I got my copy of the Reagan Diaries last night. Let me just say, the Gipper was one hell of a prolific writer. It's going to take me awhile to get through this book. I don't think people realize what a writer Reagan was. And not just in his diary either. His letters literally fill a book. This literary image of Reagan doesn't jibe with the popular vision of him as a senile old man, the Great Communicator, the Commie fighter or the cowboy, but writing was obviously a huge part of his life.

I always think about Reagan this time of the year. Sometimes I remember his funeral, but more often I think about his speeches in Normandy on the 40th anniversary of D-Day. It occurred to me this morning that with all of the descriptions of Reagan one you almost never hear is that of a father. I know he didn't always have the best relationships with his own kids, but to me, he really was kind of a second father. Of course, I mean this with no disrespect to my actual father (hell, he probably thought of Reagan as an older brother or uncle to idolize). Growing up, Ronald Reagan was a constant. I was just nine when he took office and 17 when he left. Those are eight important, formative years.

We've never talked about it, but I suspect that other people my age thought of Reagan in much the same way. Like a father, Reagan inspired us to do great things. He pushed us to be more independent. He put some money in our pockets. He was also scary (Back in 1980, people really thought Reagan was going to push us into a nuclear war. People my age were scared to death by movies like "Testament" and "The Day After". I can't believe we had to watch those movies.). He wasn't perfect, but we knew he had our best interests at heart.

Do children of the 1990's feel the same way about Bill Clinton? Will kids today think that way about George W.? I doubt it (although I'd love to hear what those generations have to say - hint, hint). Like many Baby Boomers, Clinton & Bush are too childish and selfish to be real father figures. Clinton treated America like a personal plaything and Bush's vision of a new world goes well beyond the border. Reagan, for all of his grand conservative principles, put his country first. He served the people. I think that's why most people didn't get all bent out of shape over Iran Contra. Reagan did what he did not because he was some power mad wannabe-monarch, but rather because he wanted to save those hostages. He was like the father who steals bread to feed his starving children.

So is Reagan really a father figure to my generation of Americans, or am I just getting misty-eyed with nostalgia? Well, one of the biggest ways people choose to honor someone is to name their child after him or her. Check out the growing popularity of the name Reagan. There's a reason why so many little girls are getting named after the Gipper. ;-)