked tirelessly to bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans. He believed that the American people were capable of achieving great things when they worked together, and he used his leadership to inspire cooperation and collaboration.

Reagan’s leadership also reflected his deep understanding of the American people and their values. He believed in the power of individual freedom and limited government, and he worked to promote these values throughout his career. Reagan’s leadership was characterized by his commitment to personal responsibility, strong families, and a robust economy.

In the following sections, we will explore Reagan’s leadership philosophy and examine the key leadership lessons that can be learned from his career. By studying Reagan’s leadership style and principles, we can gain valuable insights into effective leadership and how to inspire and motivate others to achieve great things.

Reagan’s Leadership Style

Ronald Reagan was widely regarded as a charismatic and effective leader, with a leadership style that was distinct from many other political figures of his time. His leadership style was marked by his ability to connect with people, inspire them to action, and instill a sense of confidence and optimism in his vision for America’s future.

One of the defining characteristics of Reagan’s leadership style was his communication skills. He was a master of using stories and analogies to make complex ideas easy to understand, and he had a unique ability to speak directly to the hearts and minds of the American people. Reagan’s communication style was simple, clear, and direct, which allowed him to communicate his vision for the country in a way that resonated with a broad range of people.

Another key aspect of Reagan’s leadership style was his unwavering commitment to his beliefs and principles. He was a man of strong convictions, and he never wavered in his commitment to his values, even in the face of opposition or criticism. This steadfastness in his beliefs gave him credibility and authenticity in the eyes of the American people, who saw him as a trustworthy leader who could be relied upon to do what he believed was right.

Reagan’s leadership style was also marked by his ability to build strong relationships with people. He had a natural warmth and friendliness that made him approachable and likable, even to those who disagreed with him. He was skilled at reaching across party lines and building bridges between people of different backgrounds and viewpoints, which helped him to achieve many of his policy goals.

Reagan’s leadership style was marked by a deep sense of optimism and confidence in the American people. He believed that the American people were capable of achieving great things, and he was committed to empowering them to do so. This sense of optimism and confidence was infectious, and it helped to rally support for his policies and vision for the country.

Examples of how Reagan’s leadership style influenced his decisions and actions can be seen throughout his presidency. One example is his approach to the Cold War . Reagan believed that the Soviet Union was a threat to global peace and security, and he was committed to standing up to Soviet aggression. He used his communication skills to convey the urgency of the situation to the American people and the world, and he built strong relationships with leaders in other countries who shared his concerns.

Reagan’s leadership style also influenced his approach to the economy. He believed in the power of free markets and limited government, and he worked to promote these values throughout his presidency. He used his communication skills to explain his policies to the American people, and he built strong relationships with business leaders who supported his vision for the economy.

Ronald Reagan’s leadership style was marked by his ability to connect with people, communicate effectively, and inspire them to action. He was a man of strong convictions, who never wavered in his commitment to his beliefs, and he worked tirelessly to build strong relationships with people of different backgrounds and viewpoints. Reagan’s leadership style was a key factor in his success as a political leader, and it serves as a valuable example for leaders today who want to inspire and motivate others to achieve great things.

Reagan’s Leadership Philosophy

Ronald Reagan’s leadership philosophy was rooted in a set of principles that guided his actions and policies as a political leader. These principles reflected his belief in the power of individual freedom and limited government, and his commitment to personal responsibility, strong families, and a robust economy. In this section, we will discuss the key principles that guided Reagan’s leadership, and explore examples of how these principles played out in his policies and actions.

Individual Freedom

Reagan believed that individual freedom was one of the most important values that America stood for, and he was committed to protecting and promoting this freedom throughout his presidency. He believed that individuals should have the freedom to make their own decisions, to pursue their own goals and dreams, and to reap the rewards of their hard work and dedication.

One of the most significant examples of Reagan’s commitment to individual freedom was his economic policy. He believed in the power of free markets and limited government, and he worked to reduce government regulation and taxation in order to promote economic growth and individual prosperity. This approach helped to create one of the longest periods of sustained economic growth in American history.

Limited Government

Reagan believed that government should be limited in its role and scope, and that individuals and communities should be empowered to make their own decisions and solve their own problems. He believed that the government should not interfere in people’s lives unless it was absolutely necessary, and that it should work to create an environment in which individuals and businesses could thrive and succeed.

Reagan’s commitment to limited government can be seen in his approach to taxes and spending. He worked to reduce taxes for individuals and businesses, and he also worked to reduce government spending and cut wasteful programs. This approach helped to reduce the size and scope of government, and it allowed individuals and businesses to keep more of their hard-earned money.

Personal Responsibility

Reagan believed that individuals had a responsibility to take care of themselves and their families, and that they should not rely on the government for handouts or assistance. He believed in the importance of hard work, self-reliance, and personal responsibility, and he worked to create policies that would encourage these values.

One of the most significant examples of Reagan’s commitment to personal responsibility was his welfare reform policy. He believed that the welfare system had created a culture of dependency, and he worked to create a system that would encourage people to work and take responsibility for their own lives. This approach helped to reduce the number of people on welfare and encouraged individuals to pursue work and self-sufficiency.

Strong Families

Reagan believed that strong families were the foundation of a strong society, and he worked to create policies that would support and strengthen families. He believed that families were essential for raising children, instilling values, and creating a sense of community and belonging.

One of the most significant examples of Reagan’s commitment to strong families was his support for the traditional family structure. He believed that families should be led by a mother and a father, and he worked to create policies that would support this structure. He also supported policies that would encourage parents to be more involved in their children’s education and upbringing.

In conclusion, Reagan’s leadership philosophy was rooted in a set of principles that reflected his belief in the power of individual freedom and limited government, and his commitment to personal responsibility, strong families, and a robust economy. These principles played out in his policies and actions throughout his presidency, and they continue to be an important example for leaders today who want to create a society that values freedom, responsibility, and opportunity for all.

Leadership Lessons from Reagan’s Career

Ronald Reagan’s leadership style and philosophy provide valuable lessons for leaders today, as his approach to leadership was marked by a commitment to individual freedom, personal responsibility, and a sense of optimism and confidence in the American people. In this section, we will highlight some key leadership lessons that can be gleaned from Reagan’s career, and provide examples of how these lessons can be applied in modern leadership roles.

The Power of Communication

One of Reagan’s greatest strengths as a leader was his ability to communicate effectively with people of all backgrounds and viewpoints. He was a skilled orator who could convey complex ideas in a way that was easy to understand, and he was able to connect with people on an emotional level through his storytelling and personal anecdotes.

Modern leaders can learn from Reagan’s communication style by focusing on the importance of clear and effective communication. Leaders who can communicate their vision and values in a clear and concise manner are more likely to gain the trust and support of their followers. By using stories and personal anecdotes, leaders can make their messages more relatable and memorable, and by connecting with people on an emotional level, leaders can inspire and motivate them to action.

The Value of Steadfast Convictions

Reagan was a man of strong convictions who never wavered in his commitment to his beliefs and principles, even in the face of opposition or criticism. He believed that leaders should have a clear sense of purpose and direction, and that they should be willing to stand up for what they believe in, even if it means taking risks or facing criticism.

Modern leaders can learn from Reagan’s commitment to his convictions by being clear and consistent in their values and principles. Leaders who are willing to stand up for what they believe in, even in the face of opposition or criticism, are more likely to gain the respect and admiration of their followers. By staying true to their convictions, leaders can create a sense of trust and authenticity that will inspire others to follow their lead.

The Importance of Building Relationships

Reagan was a master at building relationships with people of different backgrounds and viewpoints. He believed in the power of collaboration and cooperation, and he worked tirelessly to bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans, labor and management, and other groups that were often at odds with each other.

Modern leaders can learn from Reagan’s approach to building relationships by focusing on the importance of trust, respect, and empathy. Leaders who can build strong relationships with their followers, colleagues, and other stakeholders are more likely to be successful in achieving their goals. By showing respect and empathy for others, leaders can create a sense of mutual trust and cooperation that will help them to achieve their goals more effectively.

The Need for Vision and Optimism

Reagan was a leader who had a clear vision for the future, and he was committed to promoting a sense of optimism and confidence in the American people. He believed that leaders should inspire and motivate their followers, and that they should focus on the positive aspects of their vision, rather than dwelling on the negative.

Modern leaders can learn from Reagan’s focus on vision and optimism by emphasizing the positive aspects of their vision for the future. By inspiring and motivating their followers, leaders can create a sense of energy and enthusiasm that will help to drive their efforts forward. By focusing on the positive aspects of their vision, leaders can create a sense of hope and confidence that will help to overcome the inevitable obstacles and setbacks that they will face.

Reagan’s leadership style and philosophy provide valuable lessons for modern leaders who are seeking to inspire and motivate their followers to achieve great things. By focusing on the importance of communication, steadfast convictions, building relationships, and promoting vision and optimism, leaders can create a sense of trust, respect, and confidence that will help them to achieve their goals and make a positive impact on the world. These lessons are especially relevant in today’s complex and rapidly changing world, where leaders must navigate new challenges and opportunities in order to create a better future.

By studying Reagan’s leadership style and philosophy, modern leaders can gain valuable insights into effective leadership and how to inspire and motivate others to achieve great things. They can learn how to communicate effectively, stay true to their convictions, build strong relationships, and promote a sense of optimism and vision. These are essential skills for any leader who wants to make a lasting impact on the world and create a better future for themselves and others.

Reagan’s legacy as a leader continues to inspire people around the world, and his leadership lessons and principles continue to be studied and applied in modern leadership roles. By understanding and applying these lessons, leaders can create a better future for themselves, their organizations, and society as a whole.

Reagan’s Legacy

Ronald Reagan’s leadership left a lasting impact on American politics and history, and his legacy continues to be felt today. His leadership style and philosophy helped to shape American politics and society in the latter half of the 20th century, and his principles and values continue to inspire leaders around the world.

Reagan’s legacy can be seen in many aspects of American life, including economic policy, foreign policy, and the role of government. He believed in the power of free markets and limited government, and he worked to reduce government regulation and taxation in order to promote economic growth and individual prosperity. This approach helped to create one of the longest periods of sustained economic growth in American history, and it continues to be a central tenet of American economic policy today.

Reagan’s legacy in foreign policy is also significant, as he played a key role in ending the Cold War and promoting democracy and freedom around the world. He believed in the importance of standing up to totalitarian regimes and promoting human rights and individual freedom, and his leadership helped to bring an end to the Soviet Union and the threat of nuclear war.

Reagan’s legacy is also reflected in the role of government in American life. He believed in the power of personal responsibility and strong families, and he worked to create policies that would encourage these values. He also believed in the importance of limiting the role of government in people’s lives, and he worked to reduce government spending and cut wasteful programs.

The enduring relevance of Reagan’s leadership lessons and philosophy can be seen in the ongoing debates and discussions around American politics and society. His commitment to individual freedom, limited government, personal responsibility, and strong families continues to be a central tenet of conservative politics, and his vision for America’s role in the world continues to shape American foreign policy.

Modern leaders can learn from Reagan’s legacy by focusing on the importance of clear and effective communication, steadfast convictions, building relationships, and promoting vision and optimism. They can learn how to inspire and motivate their followers, how to stay true to their values and principles, how to build strong relationships with others, and how to create a positive vision for the future.

Reagan’s legacy as a leader is significant, and his leadership lessons and philosophy continue to be relevant today. His commitment to individual freedom, limited government, personal responsibility, and strong families continue to shape American politics and society, and his leadership in ending the Cold War and promoting democracy and freedom around the world continues to inspire leaders around the world. By understanding and applying Reagan’s leadership lessons and principles, modern leaders can create a better future for themselves, their organizations, and society as a whole.

Criticisms and controversies

While Ronald Reagan’s leadership is widely admired, it is not without its criticisms and controversies. In this section, we will explore some of the main criticisms and controversies that have been levied against Reagan, and provide a balanced perspective on his legacy as a leader.

Economic Policy

One of the main criticisms of Reagan’s economic policy is that it led to increasing inequality and a concentration of wealth among the wealthiest Americans. Critics argue that his focus on reducing taxes and government regulation led to a significant increase in income inequality and a decline in the standard of living for many Americans.

While it is true that income inequality increased during Reagan’s presidency, it is important to note that the overall economic growth and job creation that occurred during this time period had a positive impact on many Americans. In addition, it is important to note that Reagan’s economic policy was focused on creating an environment in which individuals and businesses could thrive and succeed, rather than providing handouts or other forms of government assistance.

Foreign Policy

Another area of criticism for Reagan’s leadership is his foreign policy, particularly his support for right-wing governments and armed interventions in Central America. Critics argue that his support for authoritarian regimes and his interventionist policies in countries such as Nicaragua and El Salvador contributed to human rights abuses and political instability in the region.

While it is true that some of Reagan’s policies in Central America were controversial and had negative consequences, it is important to note that his overall vision for foreign policy was focused on promoting democracy and freedom around the world. His support for anti-communist movements in places like Nicaragua was seen as a necessary part of this vision, and he believed that his policies were promoting American values and interests around the world.

Social Issues

Reagan’s leadership has also been criticized for his positions on social issues, particularly his stance on LGBT rights and reproductive rights. Critics argue that his opposition to same-sex marriage and his support for restrictions on abortion and contraception were harmful to the rights and well-being of many Americans.

While it is true that Reagan’s positions on these issues were controversial and remain a source of debate today, it is important to note that his focus on promoting traditional values and strong families was a reflection of his commitment to personal responsibility and individual freedom. While his positions on social issues may have been unpopular with some groups, they were consistent with his broader vision for American society.

Ronald Reagan’s leadership is widely admired, but it is not without its criticisms and controversies. While it is important to acknowledge and address these criticisms, it is also important to view them in the broader context of Reagan’s legacy as a leader. Reagan’s leadership was marked by a commitment to individual freedom, limited government, personal responsibility, and strong families, and his vision for America’s role in the world continues to shape American foreign policy. By understanding and engaging with both the positive and negative aspects of his leadership, we can gain a deeper understanding of his impact on American politics and society.

Reagan’s Leadership: A Lasting Impact on American Politics and Society

Ronald Reagan’s leadership was marked by a commitment to individual freedom, limited government, personal responsibility, and strong families. His leadership style and philosophy helped to shape American politics and society in the latter half of the 20th century, and his principles and values continue to inspire leaders around the world. While his legacy is not without its criticisms and controversies, it is important to view these in the broader context of his impact as a leader.

Reagan’s leadership lessons and principles continue to be relevant today, and modern leaders can learn from his focus on clear and effective communication, steadfast convictions, building relationships, and promoting vision and optimism. By understanding and applying these lessons, leaders can create a better future for themselves, their organizations, and society as a whole.

One of the key takeaways from Reagan’s leadership is the importance of vision and optimism. Reagan was a leader who had a clear vision for the future, and he was committed to promoting a sense of optimism and confidence in the American people. He believed that leaders should inspire and motivate their followers, and that they should focus on the positive aspects of their vision, rather than dwelling on the negative.

This focus on vision and optimism is particularly relevant today, as the world faces many challenges and uncertainties. By focusing on a positive vision for the future, leaders can inspire and motivate their followers, and they can create a sense of hope and confidence that will help to overcome the inevitable obstacles and setbacks that they will face.

In conclusion, Ronald Reagan’s leadership provides a valuable example for leaders today who are seeking to create a better future for themselves, their organizations, and society as a whole. By focusing on the importance of clear and effective communication, steadfast convictions, building relationships, and promoting vision and optimism, leaders can create a sense of trust, respect, and confidence that will help them to achieve their goals and make a positive impact on the world.

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Profile of a Great Persuader: Ronald Reagan

40 th President of the United States

1911 – 2001

Ronald Reagan was a persuasive speaker. He had a genuine relationship with his audiences as is shown in his audiences’ responses. Although this chapter emphasises largely the positive aspects of Reagan’s communication style, this positive approach should not be taken as an agreement on the author’s part with his policies but rather as a commentary on the power of persuasive communication. Ronald Reagan set out to persuade his audiences and not just to inform them. In doing this he had to create his credibility, which was something he failed to achieve with a minority of the electorate. However, with the majority of the electorate, and especially the ‘blue collar’ vote, he created a high level of both personal and professional credibility. It was this credibility that made him successful in communicating his message. If Reagan’s credibility had been in doubt by the majority of the electorate, how successful would he have been in communicating his message?

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 When Ronald Reagan left the White House, his ratings placed him as one of the most popular presidents in the history of theUnited States. For many, he left office with his reputation intact as a charismatic, charming and successful leader. By the end of his presidency, in 1989, theU.S.was enjoying prosperity. In foreign affairs, he maintained a strong anti-communist policy and declared war on international terrorism. At the same time, he had negotiated an anti nuclear treaty with the Russians. He left office and retired to his home inCaliforniawith one of the highest ratings ever for a retiringU.S.president. But for a minority it was quite the opposite. They saw him as a cunning actor turned politician with little content and little command of detail.

But this case is not about Ronald Reagan’s political fortunes; it is about his communication skills as a charismatic leader with a clear economic, social and political message. It is about the uncertain environment of the pre-Reagan era which provided him with the right situation to offer leadership, his ability to forge and communicate a vision to the electorate, and how he developed the skill to engage people, to persuade them of his message. Finally, it is about how this outsider with a clear vision captured the central prize of the insiders, the presidency of theUnited States.

  An uncertain environment

Crisis or disenchantment is the usual situation in which charismatic leaders emerge.  They often emerge to offer a new anti-establishment way of solving the main problems of the day. They offer an alternative to the uncertainty of the times. The period from the assassination of Jack Kennedy to the arrival of Ronald Reagan was a time of great political and social instability in theUnited States. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated. Lyndon Johnson refused to stand for a second term due to his inability to find a solution toVietnam, while Vice-president Spiro Agnew and President Nixon were both forced out of office due to corruption scandals. Many cities and campuses all over theUnited Statessuffered from unrest and riots. Then came Ronald Reagan with his clear message which he communicated with an effective emotional style and to which the majority of Americans, as history shows, responded positively.

His message was simple and understandable and appealed not only to conservatives but to many ‘blue collar’ Democrat voters as well. He repeated what he had done at state level inCaliforniain 1968 where he brought together a sizeable Republican and Democratic coalition. His message and personality provided a sense of certainty after decades of chaos.

 He communicated this sense of certainty to an audience uncertain of its future.  His professional credibility lay in what he had done inCaliforniaand his personal credibility lay in that people liked him, and generally thought him trustworthy in a very uncertain world.

  Forging of a vision

Commentators such as Jay Conger and Rabindra Kanungo coincide in the opinion that authentic charismatic leaders communicate a ‘strong belief’ in their own vision to their audiences. [1] The emphasis here is on the term ‘strong belief’. It is the combination of the strength of their ideas and the passion with which they hold them that can give such leaders that magnetism that makes them charismatic. But the formation of vision takes time to develop.

This strength of belief may appear to contradict the evidence provided in the literature which shows that all successful leaders have always manifested a practical and pragmatic side. But, it should be remembered, the issue is not between one extreme and the other. Charles Handy is quoted as saying that a complete pragmatic person can never be a transactional leader. Being pragmatic and, indeed, practical, if guided by personal integrity, we can become truly transactional leaders.

  From Democrat to Republican

 In 1947, just ten years after graduating from college, Ronald Reagan was elected president of the union of movie actors, the Screen Actors Guild. As president of the Actors Guild, Reagan became embroiled in many political disputes over socialism and communism. Many members of the Actors Guild at that time were Democrats and they saw communism or some form of socialism as a solution to a bankrupt international political system that had seen and endured two world wars and the depression. Reagan came to oppose this view as he saw communism and socialism as un-American, as they advocated the primary role of the government over the individual; in other words, the collective predominating over individual freedom.

 These disputes inHollywoodin the immediate post-war years began to shake his belief in the Democratic Party which he had been brought up in. As he listened to the debates among the movie actors, he moved more and more towards a belief that a centralised government which overpowered freedoms would destroy American inventiveness. He gradually came to support what he considered a more patriotic American stance, built on the principles of the Founding Fathers that people should be free to decide for themselves (after all, that is why so many of them came to the United States in the first place – to get away from autocratic government). He believed this was in the interests of everyone. It was a slow change on Reagan’s part, as he searched for an answer.

This process of change was egged on by his older brother who, although not in active politics, had already switched parties and joined the Republicans. Their parents remained Democrats right to the end. Nevertheless, Reagan campaigned for the Democrat, Harry Truman, in the presidential elections of 1948, but two years later he formally switched parties and supported Dwight Eisenhower in the presidential elections of 1952. Campaigning now as an official Republican, he supported Vice-President Richard Nixon against Jack Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election.

  His vision and how it was formed                       

 It was Ronald Reagan’s activities in the Actor’s Guild and his later speech-making activities that forced him to research the ideas of such people as Friedrich Hayek and the liberal minded economists from theChicagoSchoolled by Milton Friedman. He had to respond to those advocating the more ‘collective’ agendas with some degree of credibility. On one side, he took his ideas from such political philosophers as Edmund Burke.  Burke’s ideas on society and the benefits of slow change began to appear in his speeches. This message was also tainted by patriotism, individual responsibility, and a touch of fundamentalist Christianity. So his vision gradually developed into a combination of free market economic views and social conservatism. With each speech he gradually formulated his messages into one vision. Reagan obviously had no intentions of being just another pragmatic politician who happened to speak well.

  Time to step out on his own

It was    during the 1964 presidential campaign in support of Barry Goldwater, the Republican hopeful, that he made his famous ‘A Time for Choosing’ speech. [2]   This speech communicated his vision to the American electorate. A taste of this speech is given below:

“So we have come to a time for choosing. Either we accept the responsibility for our own destiny, or we abandon the American Revolution and confess that an intellectual belief in a far distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them for ourselves.  You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We can preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we can sentence to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness.” [3]

He set out, I believe, to persuade people to accept his neo-conservative message. This is where Reagan’s genius lay, and why many called him “The Great Communicator”. He was able to persuade people to accept this message by speaking to their hearts and then to their minds. He engaged his audiences. He engaged people partly with his attractive baritone voice, his ceremonial speech style, and his immediate likeable character and polite behaviour.  It was through his non-verbal language, the passion with which he communicated his message, his consistency, and his life-style, that he was able to communicate his integrity.

Developing his engaging persuasive style

Ronald Reagan’s communication style, when he came on to the political platform in 1964, suited the situation he found himself in. It was clear, energetic, and, for many people, easy to understand and identify with. It offered an answer in a divided society. However, Reagan was different not only from his opponent, Pat Brown, the incumbent governor of California, but from most of his own party colleagues as well. Here we will see how style must fit the situation and how his early life and professional experience influenced it. [4]

Style must suit the situation

Would Reagan’s style have suited every situation at that time? For example, would Ronald Reagan’s style have suited a parliamentary system of government as existed in most Western European countries? Would Reagan’s style have suited the situation of the White House in the post-war years? These are speculative questions but they open up the question of style fitting the circumstances.

Indeed, if we take the example of Dwight Eisenhower, a former Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces during the Second World War, we can see clearly the importance of ‘situation’ to successful leadership. Eisenhower was the darling of the international press, especially during the final months of the War. His style suited press conferences where questions were submitted days before, and everything was prepared beforehand. General Eisenhower always appeared relaxed and joked with the press corps.

But later, as President Eisenhower, his press conferences were not as comfortable. His style obviously suited situations where everything was prepared, but not situations where questions were taken spontaneously. Reagan’s style suited the political world of the 1980s. His style was personal, engaging and ideological.

Building style: Influence of early years

Reagan inherited his early story telling style from his father, Jack Reagan. Even though Jack Reagan suffered from alcoholism during Ronald Reagan’s teenage years, Jack Reagan was, according to many authors, a charming man. He had a way with words, knew how to treat people well, and had the ability to tell a good story. [5]  

He taught his two sons to judge people as individuals, and not to hold a prejudice against anyone for their race or religion. It was from his father (who was the son of Irish immigrants) that he inherited this strong belief against ethnic and religious bigotry. For example, there is a well-known story told about Jack Reagan when he was out selling around small towns in Illinois. On one particular night, rather than stay in the only hotel in town, which refused to accept Jewish customers, he slept in his car during a winter blizzard. [6]

According to author Stephen Graubard, Ronald Reagan was liked and was noted throughout his life for his politeness. This was something that many people noted about him during his lifetime; he never looked for revenge, never unduly criticised others or fell into bigotry of any kind. For example, he never criticised his father over his alcoholism and the problems he had brought on the family. [7]

On the other hand, it was his mother who introduced him to his religious ideas, from which he developed his identification with the founding fathers, and his notion that the American tradition was founded more on individual freedom and personal responsibility than on state interference.

Building style: Influence of professional career

In looking at the development of Ronald Reagan’s persuasive skills, some mention must be made of his social and professional experiences and how they also were an influence on his ability to communicate his message successfully.

Reagan was never called to the Bar, and nor did he graduate from one of the country’s leading law schools. He graduated in economics from a small local college inIllinois.   He was far from being an insider in any shape or form. In this, he was unlike his later vice president, George Bush Sr., and many other “insiders” who surrounded him. He was from the beginning to the end an “outsider” to theWashingtonestablishment, as his career path demonstrates.  His achievements were earned.

Some five years after leaving college, in 1937, he moved from local broadcasting inIllinoistoCalifornia, where he took a job with a major network as a sports commentator. It was during this period that he took a screen test at Warner Brothers. He certainly wasn’t a great success, although over the next twenty-seven years he appeared in more than fifty films, usually in secondary roles. Why didn’t he succeed in reaching the top inHollywood? Many authors, such as Kenneth Walsh, feel Reagan was not good at being other people, and simply didn’t have that ability to play different characters. He was too much himself forHollywood. His style wasn’t flexible enough.

From early childhood he had developed a particular story-telling communication style along with a pleasing baritone voice. This was probably due to the influence of his father, as we said earlier, whom many have reported to have been an excellent story-teller. This style served him well as a radio sports commentator where audiences were interested in a consistent way of reporting. ButHollywoodstudios had only limited opportunities for one-part characters.

Then an opportunity arose outside acting. It was this new opportunity that effectively began his political life; his gradual move from theHollywoodstudio to the political forum. He was asked to run for the presidency of the Screen Actors Guild. In 1947 he took up his job as president of the union.

Reagan’s apprenticeship in politics

Life is often said to be made up of our knowledge and experience. If one part of Reagan’s vision was developed over the years he spent researching and delivering his own speeches, it was his practical experience as president of the Screen Actors Guild (the actor’s union), that complemented it. Reagan became embroiled in disputes over the issue of communism in the film industry. He found himself face to face with a bunch of pretty smart people on all sides. On the one hand, he had to negotiate with Studio bosses on behalf of the actors, and, on the other hand, he had to face the internal debate in the union which mostly had to do with politics. He became embroiled in many of these disputes and it served as a good political training ground.

Dealing with tough studio bosses brought him into contact with the business side ofHollywood.  And dealing with intelligent, ideologically motivated screen actors brought him into contact with those who favoured socialism, social democracy, and communism. Indeed, it introduced him to the political arena. Kenneth Walsh tells us that Reagan was forced to think out his position regarding the American way of life, socialism and communism and how he saw the future. Walsh also informs us that it was this experience that caused Reagan to shift his political views from the Democrats to a Republican view. As these arguments became fiercer, and more personal, Reagan began to look elsewhere for a job, but where?

Television and the political speaking circuit

Like most people, Reagan’s career and personal life had its ups and downs. His first professional change from his union job in Hollywoodwas to Las Vegas. It was a disaster for him. Then he found a job as a Sunday night T.V. host. According to Graubard, this made him more famous than all his years in Hollywood. [8]

“…his youthful appearance, spontaneous manner, courtly relations, and gentle repartee with his many famous guests made him an appealing personality, familiar to millions of viewers” .

 He also began to accept invitations to speak on behalf of GE at their plants all over the country. In his eight years with GE he spoke at 135 such plants.             

But as his speech-making activities flourished, the political climate changed, with the election of a Democrat to the presidency. A conflict of interests arose for GE in that Reagan’s message was at odds with the line of the new administration (Kennedy’s election). So, rather than abandon or change his message, Reagan came to a mutual decision to part ways with GE in 1962.

Building professional credibility

Reagan’s public speaking career further developed when he joined the professional speech circuit. He became widely known not only inCalifornia, but through much of the country as well, as a popular ‘conservative’ speaker. It was a profitable business, as he earned $10,000 per speech.

During this time Ronald Reagan researched and wrote all his own speeches. Until he officially ran for office, he is said to have given thousands of speeches to groups such as the American Legion, Elks, the Mouse (a family fraternity organized in lodges across the United States) and other such organizations. In 1961, ‘Time Magazine’ described him as a “remarkably active spokesman for conservatism”.  

Developing his non-verbal style over the period

Kenneth Walsh says “As an actor, Reagan had been trained to operate from a script. He preferred to make news under carefully controlled circumstances; mostly in speeches and brief announcements”. [9] “What TV viewers saw”, continues Kenneth Walsh, “was someone in charge and in control, principled and steadfast” [10] . Indeed, he had a self-confidence about him that attracted people.

Kenneth Walsh quotes Michael Deaver, a media strategist working for the White House during Reagan’s first term, as saying, “Unlike Bill Clinton, President Reagan was comfortable with himself … You felt his feet were on the ground and he knew where he was going . [11] Similarly, Bill Pante of CBS reported in Walsh’s book, “ Reagan did well because he was comfortable in his own skin to begin with, and utterly certain that what he was saying was right”.

Not everyone thought well of either Reagan or his vision forAmerica. One description I saw spoke of him in the following way:

 “A one-time actor, he became a passionate ideologue who preached a simple gospel of optimism, lower taxes, less government, and anti-communism. Often underestimated, his success in office surprised many.”   [12]

The academic and writer, Stephen Graubard, suggests this idea that Reagan’s superb acting skills and a very simple message won him his political success, but others differ in their appraisal. Others doubted whether his vision could be implemented.

An opportunity to implement his vision

For leaders with a clear vision of where they want to go, there is always a doubt about their ability to implement this vision. It is especially a problem for ‘outsiders’.  Two years after the Goldwater speech in 1966, Reagan had his opportunity to prove his credibility. He was invited to run against the incumbent Governor of California, Pat Brown, as the Republican candidate.

Pat Brown was a very popular governor, but many had become uneasy about both the economic situation inCaliforniaand the social unrest of the mid sixties. It was the epoch of student rebellion and of race riots which affected not onlyBerkeleyandLos Angeles, but many other Californian cities as well.

The interesting aspect of this election was that Reagan won mainly because of his appeal to the ‘blue collar’ workers. It was the Democratic vote that put him intoSacramento. They bought into his neo-conservative vision. They found his message credible and his personality attractive. This was greatly helped by the situation: the grave socio-economic crisis facingCalifornia. It provided Reagan with the opportunity to show his ability to implement.

Reagan managed to balance the budget within a year. He brought the National Guard in to confront the rioters and to control the campus protests. It was a baptism of fire and the majority of voters, especially the ‘blue collar’ Democrat voters, supported him. It gave him the opportunity to put his social and economic ideas into force. He served as Governor of California for two terms. In1975 he decided not to run for a third term.

The reason in retrospect was clear. Just two years after becoming Governor in 1968, Reagan’s higher ambitions had emerged when he had entered his name at the Republican National Convention against Richard Nixon. Nixon had made a comeback from his disastrous bid for the governorship ofCaliforniain 1962 to regain the support of his party.

Reagan’s bid for the White House

So it wasn’t surprising that in 1976, just one year after leavingSacramento, he entered the race against incumbent Republican president, Gerald Ford, for the Republican Party’s nomination. Ford won the nomination, but only just. Ford then went on to lose the presidential election to Jimmy Carter.

However, Reagan easily won the Republican nomination for the 1980 election four year later to run against the incumbent President, Jimmy Carter. In his acceptance speech to the Republican Convention he told them:

“Can you look at the record of this administration and say, ‘Well done’? Can anyone compare the state of our economy when the Carter administration took office with where we are today and say, ‘Keep up the good work’? Can you look at our reduced standing in the world today and say, ‘Let’s have four more years of this?” [13]

Reagan hammered Carter’s record again and again both before the convention delegates and on T.V. Reagan’s neo-conservative message was easily understandable by the majority of people and with Carter’s failure to impress, he  repeated what he had done in California in 1967. He won by a landslide majority with huge ‘blue collar’ support.Middle America had made him president.

Self confidence, engagement and wit

Where did Reagan’s self-confidence come from? It came from his belief that all men are equal, his belief in his own message, and from his positive outlook on the world.

Reagan always saw himself as equal to others. Equality and respect for others were noted aspects of the legacy he received from his parents. He was polite and gentle and even his retractors would agree with this. Also he learnt that the world was a place of opportunities. He sought his opportunities and in so doing so he used his ability not just to talk to people but to engage them.  

In his formal speeches, this tendency to engage his audiences, which is essential to persuasion, is clearly to be seen, especially in the way he used his baritone voice and body language. We hear and feel his natural friendliness and warmth and we find his text (content) geared to his audience’s need. His audiences were important to him. This personal approach is shown in hisBerlinspeech made during his tour ofEuropein 1986:

“There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakeable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberation: come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” [14]

If we look at the ‘Challenger’ speech, we see it all. His message of sympathy goes out to the families and children ofAmerica, but his message also includes the will to continue the space mission. This speech only took some minutes to deliver and has about 640 words but it was a tremendous success. It followed a clear simple structure and he used his naturalness as if to engage us in a conversation.

We’ve grown used to wonders in this century. It’s hard to dazzle us. But for 25 years the United States space program has been doing just that. We’ve grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we’ve only just begun. We’re still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers .

Reagan concluded his speech with a quote from a young unknown poet, John Magee, which lifts the speech onto a higher plane.

The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honoured us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, or the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved good-bye and “slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God”. [15]

His ‘Normandy’ speech is another excellent example of personal engagement. Here there was no oratory, but a conversation between his immediate audience and himself.

Regarding his natural wit, all of the commentators reviewed for this chapter support the view that he possessed a tremendous natural wit. In March 1981, for example, he was gravely wounded in an assassination attempt. He told his wife on waking up in hospital, “Nancy, honey, I forgot to duck”. When they were wheeling him into the operation theatre for surgery, he said to the doctors, “Please tell me you are Republicans” [16] . Even in these tense moments of an assassination attempt, his excellent communication habits were at play. They were as much part of him as the habit of walking is to most of us.

When Reagan spoke, people knew where they stood with him, whether they agreed with him or not. George Bush senior called it “the vision thing”. He communicated pictures or a vision with words and feelings. He was able to communicate to the heart first and then to the mind. So why were so many people critical of him, especially those inEurope?

The test of his personal commitment

Bob Woodward in his book, “Shadow”, tells us that in 1974 the Supreme Court of the United States ordered President Nixon to hand over 64 White House tape recordings to the special prosecutor. Woodward went on to tell us that “Two of these tapes, once released, were going to undermine Nixon and show he ordered the Watergate cover-up” [17] The rest, of course, is now history, and the Special Prosecutor recommended the President’s impeachment.

 A Special Prosecutor was also nominated in the early days of the Carter administration to look into alleged misconduct by senior government officials. Allegations had been made againstHamiltonJordanby some unsavoury characters. They had to be investigated, but nothing came of it.

Later, in Ronald Reagan’s second term, a Special Prosecutor, Howard Baker, was nominated to look into what is now known as the Iran-Contra affair. It was a case that could easily have left the Reagan presidency in a shambles, as impeachment loomed on the horizon. However, Reagan survived it with credit.

The Iran-Contra investigation concerned the sales of the arms (arms-for-hostages deal) toIran. Here Bob Woodward quotes President Reagan’s justification,

“You know, if your kids were kidnapped you would pay somebody to help you get your kids back, not the kidnappers, but you’d hire somebody to go help you get them back.” [18]

Reagan insisted that he never dealt with the kidnappers but with pro-Western Iranians who offered to help. For writers like Woodward, “It was clear and simple in the President’s mind”. The special prosecutor believed Reagan’s story that he believed he wasn’t dealing with the Iranian government. The second issue concerned whether Reagan knew and approved of the profits from this arms deal with the Iranians being sent to the Contras inNicaragua. Reagan insisted, as he had done from the beginning, that he had not known about the diversion of funds. Again, the special prosecutor concurred with Reagan’s explanation.

In each of these two cases, Ronald Reagan’s sincerity was accepted, although for many people, it was logical that he must have known about the activities of such people as William Casey, the head of the C.I.A., Admiral John Poindexter, national security advisor, and Lt. Colonel Oliver North, the operations officer for theIraninitiative. After all, Shultz, according to Woodward, spent a lot of time warning the president about all of the pitfalls.

The issue for us is that the special prosecutors searched for evidence that Reagan was involved in discussions and that he eventually authorized the initiative. They found none. They also found Reagan believable when he said that he could not remember any authorization or discussion on the issue. As far as Reagan was concerned, he did not authorise this operation. The decision to believe the President was not just based on facts alone, but on the feeling that Reagan was telling the truth. Reagan communicated sincerity and honesty. The special prosecutor, speaking the language of ‘meaning’, as we would expect, accepted Reagan’s sincerity and honesty when he replied that ‘he could not remember’ .  The Reagan presidency was saved by his credibility.

Conclusion  

In Ronald Reagan’s case, his communication style was a style that developed naturally as a child and later as an adult as he went through life. He learnt to see and feel what he wanted to say. This, it must be stressed, is the key to understanding Reagan’s style. He also learnt at an early age how to be a good story teller and create the right emotional environment while telling the story.  The combination of these skills along with an open character and his baritone voice gave him a trustworthiness which was the underlying feature of what went to make Ronald Reagan.  Stephen Graubard writes,

“ More than any other president in the twentieth century, he used stories – narratives he mastered – to bring himself closer to ordinary men and women. He was equally at home on television and radio; the country believed him to be just an ordinary American … ” [19]  

He communicated in a different style from John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill or Charles De Gaulle. These speakers communicated with an oratorical style, while Reagan spoke in a persuasive engaging and personal way.  Reagan’s style was more prosaic and more pragmatic than Kennedy’s visionary style, for example. This difference can be seen clearly by comparing theirBerlinspeeches.

Many have called him ‘The Great Communicator’ but perhaps it would be more accurate for posterity to describe him as ‘The Great Persuader’.

1. Reagan entered an uncertain political environment.

2. He developed a clear vision based on the study of liberal economics and social conservatism and his messages consistently reflected this.  From this he gained part of his professional credibility.

3. The situation was right for this message and style.

4. Reagan possessed personal credibility based on his sensitivity to others (he never spoke badly of people, for example).

5. He demonstrated his ability to implement his vision as Governor of California.

6. He mastered the ability to communicate to his audiences through many years of practice.

  Reflections

How good are we at engaging the hearts and minds of our audiences? Ronald Reagan was a conviction speaker with a clear message which he thoroughly believed in. Do we communicate in such a manner that our audience perceive us as sincere?  Do we communicate likeability as Reagan did? Are we better at motivating people or inspiring them to do something, as Kennedy or Churchill did so well? Or do we find both of these exercises difficult?

  Discussion:

• How much of a part do you think that upbringing and luck has to play in our communication successes and failures?
• Reagan had a air of self confidence, what was this based on?
• Ronald Reagan managed to gain the confidence of many people over the years. How did he build such personal and professional credibility?

References:

• Conger, Jay & Kanungo, Rabindra
• Graubard, Stephen, The Presidents , Penguin Book, 2004
• The American Presidency, Ronald Reagan ,

                               http://www. Britannica.com/presidents

• Longley, Clifford, Ch osen People: Anglo-American Myth & Reality , Hodder &Stoughton, 2002
• Reagan, Ronald, The Challenger Speech ,

                        http://www..americanrhetoric.com

• Woodward, Bob, Shadow: Five Presidents and the legacy of Watergate , Touchstone, 2000

Reagan’s religious influence

 Like Lyndon B. Johnson and David Lloyd-George, the British Prime-Minister, Ronald Reagan, attended theChurchofGodwhen young. This was a small Baptist congregation (sometimes called the Disciples of Christ or Campbellites). The church held that a mixture of character training and the Bible were the essence of Christianity. It was a puritan church that stressed a mixture of individualism, patriotism and personal responsibility.  It was a church that stressed individual responsibility. Perhaps it was here that he developed his idealism aboutAmerica, individual responsibility, and the divine plan.

 One example of this influence can be found in his references to Americaas the “The Shining City on the Hill”.   “In a sense ,” according to the British writer and broadcaster, Clifford Longley, “ this is a double typology: borrowing from Winthrop, who was in turn borrowing it from the New Testament. Or even a triple: the words referred to in Matthew are themselves typological: for the hearers would have understood instantly that he was alluding to Mount Zion, the hill on which the city of Jerusalem was founded by King David”. [20]

 Americaas the shining city on the hill for Reagan was no mere metaphor. It was a metaphor with a message – it says what is, but also says what ought to be. During his last days at the White House Clifford Longley reports him as saying:

  “The past few days when I’ve been at the window upstairs, I thought a bit of the ‘shining city on the hill’. The phrase comes from John Winthrop who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important because he was an early pilgrim, an early freedom man. He journeyed here on what today we call a little wooden boat; and like other pilgrims, he was looking for a home that would be free. I have spoken of the shining city all my political life and I don’t know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. …”. [21]

 Another of Reagan’s favourite images was that of George Washington praying at Valley Forge, which he called “the most sublime image in American history” [22] . Washington kneeling in the snow, he said in a radio address in 1983, “personified a people who knew it was not enough to depend on their own courage and goodness; they must also seek help from God, their Father and their Preserver.” “Americans”, Reagan once said, “must seek Divine guidance in the policies of their government and the promulgation of their laws.” [23]

 The American historian Joseph Koterski is quoted by Clifford Longley as writing “It is well to remember that Jefferson and many of his colleagues including Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Paine were all Deists, not Christian.”   Reagan, Koterski tells us, “wrongly saw them all them all in same basket” [24] . Clifford Longley tells us, thatWashington, in his view, was more in the deist tradition than in the puritan one of the early settlers which John Winthrop was part of. Did Reagan purposely mix up these two traditions? Or was it part of his glorification of the founding fathers that he saw the two traditions as one?

A Selection of Interesting Quotes

• “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
• Welfare’s purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.
• “Regimes planted by bayonets do not take root.”
• History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.
• Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not to run their lives.
• I have wondered at time what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.
• No matter what time it is, wake me, even if it is in the middle of a Cabinet meeting.
• Politics I supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.
• Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.
• The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.
• Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘We should never judge a president by his age, only by his work.’ And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.
• “If it is true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?”
• I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon.
• But there are advantages to being elected President. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret.

[1] Jay Conger and Rabindra Kanungo, p.159

[2] www.americanrhetoric.com

[3] www.americanrhetoric.com

[4] Stephen Graubard, p 477

[5] www.ronaldreagan.com/tampico.html

[6] Jack Reagan, www.wnd.com/news/article

[7] www.ronaldreagan.com/tampico.html

[8] Graubald, p 550

[9] Walsh, p 39

[10] Ibid, p 45

[11] Ibid, p 40

[12] Ibid, p 50

[13] Graubard, p 556

[14] Graubard, p 584

[15] www.americanrhetoric.com

[16] Walsh, p. 70

[17] Woodword, p. 90

[18] Ibid, p95

[19] Graubard, p.587

[20] Clifford Longley, p. 88

[21] Ibid, p. 96

[22] Ibid, p. 143

[23] Longley, p.133

[24] Ibid, p.142

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Ten Leadership Lessons From Ronald Reagan

Last updated on Feb 20, 2008 by Dan McCarthy · This post may contain affiliate links

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Foundations of a Leader

We learned from our parents that individuals determine their own destiny; that is, it's largely their own ambition and hard work that determine their fate in life. Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan, (with "Dutch" haircut) Neil Reagan, and parents Jack and Nelle Reagan. Family Christmas card circa 1916-1917.

The early life of Ronald Reagan was strongly influenced by lessons he learned from his parents John (Jack) Edward Reagan and Nelle Wilson Reagan; his father's self-reliance, his mother’s determination, the foundation of the man who would become our 40th President. Born on February 6, 1911, in the rural town of Tampico, Illinois, Reagan was given the nickname “Dutch” by his father, who believed he looked like “a fat little Dutchman” when he was born. The nickname stuck with him until the age of 26 when he began his movie career. In 1920, the family moved to Dixon, Illinois, which he always considered his hometown and where his love for the outdoors flourished.  After high school, Ronald Reagan attended Eureka College, a small liberal arts college where he earned a bachelor of arts in economics and sociology. Reagan was extremely active during his college years leading up to his graduation in 1932; he was part of the football, swimming and track teams and a member of the student senate and school yearbook.

Gallery Overview

Bible Belonging to Nelle Reagan used at both inaugurations open to II Chronicles 7:14 with a note from Nelle "A most wonderful verse for healing the nations."

Home / Essay Samples / Government / Ronald Reagan / Analysis Of The Leadership Traits Of Ronald Reagan

Analysis Of The Leadership Traits Of Ronald Reagan

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Commitment to Values

Courage and integrity, inspire confidence, good communicator.

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