Bloodless Coup

The Initial Coverage of the Reagan Death

Now I'm all in favor of focusing on the good that people have done after they've died. Or at least trying to. But I've got to say that the extent of the hagiography that is going on this morning is astounding. I was listening to NPR this morning for about 90 minutes and I didn't hear one mention of Iran-Contra (you know, back when the Reagan team lied to Congress, committed obstruction of justice and sold arms to the Khomenei regime -- something you'd think would be brought up given the war on terrorism). I also didn't hear a single word about how Reagan RAISED taxes after he cut them. The extent to which even supposedly thoughtful programs seem determined to remember the former president with a few key words and ignore anything that doesn't match that narrative is not one of American journalism's finer moments. I mean criticism, especially on Iran-Contra, dominated much of his presidency. You would think that the scandal would have been at least briefly discussed this morning.

I will though mention one part of the coverage that's really pleased me. I've long felt that Nancy Reagan is under-appreciated, and it's nice to see her finally being discussed in a positive light. Nancy's had a tough time of it. Conservatives thought she was a moderate meddler. Liberals saw her as cold, aloof, out of touch ("just say no") and too focused on interior design. Both sides have come to see her as a little kooky (the Joan Quigley thing). But I think she had a positive influence, and played an important role in the Reagan White House. She seems to have had excellent political instincts (yes, she did pull back some conservative plans, but sometimes going to extremes can be political suicide, just ask Newt Gingrich), she seems to have really been sincere in her devotion to the president, since leaving the White House she's been a marvelous spokesperson for medical research, and she's taken all the slings and arrows thrown her way with considerable grace. Publicly I mean, I don't expect anyone to be polite in private. She never stooped to the nasty innuendo that the supposedly-grandmotherly Barbara Bush has stooped to.