THE MORAL INHERITANCE OF A PRESIDENT: REAGAN AND THE DIXON DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

In: Presidential studies quarterly, Band 15, Heft 10, S. 109-128

Abstract

THE VALUES THAT RONALD REAGAN TOOK INTO THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY CAME FROM MANY SOURCES, AS DO VALUES THAT ALL PEOPLE USE TO ORDER THEIR LIVES, BUT IT DOES SEEM CLEAR THEY DERIVED IN IMPORTANT WAYS FROM TWO INDIVIDUALS. ONE WAS BEN HILL CLEAVER, THE MINISTER OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN DIXON, ILLINOIS, DURING THE 1920S. THE OTHER WAS THE FUTURE PRESIDENT'S MOTHER, NELLE, WHOSE INFLUENCE UPON HIM WAS STRONGLY PURPOSIVE. AT MANY POINTS THE POSITIONS TAKEN BY THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF REAGAN'S YOUTH COINCIDED WITH THE WORDS, IF NOT THE BELIEFS OF THE LATTER-DAY REAGAN. THESE POSITIONS INCLUDED FAITH IN PROVIDENCE, ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA'S MISSION WITH GOD'S WILL, BELIEF IN PROGRESS, TRUST IN THE WORK ETHIC AND ADMIRATION OF THOSE WHO ACHIEVED WEALTH, AN UNCOMFORTABLENESS WITH LITERATURE AND ART THAT QUESTIONED THE FAMILY OR CHALLENGED NOTIONS OF PROPER SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, PRESUMPTION THAT POVERTY IS AN INDIVIDUAL PROBLEM BEST LEFT TO CHARITY RATHER THAN THE STATE, SENSITIVITY TO PROBLEMS INVOLVING ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, AND RETICENCE TO USE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS FOR MINORITIES. FOR HER PART, NELLE WAS A PILLAR OF THE CHURCH AND THE ONE WHO PROVIDED STABILITY TO THE SHAKY REAGAN FAMILY. SHE HELPED SPARK HER SON'S INTEREST IN ACTING AND BELIEVED THE STATE COULD BE A FORCE FOR NOBLE PURPOSES. IT WAS FITTING MANY YEAR'S LATER IN 1981, THAT AS HER SON TOOK THE OATH OF HIS NATION'S HIGHEST OFFICE, HIS HAND RESTED ON NELLE'S TATTERED BIBLE.