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A Further Perspective
A Tale of Two (Reagan) Cities
Dixon, Illinois is Reagan’s America. Chicago, Illinois is not.
Kudos to Peter Hannaford, longtime Reagan aide and friend, for calling attention to the University of Chicago’s plans to demolish one of Ronald Reagan’s earliest childhood homes. The home was a rented flat in a four-story apartment building at 832 East 57th Street in a Hyde Park neighborhood. As Hannaford notes, Reagan “had his first memories in that flat.” In fact, the young Reagan came perilously close to dying from pneumonia while in that apartment.
In short, history took place in that building. The University of Chicago, however, has other plans: it hopes to bulldoze Reagan’s home and replace it with a strip of grass bordering a new parking lot.
Some concerned citizens think that would be a shame, and are trying to stop the wrecking ball, but to no avail. As Hannaford reports:
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks turned down an appeal to give the building landmark status on the grounds that it “does not have sufficient architectural significance” and “is not associated with Mr. Reagan during his active and productive years.” As to the first reason, the building is a good example of vernacular architecture of the era. As to the second, this site, along with all the other places the 40th president lived in as a boy, figured in the development of his character … and thus is important to understanding this very significant president.
Hannaford is right, but what’s right often doesn’t matter much anymore, especially to the university community, where so many rights and wrongs are deemed merely relative. The prevailing academic zeitgeist proclaims “diversity” and “tolerance,” but those empty slogans are applied only selectively, namely to things the left wants us to accept. The tolerance stops short of welcoming conservatives. And here, too, apparently, it will stop short of welcoming this historic Reagan landmark. And so, the bulldozers stand ready for action.
It is fitting that this action would take place at the hands of the university community, and in the city of Chicago. Among Chicago’s many dubious political distinctions, the American Communist Party was founded there in September 1919 — just down the street, at 1219 Blue Island Avenue. Once upon a time, Communist Party USA was virtually destroyed by Ronald Reagan; now it is confident and resurgent, inspired and glorying in Barack Obama’s reelection (click here).
As Chicago’s communists literally reported their achievement to the Soviet Comintern — “Hail to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat!” they crowed, “Long live the Russian Socialist Soviet Republic! Long live the World Revolution!” — Ronald Reagan and his family got out of dodge, en route to Dixon, Illinois. And it was in Dixon (not Chicago) where the young Reagan was molded into the man he became, and where he is duly appreciated today.
In Dixon, Reagan encountered not brooding American Bolsheviks but good patriotic Americans like the Cleaver family, the Waggoners, Lloyd “Brownie” Emmert, and the folks who ran the local YMCA and the First Christian Church on S. Hennepin Avenue. He would later refer to his time in Dixon as his “inheritance.” The people there created in him “a kind of inheritance without which I’d be lost and helpless,” said Reagan years later.
Reagan claimed Dixon and its people claimed him, happily and proudly to this day. Today in Dixon, there is no shortage of Reagan preservation projects by the locals. There’s the school he attended. There’s the basketball court where he played. There’s the Rock River at Lowell Park, where he lifeguarded. There’s the church where he was baptized, which even includes the original baptismal tank where he was dunked (by total immersion) in June 1922. There’s the Reagan trail. And, of course, there’s the Boyhood Home — eagerly, enthusiastically preserved.
Dixon, Illinois is Reagan’s America. Chicago, Illinois is not.
To the contrary, Chicago is really Obama’s America. From Hyde Park to David Axelrod, from Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn to Rahm Emanuel, to its unions and Democratic machine, Chicago gave us Barack Obama. And it seems in no hurry to give us Reagan’s home.
The different receptions for Ronald Reagan in Dixon vs. Chicago are as different as, well, red and blue. Dixon is symbolic of that sea of red that, since Reagan’s first presidential victory in 1980, goes Republican every four years. Chicago is representative of those tiny, isolated blue spots so packed with liberals and Democrats that they turn entire states Democrat every four years.
We should expect Dixon to defend Reagan, and Chicago to disregard him.
Of course, defenders of the University of Chicago’s move against Reagan’s early home will claim a glaring flaw in my parallel, namely: Reagan was raised in Dixon, but not in Chicago.
Sure, but does anyone doubt that the lack of appreciation for Reagan in Chicago is not at least somewhat a reflection of political interests, in contrast to Dixon?
About the Author
Paul Kengor is professor of political science and executive director of The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College. He is author of the new book The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis, The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mentor. His other books include The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism and Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (18) | Leave a comment
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Philo Vaihinger | 12.17.12 @ 6:18AM
You do realize far more voters live in Chicago than in Dixon.
Right?
MCrites| 12.19.12 @ 10:03AM
It does help to read the article ...
"Chicago is representative of those tiny, isolated blue spots so packed with liberals and Democrats that they turn entire states Democrat every four years."
Purp| 12.17.12 @ 7:13AM
"Reagan claimed Dixon and its people claimed him, happily and proudly to this day. " - Reagan is simply reaping what he sowed. He ignored them, so what could he expect. I'll wager most people, most Republicans know nothing of his Chicago roots.
However, I might point out that Ronald Reagan was a life-long Democrat until the 1960's, and FDR Democrat at that.
Moreover, he was President of the Screen Actors Guild UNION to boot! Quite a Commie, that Ronald Reagan.
We don't need to pretend he was a Conservative Saint, he was opportunistic - Why did he switch from an FDR liberal to a Goldwater Conservative.
Either way, it has nothing to do with Chicago, a beautiful, clean and fun city I might add, just your own twisted mind laying all this crap on us.
fmm| 12.17.12 @ 9:03AM
As many do, Reagan grew up and found the right path.
Purp| 12.17.12 @ 9:06AM
Grew up? He was a Democrat well into his 50's...
Perhaps it was early onset of Alzheimer's that changed him?
Are you suggesting that dementia is the "right path"?
CJW| 12.17.12 @ 10:57AM
Purp the Village Idiot
Now purpie descends into racism:
"Oh, and YOU'RE a LOSER ... can't even beat the black man... you're so awful... hahahaha (that's for your last line, you wanna dish it out, then take it)"
Can't even beat the "black man?" So you believe blacks are inferior and easy to beat.
Keep posting moron, you provide fresh material every day.
You are truly an idiot and a racist
Kwan| 12.17.12 @ 7:50AM
No doubt the commie sewer rats that infest the ruling elite of the University of Chicago's inner sanctum, view Reagan as an enemy of the People's Revolution. They must view Reagan's participation in the dismantling of the left's "Shining City Upon a Hill" the Soviet Union, as an act of extreme terrorism. And yes might I suggest constructing a 500 foot Lenin-style statue of Obama giving one of his inspiring 100-lies-a-minute speeches to a crowd of slack-jawed, drooling morons, to be constructed on the site of Reagan's demolished childhood home.
Purp| 12.17.12 @ 9:07AM
You are completely stupid if you believe the tripe you just wrote.
Reagan was just like President Obama in many ways ...
Kwan| 12.17.12 @ 9:29AM
If the truth hurts you slack-jawed, drooling HOMO just rub some vaseline on it like you do with your boyfriend Brucie.
fmm| 12.17.12 @ 9:04AM
Can't wait for the signposts so I can go take a leak there.
Von Mises Jr| 12.17.12 @ 9:06AM
If Rahm hears that the Soviet Union banned "The Road to Serfdom" with punishment of seven years for possession and death in Siberia for selling the tome; he may burn all the Reagan biographies so that the people in the windy city are never again exposed to his ideas.
Is that how you define progressivsim? One must really marvel at the "openness" of our liberal Democrat ruling class.
Purp| 12.17.12 @ 9:13AM
On the contrary, the more people understand the ideology Reagan foisted on the American people, and what is has done to America, the less we think of him.
FDR he was not. 30 years hence from FDR's time we didn't have the middle class failing, poverty increasing, the wealthy getting wealthier at everyone else's expense, and the economy crashing...
Reagan started the downward spiral of America with the hidden agenda of becoming a Corporate Feudal Society, where corporations and monied interests rule, not the people.
It's all around us, look around and see what he and his minions have wrought.
And, no, this is NOT advocacy for Communism - you're favorite boogeyman. Communism is dead as is Marxism - the sooner you let it die, the more peaceful you will be.... It's just the Rulers of the Right's way of keeping y'all in line, with the Conservative Entertainment Media as the tool. Think about it.
Von Mises Jr| 12.17.12 @ 9:33AM
Piss off troll. I would not waste my time reading your tripe, and if anyone else has any sense, neither will they.
You are a low-life. I don't owe you any civility or respect, and you won't get any here. So don't bother me stalker.
Purp| 12.17.12 @ 9:57AM
Awwww, whining againg, gutless WHINER.
Can't argue the issues, so you cower in your ideological pig sty?
LMAO ... it's hysterical, you accept my distillation of Reagan's legacy. You have to accept it, you're living it!
We all are, and sadder for his existence and destruction of our country.
Von Mises Jr| 12.17.12 @ 10:47AM
I am not stupid enough to talk with you Caliban. It would be like trying to debate with a mongoloid or the devil. I am not sure which it would be, but I know they are the choices.
Von Mises Jr| 12.17.12 @ 10:49AM
BTW, have you ever been, or are you now a stalker?
Wait a minute, we know you are a stalker now since nobody wants to talk to you but you won't go away.
Al Adab| 12.17.12 @ 10:16AM
Chicago and Dixon are only symbolic of the greater divide which is that between urban centers and suburban and rural America. Urban values of collectivism and dependency oppose values of individualism and opportunity. The gurantee of subsistence against the potential of great success. Sadly, as Purp notes above, the ducks live in the cities which is why the collective wins elections.
Dr. B| 1.4.13 @ 12:07PM
If Barry had taken a dump in Reagan's house, Chicago would preserve it as a historic site.