The genteel surface of Reagan hid a tough fighter, which is how he so frustrated the media and left, Reagan could reach the public in spite of them and their smears and attacks.
Reagan was a tackle and guard in college football and was a heroic lifeguard on a river, (not a swimming pool), five years an officer in the 1930s horse cavalry which was a rugged life, and 6 times as Union president fighting the communist takeover of Hollywood while having to carry a pistol and testify to congress, governor of California during the 60s and black panthers and the rest, a tough politician that barely missed knocking off the sitting president for the 1976 nomination, a tough president that chewed up Russian leaders one after the other until he broke their empire.
Reagan could be that tough masculine man and do it without losing his Christian positivity and character.
Brilliant run-down of Reagan.
You forgot his service.
Well said; thank you.