Free Congress Commentary:
Where Can The Reagan Legacy Be Found?

By Paul M. Weyrich
January 21, 2003

I just finished a lengthy interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, my old paper, on the legacy of Ronald Reagan. Having spent much time over a decade in the former Soviet Union, I immediately discussed the way Reagan had the vision of Communism disintegrating. He, almost alone, believed that the Soviet Union would implode. He was morally certain that a nation built on lies would not last. Most of the conservative movement believed that the Soviet Union would last forever.

Almost as soon as Reagan came into office, he worked with our allies to shut down the massive oil pipeline that would have made most of Europe dependant on the Soviets. He then shut off much of the materials which business had been selling to the Soviet Union. Had he not done those things, his military build-up would not have made as much difference. Of course, ultimately, his decision to do the strategic defense initiative (SDI) finally convinced the Soviet military leaders that they could not compete and the rest is history. I believe Reagan's "Peace through Strength" concept was his greatest contribution to civilization. It is his legacy, as I see it.

The reporter quizzed me about domestic issues. Frankly, Reagan could have done much more in the domestic arena. His tax cut nearly doubled the revenue but Congress spent way beyond the increase in revenue. If Reagan had been willing to veto spending bills, he might well have been able to get big government under control. True, the Congress almost never sent Reagan individual appropriations bills. Most of the time he had to deal with enormous CRs, which are appropriations bills all lumped together to run the government for a particular period of time. Reagan was reluctant to shut the government down.

Still, if he had been willing to do it, with his ability to communicate, he likely could have sold the idea to the American public. Congress would likely have caved. The problem has been that since then, Republicans have justified their spending habits on the grounds that "if Reagan couldn't do it, no one can." In my view Reagan's influence on the domestic front was
minimal.

Reagan did appoint good people to the federal judiciary but many of them have died, resigned or gone on senior status by now, so his influence on domestic politics has significantly faded and will soon disappear entirely. By the time Bush 41 had completed the 12 years of the Reagan-Bush era, these two Presidents had appointed half of the federal judiciary.

But Bill Clinton's two terms allowed him to appoint the other half. With the passage of time, Clinton appointees now dominate the landscape. That is why Democrats are fighting the nominees of Bush 43.

I was asked if Reagan had left a legacy in the Republican Party. Not really. He selected a Vice President who couldn't wait to separate himself from Reagan as soon as he was out on his own. He did not recruit people to carry on his style of politics. Certainly, the party itself does not exist in the image and likeness of Reagan. No more than a quarter of the members of the Republican National Committee can be described as genuine Reaganites.

Well, then, what about the Congress? Certainly the U.S. Senate isn't much of a reflection of Reagan policies. Even the new Senators, while somewhat conservative, are hardly Reagan clones.

The House is a different story. House Members are much more conservative than the Senators. Majority Leader Tom Delay and Majority Whip Roy Blunt are Reagan apostles. Look at what the House leadership has been able to pass with such a slim majority. The Republican Study Committee is certainly populated with Reaganites. They still are trying to limit government. They still are concerned with government spending.

So, upon reflection, I think it is fair to say that the Reagan legacy is in the former Soviet Union, and in the House of Representatives. An odd combination to be sure. But then legacies are like that. He still will go down in history as one of the greatest presidents of the 20th Century.

Paul M. Weyrich is Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.