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Ronald Reagan's fatherhood...

by David and Tim Bayly on June 18, 2011 - 9:26am

Much as he embraced domesticity, however, he relied on Nancy to relieve him of its petty nuisances, such as school and servant problems, and finding a home for his mentally ailing mother while he was out of town.  She made her own and Jane Wyman’s children understand that although Dad was available for certain carefully scheduled hours of face time, in the pool or on horseback, he was not to be burdened with emotional demands. He had more important things than mere fatherhood on his mind: the governorship of California, for a start.

- Morris, Edmund. "The Unknowable: Ronald Reagan’s amazing, mysterious life," The New Yorker, 28 June 2004, p. 48.

(TB)

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Politics
Fatherhood

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Comments

Submitted by M. Scott Foster on June 18, 2011 - 9:46am

He sounds like a missionary dad to me. They have more important things than mere fatherhood on their mind: the salvation of foreign people, for a start.

Submitted by PCA Friend on June 18, 2011 - 11:54am

So reports a for profit magazine, not known for supporting biblical family values, quoting a biography that was regarded as underwhelming in the business of commercial literature anyway.

I'm not sure there is any insight into the character of the esteemed President, nor any context with this one excerpt.

Let alone charity.

Submitted by David & Tim Bayly on June 18, 2011 - 12:31pm

>>the esteemed President...

The divorced president whose wife used her astrologer to help chose dates for his signing ceremonies. Watching his fatherhood, it rang true to me not only for President Reagan himself, but also for most of us dignified by God with fatherhood ourselves.

A very good warning against our natural bent, I think. Most fathers of the home and church hate being burdened with emotional demands.

Love,

Submitted by Patrick Hart on June 20, 2011 - 9:04pm

My own father spent much of my teenage years serving in public office after working his full time job. I can remember hours he would be on the phone talking to this person or that, always very important stuff. We couldn't interrupt him while he was on the phone nor get him to talk to us or play with us. Now someday I will be a father, God willing and I don't mean to judge him too harshly but I can remember this having a significant impact on my sisters. It affected me as well, but it shows me a clear example of temptations I will have being of my fathers seed, and also ways in which I can love my children like I ought in the future.

Submitted by Patrick Hart on June 20, 2011 - 9:06pm

I meant to say being my fathers son and having the same sin tendencies, (exclude seed) sorry for the strange word choice.

Submitted by Daniel Meyer on June 21, 2011 - 3:57am

I was glad to see the term "seed" making a modern comeback since it is so much in the Scriptures!

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