06-07-2004 

Just POlitics

Knowing Reagan...

by Roger Wm. Hughes

I met Ronald Wilson Reagan many times. As an Iowan, I do not have memories of Reagan as a sports broadcaster at WHO Radio in Des Moines, but my mother did and told me stories of her memories. When someone leaves our lives who has had such great impact upon defining who and what we are, we remember the incidents of that person’s life intersecting with our own. So, it is with me.

By accident and chance I became an active Republican. I, like Reagan, began my active political career in 1964. I was 14 years old; Reagan was older. I remember watching the now famous Reagan speech on NBC that raised $8.5 million for Barry Goldwater’s candidacy in 1964. That speech affirmed for me that more government was a path towards tyranny, or as Reagan would latter say, "Government isn’t the solution. It’s the problem."

Iowa became a battle ground state between Reagan and President Ford in 1976. The state decided to take themselves out of the contest by awarding 18 delegates for Reagan and 18 delegates for Ford. I was on the Reagan side, but I could also see that the Republican Party in Iowa would not be as amicable in the future.

In 1979, I went to work in Washington D.C. for U.S. Senator Roger W. Jepsen. This would place me in a position to frequent Reagan even more.

In 1980, George H. W. Bush won Iowa’s Republican caucuses. My Iowa friend called Nancy Reagan, and John Sears was no longer the Reagan campaign manager. This, of course, set up the event in New Hampshire where President Reagan said, "…I paid for this microphone." Reagan, of course, went on to actually secure the Republican nomination for President that year, and won in the general election against incumbent Jimmy Carter.

While there were numerous contacts and shared acquaintances between President Reagan and I during my time in Washington D.C., the thing I remember most was the graciousness of Reagan every time that I met him. He was someone who caused every person he met to feel as if they were the only person receiving Reagan’s attention.

His humor and story telling were always present. He loved to make his point with a story. He also showed a humility that can only come from someone who was very comfortable with themselves. I found this was also true while he was President.

His humor was legendary. After all, Reagan was someone who could make fun of himself as the straight man for his co-star chimpanzee, Bonzo, of “Bedtime for Bonzo” fame.

A humorous story that is not widely known occurred while I worked for Sen. Jepsen.

Iowa had a very successful prominent businessman and military general by the name of George Olmsted. It was brought to Senator Jepsen’s attention that Olmsted would be celebrating his birthday soon and it would be nice if President Reagan wished him happy birthday. At the time, Olmsted was principal owner and president of International Bank, which was a six-story building across from the White House.

Reagan loved the idea of calling Olmsted for his birthday. Back in their earlier days in Iowa, Olmsted and Reagan would frequently have breakfast together at the Hotel Fort Des Moines before each went to work. Olmsted in those days was at his Hawkeye Insurance Co., and Reagan was a broadcaster at WHO Radio.

The day of Olmstead’s birthday arrived. Reagan called Olmsted and said, "This is President Reagan and I want to wish you happy birthday, George."

Olmsted responded, "Yea, and I’m Mickey Mouse."

After they both finally agreed that each was who they really were, they began reminiscing about their days in Des Moines in the 1930’s. The President related how they would have breakfast together at the hotel near their two businesses and then Olmsted would go off and run his business in the big building next to the little building where Reagan worked.

There was a pause, and then Olmsted said, "I guess things haven’t changed much."

President Reagan loved the humor of the situation and the great timing of Olmsted’s delivery.

We cannot say that not much has changed because Ronald Wilson Reagan was born into this world. The world is not the same and Reagan will long be remembered for how he changed not only our lives but the world as well.