The American Spectator : A Eureka Moment

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A Eureka Moment

By Peter Hannaford on 1.20.11 @ 6:08AM

Starting the Reagan Centennial in a perfect setting.

"Everything that has been good in my life began here." That's what Ronald Reagan said of Eureka College, his alma matter, in a commencement address there in 1982. It was often repeated last Friday at the Reagan Centennial year's first academic conference, also held at this small liberal arts college in northwestern Illinois.

Eureka is a remarkable college. Now 157 years old, it was founded by abolitionists of the Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) who held strong views about equality. It was the first college in Illinois and only the third in the nation to admit both men and women on an equal footing. To this day, it maintains an association with the church, but as its literature notes, welcomes students of all faiths.

Several times -- including Ronald Reagan's undergraduate years -- the college has been on the brink of insolvency, but was always pulled out by its loyal alumni and friends. Under the presidency of J. David Arnold, over the last six years the college has put itself on a sound financial footing and has grown to nearly 800 students (it was 230 when Reagan was there). The enthusiasm of students for their college is palpable and they are fascinated by the accomplishments of their most famous alumnus.

As part of the Reagan Centennial there will be five or six more academic conferences around the country this year. These will tend to deal with "cosmic" issues of national and international focus. This one focused on the 40th president's roots, all of which were in rural northwestern Illinois. Other than a few months in Chicago when he was very young, all of Ronald Reagan's childhood and youth were spent in small communities in this region: Tampico, Monmouth, Galesburg, Dixon, Eureka.

The characteristics associated with him -- self-confidence, self-reliance, optimism, modesty,

loyalty, tolerance, good humor, determination and reverence for God--came from his forebears, his parents, teachers, clergy, coaches, the circumstances of his youth and the environment of the rural Middle West. The conferees examined this connection. As Dr. Andrew Cayton of Miami University of Ohio put it, "The key to community (in those days) was consensus, through talking with others; to persuade through example."

Seven of the conferees were from academia, all from Midwestern colleges and universities.

The Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes was a moderator and there were six "old Reagan hands":

Edwin Meese, who served as chief of staff to Reagan when he was Governor of California, then as Counselor to the President and U.S. Attorney General; Craig Shirley, author of two seminal books, one each on Reagan's 1976 and 1980 presidential campaigns; Martin and Annelise Anderson of the Hoover Institution, both of whom served in the Reagan White House and are co-authors of Reagan in His Own Hand, Reagan: A Life in Letters and Reagan's Secret War, and this writer who is currently working on a book titled "Reagan's Roots: The People and Places That Shaped His Character."

While the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library houses his presidential and gubernatorial papers and much else having to do with his public career, President Arnold and his Eureka College colleagues see the school as being a potential magnet for Reagan scholars who want to examine his beginnings and the context of his growing-up years. Toward that end, a climax of the conference was the announcement that a New York businessman, Mark Shenkman, and his wife, Rosalind, are making a gift of an expanded and upgraded archives section -- to be the Ronald Reagan Research Center -- in the college's library. Added to the unit will be a special reading room for scholars that will contain a copy of each of the several hundred books already written about Reagan.

About the Author

Peter Hannaford was closely associated with the late President Ronald Reagan for a number of years. His latest book is Reagan's Roots: The People and Places That Shaped His Character.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (24) | Leave a comment

blackknights1802| 1.20.11 @ 7:10AM

Remember when we had a real president?

LarryK| 1.20.11 @ 8:39AM

I remember. In 1980 I voted for Jimminie Cricket Carter and while watching the inauguration Of RWR, I was amazed that as soon as he finished the oath of office, the hostages in Iran were wheels up. I listened to what RWR's speech and within a six months I was a convert to the conservative philosophy.
I remember.

Alan Brooks| 1.20.11 @ 4:01PM

"Remember when we had a real president?"

Yes, from 1993 to 2001-- his name was Clinton.

Alan Brooks| 1.20.11 @ 5:48PM

One thing I agree with you 100 percent on is Carter, he was so incompetent (and smarmy) it would have been better if Nixon had made a comeback and run & won in '76 rather than Jimmuh.
Remember that Nixon was rehabilitated by around 1978-- perhaps because a year or so of Carter caused the electorate to regret the recent election.

dlraymer| 1.20.11 @ 7:36AM

A great tribute to a great man; Eisenhower and Reagan, when will we get a third?

Alan Brooks| 1.20.11 @ 4:03PM

When Jesus comes back?

richard ryan| 1.20.11 @ 8:41AM

Sometimes I get on youtube and just watch Reagan when I've seen too much of BHO on TV. He was one of the VERY few politicians that managed to remain a genuine, happy person while in office. A natural leader, and one of those people that you just have to like. America really needs someone like that. Other than Herman Cain, I don't see anyone out there with Reaganesque qualities. So far I really like what Cain has to say and how he says it.

Alan Brooks| 1.20.11 @ 4:06PM

"Everything that has been good in my life began here."

Not with his parents, not even with God, but in a college? professors are at the center of the cosmos?

Richard Baker| 1.20.11 @ 9:52AM

Was Reagan perfect? Of course not, none of us are. But he exemplified an American, as it used to be, view of life that resonated with many including those who didn't always agree with him ( example, Reagan Democrats). To his critics, I suggest reading the "Reagan Diaries." May he RIP.

Alan Brooks| 1.20.11 @ 8:22PM

For once I'll get right to the point: the FRUGALITY that Reagan represented is now the exception rather than the rule.
As we get closer to the centennial of Reagan's birthday, I'll bring that up again & again; if you celebrate the frontier spirit of frugality in the 21st century, there is something comical about it.

Ken (Old Texican)| 1.20.11 @ 10:04AM

Mr. Hannaford,
I can't help myself. I gotta' brag on my wife.
Her picture hangs on the wall right next to Mr. Reagan's in the Eureka College Reagan museum and library.
In 2007, she won the Ronald Reagan lifetime achievement award for her pioneering work with 'disabled' children.
(You folks who know her, (and me), please do not describe her work more than that. Thank you.)

We really do need to remain anonymous here, especially with my newest novel published.
www.texassaidno.com

Occam's Tool| 1.20.11 @ 6:14PM

A sister school of Eureka College, mentioned at the Republican National Convention when Reagan was nominated in 1980, was (and is) Texas Christian University, the Horned Frogs! Wah, Wah, Zoo, Zoo, Give 'em Hell, TCU!

Groad| 1.20.11 @ 10:05AM

The last Democrat I voted for was 'The Jimmuh' in 1976. I have a '76 campaign flyer from the Jimmuh/ Mondull ticket and they campaigned on fiscal conservatism and smaller gummint. They were full of bovine excrement and lies. After the Carter malaise Ronald Reagan opened my eyes and brain and I have not been suckered by a twofaced Dem since. Ronald Reagan left us a legacy of American pride, self reliance and belief in our exceptionalism not the dependence, shame and spinelessness of the current leftist Liberal cabal that owns the Democrat party.

I celebrate his life this year with the rest of America.

Deborah D| 1.20.11 @ 10:53AM

God rest his soul. Although he left Illinois to pursue greater things, his growing up years defined him. This was before Illinois became a basket case. As a person who was also defined by growing up in Illinois, I feel a great kinship to this most American of presidents. The happy warrior is sorely missed. He should be celebrated as the president who brought us out of the Carter malaise and helped us remember: "We are Americans."

Al Adab| 1.20.11 @ 1:20PM

Does this mean that one need not attend Harvard or Yale to be considered for public office? What great news that would be to those of us who refuse to accept the elitist, Leftis, Northeaster world view. Amazing how many colleges there really are when one looks around.

Ken W.| 1.20.11 @ 6:14PM

I attended the workshop at Eureka last Friday and it was a fantastic day! As a student at Eureka College when Ronald Reagan was elected President, I was one of the ones on the two bus loads from Eureka College that went to Washington, DC to witness the swearing in of Ronald Reagan as the 40th President of the United States 30 years ago today!

Alan Brooks| 1.21.11 @ 12:19AM

Yes, exactly, 30 years ago-- Americans are different now that the Cold War has ended.
You can't grasp it. The entire unofficial Reagan preservation society is in denial.

Alan Brooks| 1.21.11 @ 12:21AM

You can't get it that the demographics of 2011 are different??
That 2011 isn't 1981?

joel garcia| 1.21.11 @ 12:25AM

I was 18 when I voted for him... when he spoke he drew me into politics as a conservative ever since...

Richard Baker| 1.22.11 @ 8:58AM

Brooks:
Is it always your intention to pee in the punchbowl? If our company is so disagreeable then why are you here?

Yukon Jack| 1.24.11 @ 12:49PM

One of the proudest moments of my life was when I lined up along with thousands of Americans (I am a Hungarian-Canadian) in the National Mall in the summer of 2004 to pay my respects to the man who, along with Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II changed the world.

Not only in our safe Western environment, but also in the land of my birth.

President Ronald Reagan, thank you!

Ronald Reagan, Jr. shame on you!!!

Judith| 1.25.11 @ 1:40AM

How can such a great man have two such stupid kids ie. Ronnie Jr. and his hippie sister. Maureen and Michael turned out good. Different mothers maybe?