THE BUCK GOT PASSED UNTIL 1980:

Time will temper idolization of Reagan (Matthew Dallek, 6/13/04, Philadelphia Inquirer)

When Harry Truman left office, few could have predicted that 50 years later, his reputation would soar into the stratosphere. In 1953, Truman's approval ratings hovered in the 20s, the Korean War had bogged down, and labor unrest and soaring inflation dogged his reputation. Now, however, Truman is a beloved, folksy figure who, it is said, saved America from communist aggression and expanded civil rights and health care to millions nationwide.

So, it is fair to ask: What will be the future of Ronald Reagan? It is unlikely to look as rosy as it has over the last week. Reagan's former aides and fellow conservatives have, as we've all heard, portrayed Reagan as a sort of political deity who ended the Cold War, cut government waste, and inspired an era of optimism, reinventing America as a "shining city on a hill." Reagan's winning personality and formidable communication skills have received so much attention that they have become cliches.

Such mythologizing ignores the debates about Reagan that lie ahead, in the '20s, '30s and '40s of this century. As is typically the case with the hero - or villain - of one moment, a more realistic portrait will eventually take hold. Defined by the issues that emerge in the mid-21st century, Reagan's reputation will almost certainly take two big hits - on foreign affairs and domestic entitlements, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Current generations of historians have a vested interest in defending the New Deal and Great Society and denigrating the conservative counter-revolution. A hundred years from now, when you look at their respective records, Reagan will tower over Truman, whose mess he cleaned up.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 16, 2004 7:49 AM