The American Spectator : Illinois Fights Back

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Illinois Fights Back

By Peter Hannaford on 6.29.11 @ 6:07AM

Ronald Reagan's home state has done a great job asserting its claim to our 40th president this centennial year.

Ronald Reagan is a Californian. That's what the world thinks, but he is actually from Illinois. Specifically, the northwestern section of that state. Not only was he born there, but all of his childhood, teenage years and his early adulthood were lived in small towns in this land of deep rich soil where agriculture mixes with some manufacturing to form a distinct Midwestern way of life.

Last year, Congress passed a resolution making 2011 the Reagan Centennial Year. It created a national centennial commission and encouraged the states to do the same. Some did, some didn't. California did, but Illinois, determined to fight to assert its claim to Reagan, did it in spades.

No wonder. Tampico, Dixon, Eureka, Monmouth, Galesburg, Fulton and several other communities all figured in Reagan's life and the shaping of his character and they wanted their day in the sun.

Many people forgot about Reagan's Midwestern roots (if they ever knew about them), but he didn't. From his film days on through and after his presidency, he returned many times, speaking at his alma mater, riding horses in parades, cutting ribbons for new buildings and taking part in other ceremonies. He also carried on a steady correspondence with classmates and friends from his youth.

Travel to Reagan's Illinois, as I did last week, and you will see the evidence along what today is called the Ronald Reagan Trail (encompassing all of the towns mentioned). It began in January with an academic conference on Reagan and the Midwest at his alma mater, Eureka College. That month there were three events in Fulton, where his parents met and were married; a Nelle Reagan Program at the town museum honoring the late president's mother; a "Reagan's Roots in 'Dutch' Soil" program there and "Hat's Off to Reagan," during February in which Fulton merchants displayed vintage hats and photos of same in their windows (two of Reagan's great aunts operated a hat shop in the town).

The actual 100th anniversary of Reagan's birth was February 6. Around it were a celebration at the Dixon Historic Center (once Reagan's elementary school), a dinner dance, a Main Street celebration in Tampico (Reagan's birthplace), "Taft and Reagan," a lecture in Fulton by a historian who reviewed the life of the man who was president when Reagan was born, and a "Reagan of Illinois" concert by a large orchestra and chorus in Dixon.

In March, the Lee County Irish Heritage Society put on a concert of Celtic/Irish music and Dixon held the Reagan Centennial Dance. In May, Fulton's Historical Society led "A Walk in the Cemetery" to visit the graves of Reagan's four grandparents and two of his aunts.

This week, Dixon will stage the 47th Annual Petunia Festival, dedicated this year to the memory of the 40th president. Vice Chairman of the Illinois Reagan Centennial Commission, Ann Lewis, is the grand marshal and promises a week-long festival with a parade, fireworks, pancake breakfast in the park and live music. Reagan Centennial banners and posters seem to be everywhere.

Next week is "Jazz from Reagan's Lifetime," an outdoor concert in Sterling. In August, September, and October are "An Evening in the President's Shadow," a wine-and-food tasting on the grounds of the fully-restored Reagan boyhood home in Dixon; a "Dutch" ice cream social at Heritage Square in Dixon; and "On the Path to the Presidency Gala," a gourmet dinner-dance with guests dressed in 1940s attire.

What do all these towns get from all this activity? Civic pride, which is important, but more importantly, greater recognition than before of the central role the people and places of this part of Illinois played in the shaping of Reagan's character. In the summer of 1932, just out of Eureka College, he crossed to the other side of the Mississippi River to get his first job at a radio station in Davenport, Iowa. By then, the main elements of his character were fully formed: loyalty, self-reliance, self-confidence, determination, modesty, good humor, tolerance, reverence for God. Where did he get them? From his parents and other elders in his life, teachers, coaches, sports idols, friends, clergy -- and all of them were in northwestern Illinois.

(Mr. Hannaford's sixth book about Ronald Reagan, "Reagan's Roots," is due to be published later this year.)

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 (17) | Leave a comment

Mike Hawk| 6.29.11 @ 6:51AM

Ronald Reagan was firmly rooted in America and our traditions and culture. No excuses. (Unlike another who grew up outside the country and is even questioned of being born here.) Ronald Reagan was proud and humbled to be an American and made you feel the same. God blessed us with him and God Bless Ronald Reagan.

Alan Brooks| 6.29.11 @ 9:55AM

Sure, memories of Reagan are all you have left to you, and I'm nostalgic as well. It's the Amtrak RINO Express, with brief stops in Tampico, Dixon, Eureka, Monmouth, Galesburg, Fulton...
Allll Aboooaaarrddd.

Red at Heart| 6.29.11 @ 7:47AM

I'm a native of IL, now living out West. After a visit back home to IL early this summer, I made it a point to stop in Dixon to tour a Reagan boyhood home. It was late afternoon and after stopping in the house next door to purchase the $5 ticket and shop the gift store, I was directed to walk up the street to the house. The Reagan's home sits on a hill overlooking a quiet, Americana neighborhood. I paused on the large front porch and wondered if the view from that porch may have somehow inspired the love of country and easy connection to the average American that Mr. Reagan is fondly remembered for. Inside the modest home, an older woman who volunteers to give the tours, had a number of personal stories about Ronnie, as she often referred to him, as she guided us through the small rooms of the downstairs. She pointed out the place at the dining room table where Pres. Reagan had last sat with Nancy. He'd been in town for his birthday and the White House chef had come along and prepared a simple lunch for the First Couple using the appliances and appointments of the 1930's kitchen. Our guide pointed to a china cabinet which had housed pretty cups and saucers, serving bowls and relish dishes that had been given to Nellie Reagan from Dixon residents in repayment for her services of singing at weddings and funerals. Outside, the family vegetable garden remains, as does the carriage house/garage where 'Ronnie' and his brother raised rabbits and pigeons that they sold for meat to town residents. It's a must-see for anyone having the time to visit the northwestern reaches of IL. I was struck by the enormous presence of Mr. Reagan in this area; small towns bedecked for summer festivities with patriotic buntings. Springfield and its rich history of Lincoln is another must-see, especially for the devout Republican. And, of course, there's Chicago, and they have Obama......

POST American| 6.29.11 @ 8:08AM

----OFF POINT NECROMANCY ALERT----

Reagan is gone. The'80's Show' is OVER
---for good.

We stand in the 11th hour of Globalist TREASON.

Thus, NOT the time for delusional nostalgia trips.

Better to use that energy in vetting our current string of CFR/RIIA front contenders for 2012 for their associations, contacts, 'fellowships',
motives, background.

LET Reagan rest in peace.

HONOR Reagan by rising to the challenge of this
utterly UNDENIABLE Globalist-RED China TREASON challenge.

It is the ONLY thing to be talking about, looking
at, dealing with. Absolutely the ONLY----------

Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr. and, of course, Dunham bloodline Obama are, one and all, 'on board' and all richly deserve IMPEACHMENT and FULL-spectrum examination and prosecution for collusion, subversion and conspiracy AGAINST the American republic.

EVEN the most brain dead injection victim, the
most porno saturated, sports fanatic zombie MUST be seeing the 'continuity of agenda' at this point.

----SO, we know what we have to do, where we
have to go with this, don't we?

TIME to drop the EYE-cons and spring to the
task at hand ----

Groad| 6.29.11 @ 10:32AM

Whatever you are snorting, you have ODed.

Cpm| 6.29.11 @ 10:48AM

Well, we have print evidence of at least one brain-dead injection victim who sees the 'continuity of agenda'.

Dan Hirsch| 6.29.11 @ 10:55AM

So I guess that you were unhappy with the Bush 'compassionate conservatism?' And I guess that you were unhappy with the Clinton sale of multi-stage missile technology to the Red Chinese and Obama's delivery of fiscal control of our debt to the Red Chinese as well.

I cannot tell whether you lived through the Reagan years; but to those who did, many lessons immediately jump to mind about how things would be different if the Gipper were calling the shots, now. History is our best teacher, we ignore it at our peril. Spending time walking in the physical footsteps of a great man implies time spent thinking about the thoughts and actions of that great man.

Or it could be a big waste of time, if one is oblivious to the lessons of history.

PS Try to be a little less obtuse in your posts-I have been a dedicated conservative since the mid '60's and I have no idea of what a lot of your post is about....Avoiding arcane acronyms would be helpful, too.

Michael K| 6.29.11 @ 10:54AM

I am sort of surprised given the current political climate in Illinois the state even bothered to honor Reagan.

CharlieEcho| 6.29.11 @ 1:54PM

Michael, et al; Surely you all must know that in Illannoy nothing is sacred and that in Illnoise everything and anything/person/amoeba is for sale. That's what they see in Reagan. Well a goodly portion of the state. The Northern counties at any rate.

Cpm| 6.29.11 @ 2:49PM

Basically just Cook County, er, Chicago.

Bill S| 6.29.11 @ 1:54PM

So what? Illinois is a liberal state that's doing a terrible job with spending and taxing. They may pay lip service to Reagan as a person but they're doing everything the opposite of what he would do.

podbaydoors| 6.29.11 @ 3:10PM

I spent a few years of my youth in the late 1960's / early '70's in Sterling. In those days, Sterling was home to Northwestern Steel, Lawrence Hardware, National Hardware and a raft of other mid size manufacturers. Times were good and the future seemed limitless.
Regulation, taxes and corporate mismanagement sealed the fate of most of them and if you drive through now it's just a wistful echo of a powerful past you may hear.
I loved that town when I was there.

Nina| 6.29.11 @ 4:04PM

Yeah, too bad the "college educated idiots" that are going to Chicago to "promote" marxism aren't more proud!

Handy| 6.30.11 @ 4:25PM

It is ironic that the areas which gave Reagan his values, judgment and good cheer are the ones which are suffering the most these days. The fertile soil and climate which the upper midwest enjoys were gifts. The people used them to good purpose. But, that was not all.

The industriousness of people in the cities also defined the midwest. Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, St. Louis, Gary, IN, Aurora,IL, South Bend, IN, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, the "Quad Cities" of Rock Island IL, Moline, IL, Bettendorf, and Davenport IA, Milwaukee and Racine, WI were all major producers and consumers. Farmers could not have achieved their matchless success without John Deere, International Harvestor, Caterpillar, the steel makers, beer brewers, machine tool manufacturers, railroads and meat packers whose employess could finally afford to buy agricultural products through their own industrial efforts instead of growing their own.

Today, these cities are declining in every major way, although not yet quite as far gone as Detroit. It is sad to travel through once prosperous urban areas and to see the machine shops all shut down. The decay in certain neighborhoods is depressing. (Zoloft, anyone?) Could they recover? Maybe, but more than lofty oratories from charismatic politicians will be necessary.

Reagan did provide optimism, and that worked after the disastrous pessimism and policies of his predecessors. It did fuel an economic boom; Just not so much in the midwest of his upbringing.

We no longer have the luxury of relying on rhetoric. It won't work this time around. Regular folks will not come back to the market, because they no longer trust government. Real, and permanent, reforms need to be made.

If we don't get them, the USA will experience a return to a pre-industrial revolution age. We have already taken a few steps back toward that.

(Intentionally left out were the good areas of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, even Upstate NY, and Nebraska. If anyone wants to add some comments on those, they would be much appreciated.)