Comparing Reagan, Trump on Russia

It’s been many years since, with some misgivings, given his possible (or actual) racial dog whistles, I voted for Ronald Reagan for president of the United States.

The mood of the country was down, and he saw America as a “shining city on a hill.” But way, way more important than that to me was the fact that he had no illusions about what he called the “evil empire.” He was, of course, referring to the Soviet Union, and what made me positive about Mr. Reagan was that in his heart he hated the totalitarian society that it embodied every bit as much as I did, and frankly still do. When he said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” he had it spot on.

Alas, the current barrier with which our current president is obsessed would be between us and Mexico.

I can’t help but believe that were Mr. Reagan alive today, he would get ahold of Mr. Trump and tell him when it comes to Russia: “Mr. Trump, build up that wall.”

Originally published: Hartford Courant, July 20, 2018