First, they will disagree with you and look down on you.
And so they reluctantly conclude that you were better than they realized.
Then they will give you credit.
And finally, they make a glorious feature film about you.
Such is the trajectory of Ronald Reagan and his reputation, but the new film “Reagan” was not made by his former critics.
“Reagan” covers all the biggest hits from the Republican's life and career, leaving out no famous lines or anecdotes.
Based on the book “Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism” by Grove City College scholar Paul Kenger, the film tells the story of a veteran former KGB operative explaining to an up-and-coming Russian politician how Reagan won the Cold War.
The film's choice to portray Reagan's life in a standard biopic style won't be to everyone's tastes, nor will its frank celebration of its subject.
If the film is glorious, that is true and natural: Reagan was one of the country's great statesmen who won the epic battle between totalitarianism and freedom.
It is difficult to overstate his political talent or success.
How did he do it?
Reagan received a solid American education, although it was not elite for the time, and he had a good understanding of economics and history.
To this was added a lifetime of reading and reflection on what he thought.
There's a scene in the film where Reagan is reading the book late at night and his wife, Nancy, glances at the cover and then asks him if he would rather spend the day with Whittaker Chambers or with her.
Reagan was an actor by trade, and developed a set of skills for projecting and communicating an image that was especially necessary for politics at the highest levels.
“There have been times during my time in this position where I've wondered how I would be able to do this job if I wasn't an actor,” Reagan said.
It was always a mistake to believe that Reagan was simply reading other people's lines.
One reason his reputation began to grow in the years after he left office was that people began to recognize how much original writing he had done, both before and during his presidency.
His view of the world was undoubtedly his own.
As we all know, Reagan had a treasure trove of jokes and anecdotes, as well as a gift for one-liners, which enabled him to make his points persuasively, defuse opponents, and soften what were perceived as hardline positions.
As for the Cold War, he had a deep understanding of the nature of Soviet Communism.
He saw the conflict as a dualistic struggle between good and evil and was adamant that we must, and ultimately would, win.
But in dealing with the Soviets, Reagan knew when to push and when to back down, when to wait and when to negotiate. He combined his hardline thinking with a deep hatred of war and nuclear weapons.
This unique combination was used to great effect in a crucial geopolitical showdown between the Eurasian Empire and the United States.
Additionally, Reagan was a deeply humane man with an unwavering belief in America and its people.
Perhaps all you need to know about him is that after he was nearly shot and killed in 1981, he almost immediately forgave his would-be assassin and attempted to meet with him.
In a less significant scene, the film shows President Reagan attempting to write a letter to a young boy after the baby goldfish he had been caring for for some time dies.
These Reagan qualities shine through, making the film moving even if the material is familiar to those who lived through the era.
For example, only a cold-hearted person would not be moved every time he heard President Reagan say in Berlin in 1987, “Tear down this wall.”
Like Lincoln and Truman, Reagan now belongs to all of us, and “Reagan” shows why.
Twitter: @RichLowry
