里根和南希--读《刺杀里根》
几个月前花25美分在图书馆门口买的旧书《刺杀里根》其实还挺新的，书也是2015年才出版，作者是新闻王牌主持人、专栏作家、畅销书作家Bill O'Reilly和另一位纽约时报畅销书作者Martin Dugard，是一本历史纪实书。
书写得简洁易懂又扣人心弦，读这300页的书比读一本The Atlantic杂志要轻松很多，一星期不到就读完了。最后在此再简单地整理写点读书笔记，以此告个段落。因着本人是个政治历史盲，笔记的着重点非政治历史，非刺杀(省去)，而是着眼于两位历史人物。
《刺杀里根》写了里根当职总统后不久遭遇的刺杀，但书中更多的笔墨则是在写里根的成长历程，如何从一个B级的好莱坞演员逐步晋升为加州州长、美国总统; 如何从演艺界走向政界，在古稀之年七十岁之际当上美国总统; 如何从一名民主党支持者转为加入共和党; 如何从花花公子成为一位忠于婚姻、与夫人白头到老的好丈夫; 如何遭遇枪杀，命悬一线又起死回生。
里根的家庭出身很一般，父亲酗酒，是个卖鞋子的售货员，母亲则是个恪守圣经教诲的圣徒。里根是靠着自己的不懈努力，一步步走出来的。里根的智商并非一级，在大学里只是个C student, 但是他有着超强的记忆力和演讲口才，这些才能借助着他长期对国内外政策学习和累积，让他成为一位杰出的演说家，也帮助他在竞选中脱颖而出。
书中多次提到里根跟当时的英国首相撒切尔夫人之间笃深的友情。两人第一次见面就很投缘，即便中间两人为了各自的国家利益行动上有分歧，这并不妨碍两人的友情。在国际运动中，两人同心协力推广民主自由，对抗苏联，打击和削弱全球范围共产主义的影响和势力(里根对柏林墙的倒塌功不可没)。撒切尔夫人对里根的评价极高，说，里根坚定不移的信念、信仰照亮了一切，里根是所有人的榜样和启迪。
当然这一切离不开一个人的功劳，那个人就是南希。没有南希，就没有里根的荣耀和成功，是她成就了里根辉煌的一生。里根自己说过，是南希的到来挽救了他的灵魂，遇见她是里根一生的转折点。而外界也有人说过，如果里根早些年遇见南希，那他一定是个拿奥斯卡奖的好莱坞一级演员，而非二级。
里根在第一次婚姻失败后，曾一度看破红尘，自暴自弃，整日花天酒地，鬼混于夜总会，沉迷于女色。四十岁那年他遇见了三十岁的南希。面对穷追不舍的南希(南希装温柔，还佯装怀孕)，才脱离婚姻枷锁不久的里根害怕地跑到朋友家躲起来。
是南希的爱和执着，让他们最后走到一起，结为夫妻。南希是个外柔内刚的女人，她从1949年第一次见到里根，就把和他结婚，改造他，让他成为一个有能力成为的人当作她的使命。她做到了，虽然婚礼很简单，远没有想象中的浪漫，但是为了里根，南希可以承受一切。她知道通往里根内心的两条途径: 政治和骑马，为此，她成为里根政治论坛上的座上宾，为此，她常常把马厩刷得干干净净。最终，她如愿以偿了，把七十岁的里根推上了美国总统的位置，自己成了第一夫人。应该说里根夫妇的生活是奢华的，南希两万五美金一件夜礼服，三千美金一条裙子等等，庆祝总统当选要办十场晚会(舞会)(，这些都与卡特总统的节俭形成鲜明的对比。
当然，外界不乏有对南希的负面看法和报道。卡特总统夫人评价南希是个冷血动物，镜头上温暖如春，镜头下则冷若冰霜。南希做总统夫人后，常常插手白宫内务，亲自安排总统的日常工作表，干预政治，有时候对手下人飞扬跋扈，动辄要解雇人了。所以，一度南希的公众支持率非常低迷，被认为是控制欲强的冷皇后。(还传说，南希雇佣星象大师来决定总统的行程安排，等等。)
然而，南希依然我行我素，只要她觉得自己所做的一切是为了里根好，她不管别人的看法和讥笑。她曾说过，她是白宫里唯一一个没有自己时间表的人(大概意思就是，总统的时间表就是她的时间表)。她这样忘我，把自己的一切置之度外，处处为里根着想，即便是后来里根得了老年痴呆症，也是亲力亲为，不离不弃。在里根生命的最后一刻，南希守着他，不放弃也不愿承认里根的离去，这种磐石般的爱感动世人。
(不过里根夫妇有个不争气的女儿，处处与父母作对，四十岁了还拍裸照刊登在《花花公子》封面，以此羞辱父母。伟人为自己的政治野心忽略了家庭，忽略了儿女的亲情，这也是有代价的。)
另附:
当枝头的最后几颗枇杷被小鸟和小老鼠吃尽后，我的一根弦终于松了下来。孰知，火龙果却开始吐出花蕾。
比起花开花谢，花苞带给人的欣喜无与伦比--这是生命的最初孕育。清晨或是黄昏，我常常爬上小梯子抑或站在二楼窗口，凝视着横卧木架上有点杂乱(sprawling)的枝头，定睛看着一节节小凹槽处发出的小苞苞，以判断它是花苞还是新发的枝条。
后院虽小，但是它给我的回馈，它带给我四季不同的感受和期盼，让我心存感激。
隔着沙窗拍的,不够清楚
今年的第一颗花苞
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Killing Reagon书摘:
From the bestselling team of Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard comes Killing Reagan, a page-turning epic account of the career of President Ronald Reagan that tells the vivid story of his rise to power--and the forces of evil that conspired to bring him down.
Just two months into his presidency, Ronald Reagan lay near death after a gunman’s bullet came within inches of his heart. His recovery was nothing short of remarkable—or so it seemed. But Reagan was grievously injured, forcing him to encounter a challenge that few men ever face. Could he silently overcome his traumatic experience while at the same time carrying out the duties of the most powerful man in the world?
Told in the same riveting fashion as Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, and Killing Patton, Killing Reagan reaches back to the golden days of Hollywood, where Reagan found both fame and heartbreak, up through the years in the California governor’s mansion, and finally to the White House, where he presided over boom years and the fall of the Iron Curtain. But it was John Hinckley Jr.’s attack on him that precipitated President Reagan’s most heroic actions. In Killing Reagan, O’Reilly and Dugard take readers behind the scenes, creating an unforgettable portrait of a great man operating in violent times.
Ronald Reagan is so prone to saying the wrong thing at the wrong time that his campaign staff has been known to call him “old foot-in-the mouth.” (Say something foolish, embarrassing, or tactless) (p.8)
Slowly shaking his head, Reagan turns to Carter and says, “There you go again.”
The auditorium erupts in laughter. Reagan’s tone is that of a disappointed parent, saddened by a child who has failed to live up to expectations. The words mean nothing and everything. One short sentence captures the mood of a nation that no longer wants detailed policy explanations as to why the economy has collapsed and Americans are being held hostage in a foreign country. (p17)
I was starry-eyed. (p.21): naively enthusiastic or idealistic; failing to recognize the practical realities of a situation.
You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.
Jane Wyman
Reagan is a hardworking, restless man who craves physical activity. He is the son of an all-too-often-drunk Irish shoe salesman and a Bible-thumping mother. Their parenting methods taught young Ron to avoid extremes in behavior, leading him, at times, to appear clueless and shut off. Also, it is true: Ronald Reagan is not a great intellect, having struggled to maintain a C average in college. Yet he can memorize paragraphs of script with ease and then recite them again and again on cue. Reagan also is a thinker, craving long periods of solitary meditation—preferably on horseback. He believes that “as you rock along a trail to the sound of the hooves and the squeak of the leather, with the sun on your head and the smell of the horse and the saddle and trees around you, things just begin to straighten themselves out. “(p27)
Ronald Reagan has also become fond of lecturing. Any topic will do. “Don’t ask Ronnie what time it is, “ Wyman warns fellow actress June Allyson, “because he will tell you how a watch is made. “ (p27)
Self-centered and callous
Embittered, Reagan begins to behave in a callous fashion. He spends lavishly at Hollywood nightclubs such as Ciro’s, the Coconut Grove, and Slapsy Maxie’s, drinking too much and conducting a series of sexual affairs with women decades younger than he. His actions do not go unnoticed by the press. Silver Screen magazine writes, “Never thought we’d come right out and call Ronnie Reagan a wolf, but leave us face it. Suddenly every glamour gal considers him a super-sexy escort for the evening. Even he admits he’s missed a lot of fun and frolic and is out to make up for it.” (p.29)
Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and they you destroy yourself.—Nixon
Nancy Davis was so eager to marry Ronald Reagan that she willingly accommodated his every wish. If that meant a small ceremony, lacking fanfare or even a hint of media flashbulbs that might provide a modicum of grandeur—then so be it. … “I don’t want to do anything else except be married. I just want to be Ronnie’s wife, “she said later. (p47)
In Ronald Reagan, Nancy sees a greatness that thus far has eluded him. She will dedicate her life to bringing it forth. Soon, her supplication will vanish and dominance will emerge. Reagan will reluctantly cease his womanizing, although continuing his affair with Christine Larson well past the day his baby daughter, Patti, is born on October 21, 1952. (p 49)
Nancy Reagan possesses an inner steel that her husband lacks. This quality will soon make her opinions indispensable. She will become his sounding board, tactician, and adviser, prodding and cajoling him to become the man only she believes he can be. (p 50)
Reagan finishes the debate with a flourish. (p.17)
It’s a grind, but the money is extremely good (p53) (grind – hard dull work)
Even though her husband has stated publicly that he will not seek a third term as governor, Nancy is not about to give up a life of perks and celebrity adulation. She is working behind the scenes to plan a presidential campaign. (p87)
Again Nixon’s voice is tinged with sarcasm. In his drunken state, he has a hard time hiding his loathing for Reagan. (p89)
Thatcher is a homely woman, but Reagan considers her “warm, feminine, gracious, and intelligent”—so much as that he will take the unprecedented step of gushing about the British leader to Nancy Reagan when this meeting ends in two hours. For Margaret Thatcher, the feeling is mutual. “When we met in person I was immediately won over by his charm, sense of humor, and directness, “Thatcher will later recall. (p 99)
Bumbling his way through the address.
Nancy Reagan craves that level of celebrity for herself. Betty Ford notices this after dining with the Reagans in Palm Springs during the 1975 Easter vacation. “She’s a cold fish,” Ford later recalled. “Nancy could not have been colder. Then the flashbulbs went off, and she smiled and kissed me. Suddenly, an old friend. I couldn’t get over that. Off camera, ice. On camera, warmth. “ (p105)
Ford, a lifelong Republican who served in the navy during World War II, considers Reagan little more than a lightweight actor and former Democrat. (p105)
“The commitment I seek is not to outworn ideas, but to old values that will never wear out. Programs may sometimes become obsolete but the idea of fairness always endures,” Kennedy tells the convention. “For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.” (Kennedy is lucid and focused. Many will say it is the finest speech he ever delivered. ) (p. 136)
Make up his addled mind.(addled= confused)
Four years ago, Jimmy Carter did not feel it appropriate to celebrate his inauguration with even one formal ball, let alone ten. No partying for the man from Plains. Instead, Carter’s 1977 inaugural address was somber, pointing out America’s limitations as a nation. The tone of pessimism and defeat that marked Carter’s first day in office came to define his entire presidency. (p. 145)
Many of whom don’t think that Ronald Reagan has a first-rate intellect. He has long studied the nuances of domestic and foreign policy and possesses a stunning ability to recollect the most minute facts for the purposes of a speech or a debate. (p. 146)
She (Nancy) is known to blurt out her personal thoughts. (p147)
Reacting to the heat, Nancy fires her newly appointed press secretary for not “protecting” her from the media backlash.
Soon, she is being described (by the press) as being cheap and self-absorbed. … comparing her to the imperious wife of Argentinian dictator Juan Peron, Eva, who longed for her own unlimited power. (p147)
In truth, Nancy Reagan is much more interested in high fashion and copies the dress and look of two icons: Jackie Kennedy and England’s Duchess of Windsor. (p147)
The Reagans have brought California’s weather with them. Tens of thousands of people stand in shirtsleeves and light jackets on this fifty-six-degree day. The crowd stretch from the Capitol Building all the way down to the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial. American flags and red, white, and blue bunting seem to be everywhere, imbuing this day with a jubilant sense of patriotism. (p149-150)
There are many in the media who despise Ronald Reagan. Terms such as lightweight, B-movie actor, and even dangerous are sometimes used to denigrate him, both privately and in print. (p150)
He craves approval and applause, thanks to growing up the son of an alcoholic father who gave him little of either….He is a loyal man but has put little effort into fatherhood, often ignoring his children when they need him most. Reagan’s world revolves around his conservative ideals and Nancy, with whom he has been known to get annoyed but rarely angry.
“It is time for us to realize that we are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams,” he preaches in his inaugural address. “We’re not, as some would have us believe, doomed to inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing.” (p153)
Her public approval rating is one of the worst a First Lady has ever experienced, for many consider her a controlling ice queen. (p189)
Nancy Reagan now works with Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver to regulate the president’s schedule. Fearing that he will be overscheduled, Nancy decides whom Reagan will and will not see. This practice will continue throughout Reagan’s presidency. Nancy’s behavior is so hands-on that Deaver will one day state,” I always imagined that when I died there would be a phone in my coffin and at the other end of it would be Nancy Reagan.” (P191)
Nancy needs strength as well. She knows America does not like her. The press has been ruthless, disapproving of what they perceive to be her power over the president. The criticism nettles her, but Nancy endures it. She can be a vain, selfish, and even deluded woman, far too reliant on fortune-teller. But she is also very clever. And her loyalty and love for Ronald Reagan are absolute. (P192)
“People are prepared to put up with sacrifice if they know those sacrifices are the foundation of future prosperity.” (Thatcher) (p 201)
“I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign,” Reagan says casually, allowing the moment to build, taking great care not to rush the punch. “I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience. “ (p 238)
He (Ronald Reagan) delegates much power to Nancy. (p 244)
“I want her fired,” Nancy told Regan in a call to his home one night. (p247)
“I don’t care. Fire the goddamned woman,” Nancy Reagan said, seething. (p248)
“The President’s schedule is the single most potent tool in the White House,” Regan will write, “because it determines what the most powerful man in the world is going to do and when he is going to do it. By humoring Mrs. Reagan we gave her this tool, or more accurately, gave it to an unknown woman in San Francisco who believed that the zodiac controls events and human behavior and that she could read the secrets of the future in the movement of the planets.”
Regan was referring to the astrologist Joan Quigley. Thanks to Nancy’s intervention, Ronald Reagan now goes nowhere and does nothing without approval from Miss Quigley. Nancy is also receiving advice from a second stargazer, Jeane Dixon, but it is Quigley who has Nancy’s ear and who is telling her the president should not appear in public until May because of “the malevolent movements of Uranus and Saturn.” (p.248)
“The power of the Presidency is often thought to reside within this Oval Office. Yet it doesn’t rest here; it rests in you, the American people, and in your trust. Your trust is what gives a President his powers of leadership and his personal strength…” (p251)
Thanks to the efforts of Reagan and Thatcher, global communism has been severely weakened. .. None of this would have happened without Ronald Reagan’s unswerving lifelong belief in freedom and America’s exceptionalism. England’s Iron Lady understands that:” Your beliefs, your convictions, your faith shone through everything you did,” Thatcher responded to Reagan’s letter. “You have been an example and inspiration to us all.” (p 260)
Time and events have changed Nancy Reagan. Shortly after her return from Berlin in 1987, the First Lady was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy to remove one breast. The procedure was a success, and Nancy’s very public ordeal softened her in the eyes of many.(p 262)
His daughter, forty-one-year-old Patti Davis, is now fully exposed for the entire country to see. Playboy magazine is on newsstands everywhere, its cover promising a father’s ultimate humiliation. Patti wears nothing but a smile as the hands of a muscular unseen man cup her bare breasts. (p 268) (humiliate her mother and father—and the whole world knows it.)
Patti Davis publicly states that her rebellion is Nancy’s fault, saying that her mother was physically and emotionally abusive, a chronic prescription drug user who slapped her daughter when she ate too much and even slapped her when she began menstruating at a very young age. (p269)
“I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.”(Ronald Reagan) (p274)
Nancy knows that her unswerving devotion to her husband made her a target of scorn in their White House days, and for that she makes no apologies. “I’m the one who knows him best, and I was the only person in the White House who had absolutely no agenda of her own—except helping him, “she stated in her autobiography.”
The Reagans’ good friend Jimmy Stewart once noted that if “Nancy had been Ron’s first wife instead of his second, he would have been a real star in Hollywood, with a couple Oscars to show for it.” (p 277)
From the day they met in 1949, she made it her mission to marry Ronald Reagan and then mold him into the man she thought he could be. She has endured years of scathing attacks, all because of her loyalty to her husband.
Even now, in the midst of what doctors are calling “continual neurological degradation”, Nancy protects the former president. No outsiders are allowed to see him, other than family. Right to the end, she is managing the legacy of Ronald Reagan, even as she struggles to imagine life without him. (P279)
Reagan’s funeral is the largest in America since that of President John F. Kennedy more than forty years ago. (p 281)
“Ronald Reagan’s life was rich not only in public achievement, but also in private happiness. Indeed, his public achievements were rooted in his private business.”
“The great turning point of his life was his meeting and marriage with Nancy. On that, we have the plain testimony of a loving and grateful husband. “Nancy came along and saved my soul.” (p 282)
“I know in my heart that man is good,” the inscription on Reagan’s tombstone reads, “that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.” (p283)