The Legacy of Nancy Reagan

Friday, March 11, 2016, By Ellen Mbuqe
Catherine Bertini, Professor of Practice, Public Administration and International Affairs at the Maxwell School, shares her reflection on meeting Nancy Reagan.

bertini“The first time I met her and her husband was in 1979 when, as a volunteer, I was sent with one other colleague to pick them up at the airport. They were in town (Chicago) to attend a Republican candidate forum. He was affable, fun, light, upbeat. She was thoughtful and had very strong opinions, especially about people in the party whom she thought disrespected her husband, even at events several years before. It was clear to see how current she was about issues surrounding them, how long her memory was, how protective she was of him, and how totally loyal and committed to his success that she was.

She was a person who combined principle, loyalty, clarity, and pragmatism. People trusted that she and her husband would do what they said what they would do. Even those who disagreed at least could count on some certainty in leadership. She also subscribed publicly to her husband’s eleventh commandment: “ “Thou shall not speak ill of a fellow Republican.'”

Professor Bertini is available to speak to media. Please contact Ellen James Mbuqe, Director of News and Public Relations, at (315) 443-1897 or ejmbuqe@syr.edu