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Another Perspective
A Valentine for Ronald Reagan
He always had heart.
The women in my life will forgive me, I hope, but in this critical election year I have decided to send my Valentine’s Day card to the late Ronald Reagan. We miss him now more than ever.
Instead of my own words, I thought his own would hit closer to home. Forty years ago, in 1972, it became a fad to boycott lettuce from California in support of an effort by Cesar Chavez to unionize migrant workers. The Democrat convention which nominated George McGovern as its candidate for President endorsed the effort.
When the State of Pennsylvania joined the boycott, Reagan sent a letter to Governor Milton Shapp making the case that Chavez was not really helping workers who were making far above the national average, and that he would not agree to allowing the laborers to vote their own preference.
Shapp wrote Reagan:
As an individual, I am greatly disturbed by the plight of the poor people in this nation, and the oppressive forces that keep them down
As a governor, I am trying to do something to help solve the social and economic ills that beset my state and the nation so the American dream can be fulfilled not just by a comparative handful of wealthy people, but by all our citizens.
Lettuce today has replaced grapes as a symbol, just as grapes at one time had quietly replaced the “union label” as a symbol for obtaining fair treatment for labor.
Cesar Chavez is attempting to accomplish for his people what Eugene Debs did for the railroad workers, what John L. Lewis did for the miners, what Philip Murray did for the steelworkers, what Dubinsky did for the needle trade workers, what Samuel Gompers did for the cigar workers, what Walter Reuther did for the auto workers, and yes, what James Hoffa did for the truck drivers. All of these great labor leaders gave the working men and women of America a chance to work under safe conditions, at fair wages, and to be treated with dignity.
Throughout its turbulent history, the labor movement in America has always been opposed by those who have considered material values more important than human values.
At one time in your career you were part of the movement to help those at the bottom reach out for daylight. But since you have achieved personal success, you seemed to have changed. That was your privilege.
But it is still my privilege to do my job as I see it… I’ll mind my business in Pennsylvania. Good luck to you in California.
Note that the canards, the ad hominem slights and the self-righteous preening, have not changed much in the intervening four decades.
Reagan replied:
I was touched by your eloquent and moving letter; so much so that I would like to offer a constructive suggestion.
First, however, so that you’ll have no question as to my sincere interest, may I correct a misapprehension on your part? You indicated a belief that while I had served the cause of organized labor for a time, my view changed to the point of losing my capacity for compassion as I became “better off.”
About the Author
Jay D. Homnick, commentator and humorist, is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator. He also writes for Human Events. Here he speaks at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Miami on June 8, 2012.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (20) | Leave a comment
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Richard Baker| 2.14.12 @ 6:44AM
Notice that his response was done with a fairly light touch and good humor. Just like the man himself. Miss him.
Rachel| 2.14.12 @ 6:47AM
Jay, thanks for this Valentine to a great man.
Alan Brooks| 2.14.12 @ 12:27PM
"He always had heart."
Unlike Shrub 41 and 43.
No wonder you are so sentimental.
Teaghan| 2.14.12 @ 6:52AM
A great man indeed. Those of us who abhore what is happening to us now miss him.
Alan Brooks| 2.14.12 @ 2:07PM
Hunter Thompson wasn't as drug addled as one might think; he said in Nov. of '92:
"Reagan was the last great American, Bush was just the afterbirth of the Reagan Revolution."
Jim| 2.14.12 @ 9:00AM
People need to read what God says about being lukewarm - He will spit them out. These "moderates" are causing untold problems in this country, we need a man of conviction like Reagan again. But, God is in control, He is just letting us do what we want, where we always mess it up
Ward Bond| 2.14.12 @ 10:31AM
There are men that come to us from time to time who are a cut above the rest of us. They inspire and lead us to be something better than we could have been without them. Ronald Reagan was such a man. He was not only a great president but a great human being.He had a deep spiritual core which he could draw upon in time of adversity. We need that in a leader in these times of adversity.
RJ| 2.14.12 @ 11:51AM
Well said, Ward. I am a Californian who remembers Reagan as governor. I didn't realize at the time of his governorship or his presidency how rare he was. I appreciate him more and more as the years go by.
1ConservativeUSA| 2.14.12 @ 11:37AM
Yes, we could use a man like Ronald Reagan, again..........
Leslie Davis | 2.14.12 @ 12:29PM
Reagan was such a great actor that some people still think he was a good president.
Dagny Taggert| 2.14.12 @ 1:26PM
Earth Protector Money Plan? Go away moonbat. "Creating money that doesn't have to be paid back" isn't inflationary? You must be drugging the numbnuts who buy your snake oil. Good luck with your "IPO." 20% underwriting concession? I just hope you do go public so I can short that b.s.
Rebecca| 2.14.12 @ 2:00PM
I do not think President Ronald Reagan would want to see America in its present condition.
However, upon seeing his beloved nation in such disarray, he would put the pieces of his broken heart together, and roll up his sleeves to go to work. We would follow...Now we need to honor his memory by getting the job done.
I think he would tell us not to give up, but to get to work; and in November, elect someone who can wrestle this country away from the evil that has overtaken it..
He would be the first to take on this oppressive president's agenda, expose it and defeat it.
Yes, we need Ronald Reagan now, more than ever.
We do not have him, so we must do the next best thing, and remember that famous moment, when he reminded strongly, that "he had paid for that microphone," and he intended to get his point across.
Now, it is our turn, this country is worth that type of determination now.
We have a president now, who has set up a website to get the truth out on his behalf. I think he already has one...Media Matters, and the truth is what they want it to be.
We may not have Ronald Reagan, but he left us with a legacy of what we need to continue his vision for this country. That vision does not include Obama's vision for this country. It never will.
Claudia Monteverdi| 2.14.12 @ 3:32PM
Jay,
I admit being moved to tears upon reading this delicious, rather Machiavellian bit of sabre thrust on the part of a truly Great Man..
Here is how we besmirch his noble memory: seeking a pseudo reincarnation from amogst our present crop of candidates, dwelling upon their supposed flaws, flinging ourselves at the sloganeers, muddying the field, impairingthe chances of our ultimate nominee, celebrating a trio of scalawags and bounders and thus making it it incrementally more facile to re-annoint the current Caligula....
Time to wake up Republicans and Independants..dwell upon Mr Reagans tutor, Barry Goldwater..(sort of a direct quote, wrought from Mr. Buckley's words) "choose the most conservative of the candidates WHO CAN WIN"...get it?
Richard Baker| 2.14.12 @ 5:29PM
Davis:
Really? Still upset that he beat Carter and Mondale, are you? Poor baby.
Lyneuss Fields | 2.14.12 @ 6:21PM
These are some of President Reagan's love letters to Nancy. Read them, remember a truly romantic and brilliant man.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42.....zrrnk4gfko
POST American| 2.14.12 @ 10:41PM
"America better watch it
or in a couple of decades
we're going to be a minstrel
show --for RED China."
-Gore Vidal
1985
(the height of Reagan)
A TRUTH valentine for the 'Reagan Legacy'.
zilong| 2.14.12 @ 11:20PM
Guys do you really want to talk about Reagan's personal relationships? He treated his children (especially from his first marriage) like garbage. And no Clinton bullcrap either, he was a scumbag just like Reagan.
POST American| 2.14.12 @ 11:38PM
----------------------FINAL WORD-----------------------
Can't be stated enough,
from the very handover during
'Nick's ON'/MAO in 1972 --the
Rockefeller Globalists have been
employing a succession of OPEN,
even mercenary adulterers as
'leaders' of the controlled 'Right'.
---First Gerald Ford
-------then Reagan
----------then Gingrich and McCain
As for the Bushes, they're traditionally 'GO-fers'
for Averell Harriman et al---who was himself
a 'GO-fer' for the Rockefeller-ROT-child
-----------Globalist TREASON OP-----------.
This goes back to the destruction of China
---the Bolshevik coup in Petersburg
-----Stalinist CON-solidation
---------and NAZI empowerment in the 30's
There's NO DENYING the Globalist RED China
TREASON OP. NONE.
There's NO DENYING the
Gates-Buffett-Rockefeller-UN et al program for
--------TOTAL EUGENICS---------.
Absolutely NONE.
Even hardened 'A---theists' MUST be
aware at this point that dumping the
love of one's life and marrying an enabler
fatally compromises human judgement.
Of course the Globalists, the EUGENISTS
well know this. It's in the ancient manuals
of government control.
CHECK OUT the Hindu 'Arthushastra'
some time.
They know ----ands they USE IT ON YOU.