I know you’re probably thinking I’m going to launch into some monologue about the “Gipper.” About His economic policies, his mark on our nation or even about his strong talk against the Evil Empire that later collapsed.
I’m not going to do that. There are others who can write about the man, his successes and failures. One of his former staffers is writing about the southern states seceding from the union and calling themselves the nation of Reagan. Really, I did hear that.
Back in the day, my day, I was running for State Senator. I was running against an older women – an everyone’s grandmother type. She was a former school teacher, the district was heavily carved out to favor her party. All in all, it was an uphill battle – for me. I was 32 then. A young know it all running against, did I already say it? Everyone’s grandmother.
But it was my time, I said or at least thought. I was dynamic, I said or thought. And there you have it. I’ll cut to the chase, I lost. It was close, maybe. But I still lost.
This isn’t about any lessons I learned from the loss. I’m not sure I learned much from it. I immediately wanted to run again…for something.
No, my Reagan lesson came about during that campaign. He was in his 2nd term and was showing his age.
My encounter with the President came when someone in the state party decided that all of us State Senate candidates could use some instant credibility by association. They arranged a photo op for us with the President! Of the United States!
He was scheduled to fly into Chicago and we would meet him at the military airbase. He was flying to the base on a helicopter, land and then would make his way to Air Force One. We were positioned in a straight line by his jet so when he arrived he could great us (photo op) give us some words of encouragement, (win one for the Gipper!) and then would get on his plane and fly away!
Here’s what happened. He had 3 helicopters flying in! I saw them and was told no one knew which one would have the President! Of the United States! I’m positioned on the very end, I’d be the first one to greet him! I…can’t…believe…this is really happening!
But then I started to think, out loud. I said to the candidate next to me that with the copters landing behind us, that meant as the President was walking up to us we would have our backs to him! Yes we would! How disrespectful! So…
When I sensed his presence, I immediately turned around to greet him and whatever I had prepared to say immediately left my brain, I stammered something about what an honor it was.. I think… but whatever it was Ronald Reagan stopped me cold. Grabbing my hand he gently pulled me around so that I was back in formation. And as he did it he said, “Well.. it seems they want you and me to have a picture taken together and well…it seems we should help them out by facing the cameras.” I hadn’t even noticed the cameras. All 40 of them lined up to get every possible angle.
I actually learned two lessons that day. One, stop over thinking! Sometimes you just have to let things happen. It’s not everyone else’s first rodeo just because it’s yours.
And the other? The lesson I learned from Ronald Reagan?
If you want your picture taken, you have to face the camera!
Oh, and make sure you get the picture you just had taken with the President! Of The United States!
After all that, I never got a copy. I always wondered if Reagan kept it. Lesson #3
JT
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