By: Gahl Hodges Burt - Ronald Reagan: An Essay on the Legacy of an American Icon.

By: Gahl Hodges Burt

White House Social Secretary to President and Mrs. Reagan

“Day really started with the arrival ceremony for King Hussein & Queen Noor. I’d received a letter from Margaret Thatcher telling me the King was very nervous about the meeting. In the Oval office after the ceremony I told him where we stood and the climate got better. I think my remarks at the ceremony declaring our friendship with Jordan were well received by him. He ad-libbed a finish to his own remarks that was very sincere and expressed appreciation for what I’d said. It’s going to be touchy with Israel but we’re going to provide defensive weapons for Jordan. If we dont they’ll turn to the Soviets for them because of their fear of Syria. Later in the day we had a legislative planning session in which a very dark picture economically was painted for 83 & 84. I will not give in and raise taxes. The State Dinner was a smash from 1st cocktail to the last dance. Benny Goodman entertained with 4 of the top men in the field including Buddy Rich on drums. Everyones foot was tapping. I believe we’ve really established a bond of friendship. His Majesty’s response to the toast was obviously sincere, warm & moving.”

There is really no other way to describe the perfect blending of soft power and hard power than this diary entry.  Mrs. Reagan and The President were the embodiment of that blending.  Mrs. Reagan knew exactly how to support her husband’s goals during his Presidency and this is the perfect example.  To add a bit more context to this State Visit, Mrs. Reagan had included John Glenn to the guest list for the State Dinner for King Hussein.  Hussein, an avid pilot himself, was in conversation with John Glenn during coffee at the State Dinner.  I happened to have overheard some of their conversation which included Glenn offering to take the King to the Air and Space Museum to show him how he guided his space capsule back down to earth.  Sen. Glenn said “how about I take you over now if you have time”.  It was 11:00 at night.  I mentioned to the secret service that this was what they were talking about.  The agent I spoke with said “thank goodness it’s not open”.  Sen. Glenn disappeared into the ushers office, made a phone call, and the next thing we all knew, we were off to the Air and Space Museum at 11:00 at night.  Indeed, Glenn had gotten someone to meet us and open the museum.  And, there we all were very late at night with Glenn showing The King how to climb into the capsule and then explained the instrumentation to him.  The King was overjoyed.  When Mrs. Reagan learned about it the next day, she was overjoyed, as was The President.

President Reagan had the unique ability to seek out a level of conversation and mutual understanding that very few of his successors have exhibited.  He was adept at forging bonds in ways that made a bitter pill a little easier for the other side to swallow.  This was evident as well in his relationship with Tip O’Neill.  It was one of the greatest keys to Ronald Reagan’s success.  Nancy understood this and supported the President in every way she could.  It was a marriage made in heaven on just about every level and the United States of America was and still is, the beneficiary.