As the US goes through its process to pick it’s contestants for November’s presidential election, I am reminded of one of the most striking differences between US and British perceptions: namely Ronald Reagan (or Capt Ray Gun of the doomed Enterprise Starship).
Even before he died in June 2005, I had noticed that, regardless of stated party affiliation, the former president seemed to be highly regarded and loved in the US. Americans credit him with bringing down the Berlin wall and give much credit to him for his method of pulling together the best advisors and making no nonsense demands of those advisors, among many other things.
But his time in power was in the 80s and in the UK this coincided with one of satires most savage periods. I cannot talk for all 59 million people in the UK, however my lasting impression is that the Star Wars president was always portrayed as a bumbling old fool who was merely a mouth piece for the backroom staff. I certainly never gave him any great credit in the downfall of the wall and felt that the fall was caused by the already apparent moderation of Mikhail Gorbachev. My recollection was also that the UK overall took a very dim view of Iran contra scandal and the free Government money to his party contributors*.
So imagine my surprise when I came here to the US still holding the feeling that RR was the puppet from the ‘The Presidents Brain Is Missing’ to find he received the level of respect and downright affection showered on him by all normally only reserved for saints. The American public (well the handful of people I talked to) loved and revered him.
I am not saying the US public is wrong and I’m sure the UK view was at least harsh; I am merely drawing the contrast to the gulf in diverse views.
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Bazza
Governments giving out money (or honours) to people who make donations to party funds - surely never happen in the UK (a-hem).
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