June 07, 2004
Before the 1980 presidential election, Steve Bell jokingly toldRonald Reagan's staff that the former actor was an "old man whowould never make it."
Bell, a professor of telecommunications, remarked on the errorof his words this weekend.
"That shows how much of an expert I was," Bell said.
Reagan, who died Saturday at the age of 93, was electedpresident of the United States on Nov. 4, 1980, soon after Bellmade that comment, and served for two terms as one of the mostpopular presidents ever.
Bell traveled with Reagan before he was elected, covering himfor "Good Morning America." At an event one night, following about10 other speakers, Reagan gave a short speech about the MiddleEast. Bell told a staff member that he was disappointed in itsdepth. Reagan found out.
"How many people spoke ahead of me last night?" Reagan said."Every time someone sat down I had to cross out another linebecause they had already used it."
It was a fun moment, but the next day, Reagan repeated the line.He had forgotten that he had said it the day before. That's whenBell struck back, calling Reagan a forgetful old man. The two werehaving fun on the trip.
"It was a chance to get to appreciate what a delightful guy hewas to be around and get misled about how capable he was," Bellsaid.
Bell said Reagan, despite what people might think about thepolicies, was good at his job in the White House.
"He's the most successful president I covered in terms ofgetting done what he wanted to get done," Bell said.
Ken Heinen, assistant professor of photojournalism, was a WhiteHouse news photographer for 34 years. He worked for The WashingtonStar and Newsweek and covered every president from Lyndon Johnsonto Bill Clinton. He said he liked Reagan as a president.
"He was very comfortable," Heinen said. "He was kind to everyonearound him."
Heinen would also get the chance to photograph First Lady NancyReagan from time to time.
"I used to enjoy covering Nancy," Heinen said. "She was justreally, really wonderful with the children."
Heinen said one of his favorite pictures of President Reagan wastaken at a Baltimore Orioles game. Photographers were airliftedwith the president to the game from the White House. Once they gotthere, Heinen and the other photographers, lugging around theirphoto equipment, had to run up and down the ball park steps as itwas being decided where the president would sit. Once Reagan wassituated, Heinen took pictures of him while he ate a hot dog andenjoyed the game.
"We got a really neat series," Heinen said.
Bell said he found that being comfortable with oneself, the wayReagan was at the ball park, is one of the most important things apresident needs going into office, and Reagan had it.
"Nixon's paranoia ruined what could have been a brilliantpresidency," Bell said. "Bill Clinton obviously had problems thatundermined his own effectiveness.
"Ronald Reagan was at peace with himself."
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