When America believed in itself

This Sunday America marked the 100th anniversary of the birthday of one of our most iconic presidents: Ronald Reagan. In keeping with our current argumentative climate, the date couldn't pass by with simple remembrances and celebrations of the man's many accomplishments. No, for weeks we've been treated to a point-counterpoint debate about his core values, issues, career and the ultimate impact of his legacy.

True, there's much to contest in what has become the myth of the man. The patron saint of tax cutters raised taxes when necessary. The champion of smaller government failed to reduce - and in fact increased - the federal bureaucracy. The hawkish leader of the free world outspent the "evil" Soviet empire into bankruptcy rather than using arms against it.

Those examples show that while Reagan was no doubt an ideologue, he was first and foremost a pragmatist. Today's brand of my-way-or-the-highway politicians who claim to admire the 40th president have little in common with his means of leadership.

Reagan was ready and willing to reach across the aisle for compromise solutions. Even more than finding common ground, he formed friendships with people like Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill (D-Mass.). It was an approach to leadership that is sorely lacking in elected officials today.

But all these debates, as fun and as interesting as they may be, miss the true point of the Reagan legacy. The essence of his greatness lay in his ability to get America to believe in itself.

The ability to combine an ideological message with the oratorical skill to inspire and the sincerity to make people believe is a rare and powerful gift. In the course of the 20th century, only three presidents had it: Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Reagan. All three had the ability to make the American people as a whole believe in the goodness of the country and that they could do better and make the world a better place.

All three had a world vision that they were able to get the people to support. As a progressive Republican, Teddy Roosevelt made the country believe in itself as an industrial power and a player on the world stage. Franklin Roosevelt, in the depth of the Great Depression, was able to convince the citizens of this country that prosperity was just around the corner. It wasn't, but the belief that it was provided enough hope to get through another day.

Similarly, Reagan told the people that his fiscal policies would lead to an economic recovery and that his defense policies would lead to a new world order. You didn't have to agree with trickle-down economics to know that he believed it, and his sincerity made you want to believe.

Belief is a forceful, overwhelming thing. Roosevelt, Roosevelt and Reagan elevated their doctrines into almost an American religion. Indeed, none of the three was above invoking the Almighty in their speeches. During the conflict of World War II, FDR even called for national days of prayer. Teddy famously said, "I am charged with being a preacher. Well, I suppose I am. I have such a bully pulpit."

In the end, Reagan's genius and legacy lie in that word: belief. He believed, and he got the American people to believe. And the economy did turn around, and the wall did come tumbling down.