It was the same with Reagan.
See that famous SNL skit where he’s acting like a demented old grandfather with some Girl Scouts in the Oval Office and then they leave and his cabinet comes in and he turns into master tactitician and strategist.
I remember that SNL skit was the Reagan character!
Reagan was chatting with the girl scouts in the Oval Office, his head bobbing, his face smiling, acting like a doddering old man, and then when they left, the maps on the wall were unfurled, “Reagan” was pointing at the maps with a pointer, and barking orders to his cabinet and military officials, telling them where and who he wanted to attack. A real bad ass, tough in your face guy.
It was supposed to be insulting, but I rather liked the skit.