Question of the day
Thursday, Sep 9, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SJ-R…
Former President Ronald Reagan deserves a statue on the Capitol grounds in Springfield, not because of his Republican politics, but because of his connection to a state where he was born, grew up and was educated, the president of Eureka College said Wednesday.
“Our Reagan story, the Eureka College-Reagan story … is not inherently political. It is neither Democrat nor Republican,” college president Jamel Wright told the Illinois House’s Statue and Monument Review Task Force.
The story that the small, private college in the Woodford County community of Eureka wants to promote through a statue of a “young Reagan” “is akin to so many of our Eureka College and Illinois students today” who are first-generation college students, Wright said.
“They’re not going to be perfect, but they should know that they can be first-generation, they can be poor, they can come from a dysfunctional family, they can have to work their way through school,” she said.
* Sun-Times…
The South Side Democrat who chairs the [House Statue and Monument Review Task Force] said in weighing the former president’s flaws with his legacy there has to be a recognition that “whether we agree with his policies or not … he had a profound impact on the direction of this country.” […]
State Rep. Mary Flowers the chair of the committee, said Reagan had a “made-for-TV” presidency, one that would go on to define “our American experience” by producing images and ideas that remain “with the nation today.”
The South Side Democrat referenced Reagan’s iconic “It’s Morning Again in America” campaign ad, saying that “idealistic vision of the country has become firmly entrenched in the American psyche.”
But Flowers, who grew up watching Reagan on TV, also noted the former president is often credited for giving the nation the offensive concept of the “welfare queen,” a “key talking point” at his campaign rallies.
“This image has also stuck, not because it was true … but because it was a convenient way to celebrate ‘Morning in America’ without having to acknowledge the nightmare of systematic racism, that is also very much a part of our history,” Flowers said.
* The Question: Should a statue of Ronald Reagan be placed on the Statehouse grounds? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
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- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 12:54 pm:
No.
The Reagan Legacy Project/Grover Norquist has polluted the public spaces around the country with enough of them already.
- Nick - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 12:55 pm:
He was California’s governor and based most of his life out there. He’s not ours to claim credit for, many flaws in all.
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 12:55 pm:
Yes, but only if one of Barack Obama goes up with it. In the 1910s, the legislature wanted to put up a statue of Lincoln. The Dems agreed, but only if one of Douglas goes up as well. The Lincoln statue remains an iconic monument on the grounds. Douglas was just removed.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 12:59 pm:
yep, the native son president deserves a statue. Ronald Reagan was the pride of many towns including Tampico, Dixon, and Eureka.
- Meow - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:01 pm:
Of course…. should be one for every US President from/born in IL. Lincoln, Grant, Reagan, Obama.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:02 pm:
I think Illinois should suitably honor all of its presidents, but my hangup here is that Reagan wasn’t a state legislator (Grant wasn’t either) like Lincoln or Obama.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
I remember Reagan for his response to AIDS. About 30/35 people I knew died. Guess how I voted.
- Victor - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
Does the Capitol have statues of other people with tenuous connection to the State? If the answer is yes; then sure. If the answer is no; then it becomes less defensible. When you think of Reagan; Illinois is not what comes to mind; just like when you think of Lincoln, Kentucky is not your first image.
- Dan Johnson - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
Absolutely. He’s a huge Illinois political success story.
And we should do more for Grant while we’re at it (thanks Rep Butler for the reminder).
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
There’s already a Reagan statue at Scheels, Springfield’s mecca for capitalism.
That’s a far more fitting recognition of Reagan’s legacy than a government statue.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
Voted “Yes”
Why I voted “yes” is exactly the following;
A statue of a “Teenage Reagan”, as he was when he was here.
The symbolism of Reagan’s youth here is more impactful than a statue of an adult Reagan who had no clear deep connection to our state.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:06 pm:
Absolutely not. Reagan started trickle down economics and demonization of government. We are paying a massive price now due to years of anti-government stances, with all the people who hate mandates, fear and mistrust vaccines, distrust elections, etc. Trickle down economics brought us the worst income disparity of all leading countries.
He also started the Religious Right, and that’s a whole other thing. Today’s GOP is descended from him: tax cuts for the rich, deregulation, union-busting, hatred of government and the public sector, etc. Nope, no Reagan statue.
- South of Sherman - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:08 pm:
No Reagan fan, but the Illinois Statehouse should acknowledge all four Illinoisans who went on to become President. Should we ever get a fifth, he or she should be honored similarly.
- Norseman - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:09 pm:
Illinois should commemorate those president’s with Illinois connections regardless of party.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:11 pm:
Grant’s statue should be Grant in his Union uniform. An Illinois hero who preserved the Union.
- Nick - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:13 pm:
Somehow I doubt some of these people would be arguing for a Hillary Clinton statue had she won in 2016.
- AnonymousFool - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:15 pm:
Wasn’t Grant born in Ohio? I know he died in NY.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:18 pm:
Agree with - Norseman -, there should be statues of all our Illinois-linked presidents.
Galena, probably my favorite Illinois town, makes clear the importance of Illinois to Grant, the good and the humbling… and his triumphs.
- Nick - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:18 pm:
It’s a bit of a fluke that we can really claim Grant, all told.
In that formally the regiment he was tied to from the war was the 21st Illinois Infantry. And when he ran for President he was formally registered as being a Republican from Illinois.
But sans that and the pre-war time period he lives in Galenta, he seems to have really had no ties to the state. But hey, (R-IL) is (R-IL).
- Furtive Look - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:20 pm:
Let’s stop erecting statues of politicians everywhere.
- Ben Bluesman - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:23 pm:
I agree with the argument that most of his political and personal impact on the country came when he was in California despite being born here. I don’t think he should get one.
Let’s look beyond presidents and “celebrity.”
Why not Henry T. Rainey? or a person who was definitively tied to the state in both policy and in person.
- Fav Human - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:26 pm:
Yes on Reagan. He really is the only one born/raised here. Kind of like the idea of a young Reagan
Obama should have one too, after he’s gone.
I’m not a fan of naming things for people while they are alive.
IL is why Grant became a general, so if he gets one, please be sure the uniform has all three stars
- Annonin' - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:27 pm:
Reagan should be there. Hillary too. Maybe they could be together? Perhaps a nice statuary plaza could be developed once the Stratton is razed
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:28 pm:
Why build a statue that we’re just going to have to tear down in 20-40 years? I see no reason to build statues other than to try to concrete in achievements. Take the ones we have down, don’t put up new ones and run holigraphic films in a museum that show all sides of all of our heroes.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:29 pm:
Again, Scheels already has a Reagan statue.
Springfield having TWO Reagan statues would be the kind of government duplication of something the private sector is already doing better that the former president allegedly despised.
If you want a second Reagan statue, how about putting one out at the air traffic control tower.
- Been There - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:30 pm:
===yep, the native son president deserves a statue. Ronald Reagan was the pride of many towns including Tampico, Dixon, and Eureka====
You left out Chicago. The University of Chicago either just recently or plans to rip down the apartment his family lived in.
While I did not agree with most of Reagans policies (especially his flip on the unions) he deserves it just for being president. And I agree with those above about celebrating the fact Grant lived here also.
- The Drummer - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:35 pm:
I voted no. His silly story regarding “I’m from the government, I’m here to help” has done a grave disservice to generations of public servants who genuinely get into public service to help make people’s lives better. Also, his homophobic AIDS response. And his gutting of mental health services.
- Flexible One - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:35 pm:
He was a sitting President and movie star that had a great impact on world events and he’s from Illinois. His politics really shouldn’t matter
- Leslie K - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:36 pm:
I voted no because I don’t think it should be at the Capitol. Although I’m definitely not a fan of most of his policies (AIDS, mental health care, etc.), I wouldn’t object to Eureka College, or Tampico, Illinois etc. erecting a statue.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:37 pm:
Been There, the apartment building the Reagans lived in briefly was torn down about 8 years ago.
- Payback - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:37 pm:
Yes. My opinion for two reasons: For one, President Reagan did not get bogged down in endless meat grinder wars like Iraq and Afghanistan after 2001. Had friends in the Ranger Battalion who went into Grenada and were gone two weeks later.
Secondly, Ronald Reagan was one of the last presidents from the past century who was not born into a blue blood/east coast/Skull & Bones elite family like the Bushes. I count Bill Clinton in that gang because he was adopted into the elite as a Fulbright scholar. Ron deserves a statue as an Illinois native from a regular family who worked his way up.
- dr. reason a. goodwin - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:39 pm:
I believe any U.S. President from Illinois should get this honor.
- Uptown Progressive - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:41 pm:
Yes. Honoring the Liberal Democrat who served as the head of the Screen Actors Guild.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:41 pm:
“Let’s stop erecting statues of politicians everywhere.”
I’ll second that.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:42 pm:
I thought he was a terrible president, for many of the reasons stated above. But I voted yes because we should recognize all presidents from Illinois.
- Wally - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:43 pm:
I voted no. Nothing against (or for) the guy–it’s just that the actions we would be giving him a statue for(his political career)has little connection to the State. Grant should get something before him. Obama should get something first as well, as the guy at least made his political career in this State even though he was born and raised elsewhere. Personally I’m in favor of only putting up statues of folks who did something really truly special like, say, saving the Union.
Though I do admit–I find the idea of a teenage Reagan statue intriguing.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:46 pm:
– Tampico, Illinois –
And I know the perfect church building it should be placed at there.
If you know, you know.
Describing the building on a family blog would be frowned upon.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:48 pm:
re: my previous comment.
I was mistaken. I should have written Dixon, not Tampico.
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:49 pm:
Reagan was a modern day racist and a homophobe, a smooth-talker who walked in the footsteps of George Wallace.
Why would we chose to honor him now at our seat of Goverment, especially since he never served in the government until long after he left Illinois?
Let Eureka remember him as the innocent boy he was there.
Before he became governor of California and promised to blacklist Angela Davis like some George Wallace copycat. Recall Reagan also opposed school desegregation efforts, “welfare queens” was not a one-off.
- Amalia - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:51 pm:
born here. that’s all. and terribly tone deaf on social issues, as Cheryl44 said especially on HIV/AIDS. no.
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:07 pm:
He was an Illinois native who became POTUS. There just also be an Obama statue, although that would be awkward while the dude is still alive.
For me a Reagan statue has the most problems because of his record on HIV/AIDS. If the administration had treated that disease seriously in the beginning many lives would have been saved. Instead it was literally a joke. If Illinois is going to honor him, some outreach would need to be done to address that concern.
- Jibba - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:10 pm:
Yes despite the fact that I think he was terrible for our country. The state nexus should be sufficient. And I expect to hear no guff about Obama.
- OldSmoky2 - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:14 pm:
No - He didn’t live here as an adult, only came back occasionally to make a brief campaign stop, and doesn’t seem to have felt any deep ties here. And as mentioned, he impacted many lives in Illinois and the nation by callously ignoring the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic as president.
- Jimmy Jazz - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:19 pm:
No. The statehouse grounds are the appropriate place to recall persons notable for their achievements in state government, which Reagan was not.
- BluegrassBoy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:23 pm:
No, statues in general are really something we need to reconsider. Immortalizing any figure with a statue is silly to me.
- wayward - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:33 pm:
Could it be captioned “I don’t remember?”
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:14 pm:
I liked Reagan, but I am a “no” on the statue idea. I am just a bit down on the idea of statues for politicians these days.
- A Parent - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:24 pm:
No. He wasn’t involved in our state’s government.
- sssharpie - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:25 pm:
The vitriol from the NO camp is quite telling. No h8 here, it’s a YES from me, dawg! As he was developed in Illinois, considered and accepted as a native son, and remembering his legacy is appropriate in Springfield, for better or for worse.
- Chicago Blue - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:48 pm:
I’m on the opposite side of every issue Reagan stood for and I’ll never forgive his firing of the air traffic controller, but he was a native son and decidedly won two presidential elections. Let him have a statue.
- Occasional Quipper - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:56 pm:
Voted no because no matter how good a person a politician was, eventually the opposing political party will garner enough support to tear the statue down.
- pawn - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:07 pm:
Voted no. Reagan was dedicated to demonizing government and weakening trust in the public sector. The so-called Great Communicator used his talents to help destabilize our country and democracy. That is part of his legacy and we still deal with the negative fall out from it today. We should not be honoring a person in the heart of our state government who tried to undermine trust in government at all levels and denigrate the knowledge and expertise of those who dedicate their careers to public service.
- TJ - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:15 pm:
He left Illinois to be successful. California can have him as their own.
Celebrate the folks that came here to succeed, like Lincoln, Grant, and Obama.
- Jeanette - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:28 pm:
Of course! He is the only Illinois-born President! He was educated here at Eureka College. A piece of the Berlin Wall sits in the Eureka College Peace Garden due to Ronald Reagan! A resounding yes!
- bkhartbnjo - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:38 pm:
I voted yes. Even though I disliked him as an actor, never voted for him, strongly dislike him for adding income tax to Social Security benefits to pay for his tax cut to the rich, and in general set the US in a downward social spiral. But, he was a president with ties to Illinois and if we have ANY statues of presidents with ties to Illinois we might as well have them all.
- Anon E Moose - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 5:39 pm:
He ignored deadly pandemics before it was cool
- G'Kar - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 5:57 pm:
I have no use for Reagan as a president, but I voted yes for the reason others have posted–all presidents with an Illinois connection should have a statue.
- Proud Sucker - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 5:57 pm:
I originally voted no because of his AIDS stance and the not-so-subtle racism (not just ‘welfare queen’ he also had his first post-convention rally in Philadelphia, Miss.) but I do like OW’s suggestion of a teenage Reagan. Also, Grant should have his four stars - first ever in the Army.
- Norseman - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 7:57 pm:
Grant deserves to be considered an Illinois connected president. Despite his short tenure in the state, he wouldn’t be the general he became which carried him to the presidency without Illinois. The connection he made with Illinois Congressman Elihu B. Washburne lead to military appointments and support that catapulted his career to head of the army that won the Civil War.
- Kent Gray - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 9:38 pm:
Every president from Illinois should have a statue, Republican and Democrat.