Sometimes the most direct influences upon the lives of famous persons are ignored by the pundits who chronicle their stories. This is only now being corrected for America’s 40th president, Ronald Reagan. Fixing their gaze upon his role in the spotlight, historians often neglect the simple strands which unite to form such a unique life as President Reagan’s. His mother Nelle Reagan has been a victim to this biographical “tunnel vision.”
Whether this tunnel vision is a result of ingrained cultural bias remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Mothers rarely receive the credit that is their due. The second Sunday in May is set aside to celebrate the influence a mother can have in her child’s life. In light of Mother’s Day, it is fitting to recognize this one mother who has remained hidden despite her enormous impact: Mrs. Nelle Reagan.
Nelle, a woman of tremendous optimism and vigorous faith, provided moral lessons and crucial stability to a future president’s life, even in the midst of poverty and hardships. What she taught him when he was young would be evidenced years later in his presidency.
Indeed, it was President Reagan’s optimistic spirit which rapidly became one of his defining characteristics, whether on the campaign trail or dealing with the inevitable trials of office. Even while recovering from a nearly fatal assassination attempt, Reagan maintained his optimism and good-natured sense of humor.
His vision for America shone like a ray of sunshine to a populace weary of a stagnant economy and the Cold War. He told us we could rekindle the American Spirit and be “as a shining city upon a hill.” Reagan once praised his mother for her “sense of optimism that ran as deep as the cosmos” – one needn’t look far to see his.
Aside from this, Nelle provided him with “a very real and deep faith.” She imparted to a young Ronald an abiding belief in the providence of a loving and merciful God. Reagan called it DP (Divine Plan or Providence). He believed God has a plan and purpose for each life.
Reagan also believed it was through the “special gift of prayer” we could embrace God’s plan and find happiness, solace, wisdom and strength by “talking to the Lord.” More than anything else, this belief sustained Reagan through dark times. He once said his faith in God gave him a “peace beyond description.” Reagan regularly prayed, and he credited Nelle for teaching him how to pray.
His mother’s type of faith also urged him to action. Her faith knew nothing of passivity: Nelle frequently brought hot meals to prisoners at the local jail and others among the less fortunate. Despite the sometimes impoverished conditions of Reagan’s childhood, Ronald Reagan marveled that she always “found the less fortunate” and was “forever going out of her way to help them.” Nelle made generous giving a Reagan family priority and never ceased to do it, even when times were tough.
Shortly after taking office, Regan created the White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives with the purpose being to “revitalize the great American spirit of generosity that touched off an unprecedented outpouring of good deeds.” Studies have revealed that during Reagan’s presidency, the rate of volunteerism and charitable giving rose significantly.
His mother played a critical role in his professional life – it was Nelle’s flair for the dramatic and encouragement that steered the young Reagan to acting. Nelle wrote plays for church with strong moral themes and asked young Reagan to participate as a player. Nelle even gave him elocution (the art of public speaking) lessons.
Reagan recalled how Nelle “recited classic speeches in tragic tones, wept as she flung herself into the more poignant passages … and poured poetry by the yard.” Although Reagan experienced a little reluctance initially because of his youthful introversion, he quickly developed a taste for the stage. Whether in his career as a radio announcer, actor, spokesman or politician, this certainly came in handy.
Nelle also instilled in Reagan a life-long love for reading. Every night she read to Reagan and his brother Moon. As a result of Reagan’s nightly exposure to literature, he learned to love reading. His mother would typically read stories with moral lessons which depicted a valiant hero struggling to overcome evil. Often the hero would fight for God and country.
Nelle taught her son to be a man of convictions and principles and to “do the right thing.” One of her mottos was: “To higher, nobler things my mind is bent.” His beliefs served him well as he dealt with the Soviet Union, his “Evil Empire.” Reagan understood that a nation of people which did not regard its existence and cause as just would quickly decay. In 1973, as governor of California, he stated:
The history of our civilization, the great advances that made it possible, is not a story of cynics or doom criers. It is a gallant chronicle of the optimists, the determined people, men and women, who dreamed great dreams and dared to try whatever it took to make them come true.
Reagan clearly acquired a high esteem for women because of his mother. Calling Nelle his “inspiration,” Reagan learned quickly to trust the judgments of other women as well. He appointed Sandra Day O’Connor to the U.S. Supreme Court – no president had yet appointed a woman to that prestigious position. He appointed more women to Cabinet and other high-level positions than any of his predecessors. Reagan always kept in mind another of his mother’s mottos: “Judge everyone by how they act, not what they are.”
Nelle Reagan epitomizes the best of what we all treasure in our mothers: empathy, guidance and steadfastness. Parents – especially mothers – have an awesome job and responsibility. Any parent may be raising tomorrow’s president. It was Nelle Reagan’s life and maternal skills, which had the greatest impact on Ronald Reagan’s life. It developed his character, principles and beliefs.
Because of his mother, Nelle, President Reagan understood exactly the importance of revering mothers on Mother’s Day: “Well, let us use this weekend as a symbol that we will always remember, reward and recognize them and use their examples of love and courage as inspiration to be better than we are.”
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