A second look

Apparently, there is a reevaluation of Reagan going around. Russell Baker reviews a number of books about Reagan in the current NY Review of Books. One of the authors reviewed describes Reagan as Emersonian in his view of the world.

For me, the highlight of the review was this excerpt from a note Reagan wrote after meeting with Gorbachev:

Seriously it was worthwhile but it would be foolish to believe the leopard will change its spots. He is a firm believer in their system.... At the same time he is practical and knows his economy is a basket case. I think our job is to try to show him he and they will be better off if we make some practical agreements without attempting to convert him to our way of thinking.

I've emphasized the last sentence because it is such a sharp contrast with the thinking in today's White House.