Posted on 06/08/2004 7:31:26 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Those of us who believe in God know that we will ultimately face our Maker. Some, who do not, expect to expire without hope of an afterlife.
In the case of Ronald Reagan, we have an extraordinary figure whose afterlife can be seen right here on earth. He leaves behind a powerful, indeed unique, legacy of success.
Ronald Reagan, 40th president of the United States, will forever be remembered in the history of our country as one of our most effective presidents.
I have always believed that when someone with whom we have positive emotional ties and who has led a long life that had a beneficial impact on others dies, we should celebrate his or her passing with a sense of joy, reflecting on their accomplishments. We should not be overwhelmed with anger or pain.
I define effectiveness as the ability of public officials to move the country in their political direction. Today we often hear Ronald Reagan's effectiveness compared with that of FDR.
The latter moved the country to the left, which was necessary to escape the Depression. Reagan moved the country to the right. Interesting for me is to see that many people who were critical of Reagan when he was in office are now praising him to the skies.
I thought President Reagan’s reference to the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" was a sublime phrase. But he was attacked by many of the cognoscenti who like to think of themselves as intellectuals and academics, as well as by editorial writers, who labeled Reagan and his comment as puerile.
They did the same to President George W. Bush when he referred to Iran, Iraq and North Korea as the Axis of Evil. Bush was as correct in his phrasing as was Reagan.
I remember when Reagan’s intellectual capacity was questioned by the same crowd that now questions the mental ability of George W. Bush. They attack Bush with the same catcalls and brickbats they used on Reagan.
My response when the political and unfair slanders were uttered was that anyone elected governor of California and re-elected with a smashing majority cannot be a dummy, even though his political philosophy is at odds with his critics. I say the same about President Bush, who was twice elected governor of Texas.
My admiration and affection for President Reagan was strengthened when I met him in person. The year was 1980. I was serving as mayor of New York. Governor Reagan was running for president against the incumbent, Jimmy Carter, who was a Democrat and the leader of my own party.
One of Reagan’s staff members – I believe Lyn Nofziger – asked a member of my staff if I would meet with the governor to fill him in on New York City’s fiscal problems. In 1980, we were still operating with deficits, having been given permission by the New York State Legislature to do so with a requirement that we go to a GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practices) balanced budget in four years.
Members of my staff said to me, “You can’t meet with him; he’s a Republican running against Carter. It will give him national publicity and Carter will be furious.”
I said, “Of course I will meet with him. I’ll meet with anyone who wants to know more about my budget problems and who can help me solve them. He may be our next president.”
When Reagan showed up at Gracie Mansion, sure enough, he was accompanied by a truckload of national reporters. We had breakfast and chatted for about an hour. He had several staff members with him, as did I, including my deputy mayors and the corporation counsel.
At the end of our meeting I said, “Governor, we should sum up what we agreed to with respect to New York City, since the press will ask that question.”
Nofziger said, “What three things would you like?”
I replied, “One: The federal government owns the Astoria Movie Studios. I’d like to have them for New York City for a dollar.” The governor said, “Done.”
My second request, I said, is more complicated: “The federal guarantee of $1.650 billion, of which we have drawn down $600 million, can be stopped by the president at any time. So I want the governor’s assurance that if he is president, he will guarantee the entire amount.” The governor said, “Done.”
Then came my third request. I asked that the federal government take over the entire cost of Medicaid. Governor Reagan replied, “Over my dead body.” Nofziger added, “Two out of three ain’t bad.”
We went out onto the porch. I reported our agreement, which he affirmed. Serendipitously, this was to become one of the most important press conferences I ever attended. Why? Because shortly after Reagan won the presidency, he designated a New Jersey resident, Donald Regan, as secretary of the Treasury.
Regan, who was very hostile to New York, announced he was ending the federal guarantees, depriving New York City of the $1.05 billion balance. I immediately called the White House and spoke with the president’s urban affairs adviser, Rich Williamson. I told him that the president had promised the entire amount would be guaranteed to the city.
He said the president always kept his word and did I have it in writing? I said, no, but we have it on tape – we always taped press conferences. He said, “Send it down.”
We not only sent it immediately, but a New York City detective hand-carried it to Washington. President Reagan was true to his word. The entire amount was guaranteed.
Over the years, I had a number of meetings with President Reagan. Whenever possible I would pick him up at the heliport when he came to New York City and drive with him to his hotel. We became friends.
On one occasion, we were driving across 42nd Street. New Yorkers had been informed the president was coming, and they were there in the thousands. Reagan was looking out the right side window when he suddenly yelled, “Look, that guy gave me the finger.” I said: “Mr. President, don’t be so upset. Thousands are cheering you and only one guy gave you the finger.” He replied, “That’s what Nancy says, that I always see the guy with the finger.”
Well, Mr. President, today seeing, hearing and reading what is being said about you, it appears unanimous that you are now everyone’s hero. There are no more fingers being waved in front of you, only loving, admiring statements with kisses. You deserve every one of them. I feel privileged to have known you. You will be remembered as one of our most beloved presidents.
Edward I. Koch is the former mayor of New York City. His commentary for Bloomberg radio is republished here. You can hear his weekly radio show by clicking here.
There are a couple of fingers still, unfortunately. They should keep their hands in their pockets.
Great article. Ed Koch has always said that he was a "liberal with sanity." He is also supporting Bush in this next election.....which is certainly the sane thing to do.
Having read some of Ed Koch's other public writings lately, I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that the ex-mayor is slowly coming to the conclusion he is a Republican.
Koch a wise man and politician . I disagreed with him on several issues way back when , but always liked and respected him . Like and respect him even more now !
Me too.
Reading this column makes me feel that Ed Koch is near the very top of the list of people I would love to meet. He is a good man.
I totally agree with him about feeling a sense of joy this week regarding our former President. Yes, I'm sad that he is no longer with us -- but having a father with advanced Alzheimer's, I know that he has been leaving us for a long time.
But this week, seeing all of the video clips and hearing clips on the radio as well, I can't help but feel great at how much this man did for our country, and how privileged we were to live while he was steering the U.S.S. United States of America back on its rightful course. I feel pride in our country, hope, optimism, confidence -- and as long as we remember this great man, we'll always feel it.
I'm convinced that he wouldn't want us to feel sad this week. I'm convinced he'd want us to remember that it is always morning in America, and that now, without him here, we all have to pick up his work and carry it forward.
And Ed Koch also pointed out what everyone knows - Dubya is his political heir. Dubya also makes us proud. Dubya also is leading a nation in crisis. Dubya will also be successful. WE WILL WIN WITH W!
After this week is over, and we all say goodbye, we have a job to do -- win one more for the Gipper.
This is good.
Vintage Koch!
With experience and class like Koch, it's a wonder why he isn't running the Democrat party these days.
Because he has class - and his Party does not.
"With experience and class like Koch, it's a wonder why he isn't running the Democrat party these days."
Because he has common sense and decency--like Reagan recognized so long ago, he may not have left the party but the party has left him. No way the Demoncrat leaders would allow Koch to get ahead within the party. He even has the audacity (read: intelligence) to support Bush!
I'm reading 'MAYOR', the book Koch wrote during his second term as Mayor. While he's clearly not conservative on some issues, it's kinda tripping me out, because I'm half way through, and all he's talked about is busting unions and standing up to Jesse Jackson types. It seems kind of a curious thing to do for a Democrat.
Maybe it's just been so long since we've seen a responsible and sensible Democrat that we've forgotten what one sounds like.
The former mayor lacks a rudimentary understanding of history and economics. Probably why NYC took longer to recover from the Carter-initiated recession than the rest of the country.
Koch supported Walter Mondale in 1984. The Mondales attended the funeral. Did anyone catch what Mondale had to say about Reagan? Apparently, he was more conciliatory than the still depressed GA Jimmy Carter.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.