The Great Communicator...

Great communicators have the ability to influence others both intentionally and unintentionally, one such communicator what Ronald Reagan. 

I can remember being a teen when Ronald Reagan was President. He reminded me of my Pap (grandpa), and his birthday was one day after mine. The 1980’s were  called the decade of excess and the charisma of its leaders were excessive too. President Reagan had done it all it seemed, he started from humble beginnings and rose to the pinnacle of power, movie star turned politician—first a democrat then a republican—although at the time I had no idea what that meant.  He was dubbed “the great communicator” earning that title because of his skill at talking evocatively and using folksy anecdotes that ordinary people could understand.

He had a gift for optimism. He always spoke of the future.  He exuded a sense of country; and became a magnet for young audiences he attracted them because he stood for something; talked about substance. But he kept his message basic and simple and on mainstream American concerns. Who else could have done what he did? He got the leader of the Soviet Republic to play nice with the rest of the world and put an end to the cold war.  “There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” (Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1987).

This was no small task; it gives me hope that the common man (or in my case, woman) can rally around important issues and get the world to back you…that is skill. Skills I would like to be able to emulate.