“Hello, I’m 54, myself; I remember it like you. For some reason, the split screen image on TV of President Reagan lifting his hand from The Bible about the same time as a plane load of Americans lifted off in Tehran, is burned brightly in my mind. Thanks.”
I was 32 in 1980, had passed through youthful liberalism for just a few short years, and become a very solid Reagan conservative, by then. (After a graduate econ thesis comparing East and West Germany, post WWII economic performance, voted for Ford in 1976, etc.)
America was restored by Reagan, although he eventually disappointed me about immigration and his deficits.
He was a great world leader, creating the path to freedom for Eastern Europe and the USSR, without a shot being fired.
I believe the Iranians feared he would attack them if they waited and played games. That is what peace through strength is all about.
Obama has squandered whatever ability to influence world events Bush held. Obama is an appeaser, if not totally inept, empty chair.
I was 18 in 1976 and voted for Carter. Corrected myself, with a vengeance, four years later ;)