Posted by
Karen Spencer on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 7:40:00 PM
Lost Our Way
On Monday I was at the Ronald Reagan Library celebrating the 40th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s election to Governor of California. I clearly remember the day my father, Stuart Spencer, told me he was running the campaign of an actor as Governor of California. I was 13 at the time and I thought my father had truly lost his mind. You must understand that I had spent my entire life watching my father working campaigns for people running for mayor, assembly, Congress, and even President. So in 1965 my Dad took our family to a West Covina fundraiser to meet Ronald Reagan. And he exuded such faith and optimism about freedom, opportunities, and belief in the American people that I began to think he was believable.
Ronald Reagan was Governor while I was in California’s high school and college. This time was in the 1960s and 1970s. Though I would see protests, anger, and riots on my campuses towards the Vietnam War, through my father I watched Reagan’s core beliefs of freedom, optimism, and faith in the American people at work while Governor. I watched Governor Reagan work with a Democratic legislature to make California a better place. President Reagan later told me that California was not a place to live, it was a way of life. He was very clear on that latter point.
I had grown up watching Ronald Reagan. Many may view some of his leadership style simple, however, I see it as necessary. And missing today. Americans need to cherish their freedom, be optimist about their future, and have faith in each other. To me, that defines the beginning of American leadership.
In this election period, the pundits have forgotten California. California has another Governor, Governor Schwarzenegger who spoke Monday at the 40th anniversary. Governor Schwarzenegger will win next Tuesday because he too is optimist about California’s future. This Governor is passionate about our freedoms. And has faith in the American people. Governor Schwarzenegger understands, as Governor Reagan did, that California is not a place to live, California is a way of life. Governor Schwarzenegger has learned to work with the Democratic legislature. He is leading the sixth largest economy of 36 million people. And working hard to make California a better way of life. No small feat.
Sitting at the Reagan Library, I was overwhelmed how complicated we have made our life with the ranting, ravings and finger pointing in the media, internet, and books. Have we lost our way since Ronald Reagan? Lost our way with understanding how precious freedom is, how far optimism can go, and faith in the American people. Hopefully our Governor is bringing some hope and optimism back to California, we need to bring back that hope and optimism back to our Nation. And we need to bring it back through our new leaders.