里根和南希--读《刺杀里根》

几个月前花25美分在图书馆门口买的旧书《刺杀里根》其实还挺新的，书也是2015年才出版，作者是新闻王牌主持人、专栏作家、畅销书作家Bill O'Reilly和另一位纽约时报畅销书作者Martin Dugard，是一本历史纪实书。

书写得简洁易懂又扣人心弦，读这300页的书比读一本The Atlantic杂志要轻松很多，一星期不到就读完了。最后在此再简单地整理写点读书笔记，以此告个段落。因着本人是个政治历史盲，笔记的着重点非政治历史，非刺杀(省去)，而是着眼于两位历史人物。

《刺杀里根》写了里根当职总统后不久遭遇的刺杀，但书中更多的笔墨则是在写里根的成长历程，如何从一个B级的好莱坞演员逐步晋升为加州州长、美国总统; 如何从演艺界走向政界，在古稀之年七十岁之际当上美国总统; 如何从一名民主党支持者转为加入共和党; 如何从花花公子成为一位忠于婚姻、与夫人白头到老的好丈夫; 如何遭遇枪杀，命悬一线又起死回生。

里根的家庭出身很一般，父亲酗酒，是个卖鞋子的售货员，母亲则是个恪守圣经教诲的圣徒。里根是靠着自己的不懈努力，一步步走出来的。里根的智商并非一级，在大学里只是个C student, 但是他有着超强的记忆力和演讲口才，这些才能借助着他长期对国内外政策学习和累积，让他成为一位杰出的演说家，也帮助他在竞选中脱颖而出。

书中多次提到里根跟当时的英国首相撒切尔夫人之间笃深的友情。两人第一次见面就很投缘，即便中间两人为了各自的国家利益行动上有分歧，这并不妨碍两人的友情。在国际运动中，两人同心协力推广民主自由，对抗苏联，打击和削弱全球范围共产主义的影响和势力(里根对柏林墙的倒塌功不可没)。撒切尔夫人对里根的评价极高，说，里根坚定不移的信念、信仰照亮了一切，里根是所有人的榜样和启迪。

当然这一切离不开一个人的功劳，那个人就是南希。没有南希，就没有里根的荣耀和成功，是她成就了里根辉煌的一生。里根自己说过，是南希的到来挽救了他的灵魂，遇见她是里根一生的转折点。而外界也有人说过，如果里根早些年遇见南希，那他一定是个拿奥斯卡奖的好莱坞一级演员，而非二级。

里根在第一次婚姻失败后，曾一度看破红尘，自暴自弃，整日花天酒地，鬼混于夜总会，沉迷于女色。四十岁那年他遇见了三十岁的南希。面对穷追不舍的南希(南希装温柔，还佯装怀孕)，才脱离婚姻枷锁不久的里根害怕地跑到朋友家躲起来。

是南希的爱和执着，让他们最后走到一起，结为夫妻。南希是个外柔内刚的女人，她从1949年第一次见到里根，就把和他结婚，改造他，让他成为一个有能力成为的人当作她的使命。她做到了，虽然婚礼很简单，远没有想象中的浪漫，但是为了里根，南希可以承受一切。她知道通往里根内心的两条途径: 政治和骑马，为此，她成为里根政治论坛上的座上宾，为此，她常常把马厩刷得干干净净。最终，她如愿以偿了，把七十岁的里根推上了美国总统的位置，自己成了第一夫人。应该说里根夫妇的生活是奢华的，南希两万五美金一件夜礼服，三千美金一条裙子等等，庆祝总统当选要办十场晚会(舞会)(，这些都与卡特总统的节俭形成鲜明的对比。

当然，外界不乏有对南希的负面看法和报道。卡特总统夫人评价南希是个冷血动物，镜头上温暖如春，镜头下则冷若冰霜。南希做总统夫人后，常常插手白宫内务，亲自安排总统的日常工作表，干预政治，有时候对手下人飞扬跋扈，动辄要解雇人了。所以，一度南希的公众支持率非常低迷，被认为是控制欲强的冷皇后。(还传说，南希雇佣星象大师来决定总统的行程安排，等等。)

然而，南希依然我行我素，只要她觉得自己所做的一切是为了里根好，她不管别人的看法和讥笑。她曾说过，她是白宫里唯一一个没有自己时间表的人(大概意思就是，总统的时间表就是她的时间表)。她这样忘我，把自己的一切置之度外，处处为里根着想，即便是后来里根得了老年痴呆症，也是亲力亲为，不离不弃。在里根生命的最后一刻，南希守着他，不放弃也不愿承认里根的离去，这种磐石般的爱感动世人。

(不过里根夫妇有个不争气的女儿，处处与父母作对，四十岁了还拍裸照刊登在《花花公子》封面，以此羞辱父母。伟人为自己的政治野心忽略了家庭，忽略了儿女的亲情，这也是有代价的。)

 

另附:

当枝头的最后几颗枇杷被小鸟和小老鼠吃尽后，我的一根弦终于松了下来。孰知，火龙果却开始吐出花蕾。

比起花开花谢，花苞带给人的欣喜无与伦比--这是生命的最初孕育。清晨或是黄昏，我常常爬上小梯子抑或站在二楼窗口，凝视着横卧木架上有点杂乱(sprawling)的枝头，定睛看着一节节小凹槽处发出的小苞苞，以判断它是花苞还是新发的枝条。

后院虽小，但是它给我的回馈，它带给我四季不同的感受和期盼，让我心存感激。

隔着沙窗拍的,不够清楚

今年的第一颗花苞 

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Killing Reagon书摘: 

From the bestselling team of Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard comes Killing Reagan, a page-turning epic account of the career of President Ronald Reagan that tells the vivid story of his rise to power--and the forces of evil that conspired to bring him down.

Just two months into his presidency, Ronald Reagan lay near death after a gunman’s bullet came within inches of his heart. His recovery was nothing short of remarkable—or so it seemed. But Reagan was grievously injured, forcing him to encounter a challenge that few men ever face. Could he silently overcome his traumatic experience while at the same time carrying out the duties of the most powerful man in the world?

Told in the same riveting fashion as Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, and Killing Patton, Killing Reagan reaches back to the golden days of Hollywood, where Reagan found both fame and heartbreak, up through the years in the California governor’s mansion, and finally to the White House, where he presided over boom years and the fall of the Iron Curtain. But it was John Hinckley Jr.’s attack on him that precipitated President Reagan’s most heroic actions. In Killing Reagan, O’Reilly and Dugard take readers behind the scenes, creating an unforgettable portrait of a great man operating in violent times.

Ronald Reagan is so prone to saying the wrong thing at the wrong time that his campaign staff has been known to call him “old foot-in-the mouth.” (Say something foolish, embarrassing, or tactless) (p.8)

Slowly shaking his head, Reagan turns to Carter and says, “There you go again.”

The auditorium erupts in laughter. Reagan’s tone is that of a disappointed parent, saddened by a child who has failed to live up to expectations. The words mean nothing and everything. One short sentence captures the mood of a nation that no longer wants detailed policy explanations as to why the economy has collapsed and Americans are being held hostage in a foreign country. (p17)

I was starry-eyed. (p.21): naively enthusiastic or idealistic; failing to recognize the practical realities of a situation.

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.

Jane Wyman

Reagan is a hardworking, restless man who craves physical activity. He is the son of an all-too-often-drunk Irish shoe salesman and a Bible-thumping mother. Their parenting methods taught young Ron to avoid extremes in behavior, leading him, at times, to appear clueless and shut off. Also, it is true: Ronald Reagan is not a great intellect, having struggled to maintain a C average in college. Yet he can memorize paragraphs of script with ease and then recite them again and again on cue. Reagan also is a thinker, craving long periods of solitary meditation—preferably on horseback. He believes that “as you rock along a trail to the sound of the hooves and the squeak of the leather, with the sun on your head and the smell of the horse and the saddle and trees around you, things just begin to straighten themselves out. “(p27)

Ronald Reagan has also become fond of lecturing. Any topic will do. “Don’t ask Ronnie what time it is, “ Wyman warns fellow actress June Allyson, “because he will tell you how a watch is made. “ (p27)

Self-centered and callous

Embittered, Reagan begins to behave in a callous fashion. He spends lavishly at Hollywood nightclubs such as Ciro’s, the Coconut Grove, and Slapsy Maxie’s, drinking too much and conducting a series of sexual affairs with women decades younger than he. His actions do not go unnoticed by the press. Silver Screen magazine writes, “Never thought we’d come right out and call Ronnie Reagan a wolf, but leave us face it. Suddenly every glamour gal considers him a super-sexy escort for the evening. Even he admits he’s missed a lot of fun and frolic and is out to make up for it.” (p.29)

Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and they you destroy yourself.—Nixon

Nancy Davis was so eager to marry Ronald Reagan that she willingly accommodated his every wish. If that meant a small ceremony, lacking fanfare or even a hint of media flashbulbs that might provide a modicum of grandeur—then so be it. … “I don’t want to do anything else except be married. I just want to be Ronnie’s wife, “she said later. (p47)

In Ronald Reagan, Nancy sees a greatness that thus far has eluded him. She will dedicate her life to bringing it forth. Soon, her supplication will vanish and dominance will emerge. Reagan will reluctantly cease his womanizing, although continuing his affair with Christine Larson well past the day his baby daughter, Patti, is born on October 21, 1952. (p 49)

Nancy Reagan possesses an inner steel that her husband lacks. This quality will soon make her opinions indispensable. She will become his sounding board, tactician, and adviser, prodding and cajoling him to become the man only she believes he can be. (p 50)

Reagan finishes the debate with a flourish. (p.17)

It’s a grind, but the money is extremely good (p53) (grind – hard dull work)

Even though her husband has stated publicly that he will not seek a third term as governor, Nancy is not about to give up a life of perks and celebrity adulation. She is working behind the scenes to plan a presidential campaign. (p87)

Again Nixon’s voice is tinged with sarcasm. In his drunken state, he has a hard time hiding his loathing for Reagan. (p89)

Thatcher is a homely woman, but Reagan considers her “warm, feminine, gracious, and intelligent”—so much as that he will take the unprecedented step of gushing about the British leader to Nancy Reagan when this meeting ends in two hours. For Margaret Thatcher, the feeling is mutual. “When we met in person I was immediately won over by his charm, sense of humor, and directness, “Thatcher will later recall. (p 99)

Bumbling his way through the address.

Nancy Reagan craves that level of celebrity for herself. Betty Ford notices this after dining with the Reagans in Palm Springs during the 1975 Easter vacation. “She’s a cold fish,” Ford later recalled. “Nancy could not have been colder. Then the flashbulbs went off, and she smiled and kissed me. Suddenly, an old friend. I couldn’t get over that. Off camera, ice. On camera, warmth. “ (p105)

Ford, a lifelong Republican who served in the navy during World War II, considers Reagan little more than a lightweight actor and former Democrat. (p105)

“The commitment I seek is not to outworn ideas, but to old values that will never wear out. Programs may sometimes become obsolete but the idea of fairness always endures,” Kennedy tells the convention. “For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.” (Kennedy is lucid and focused. Many will say it is the finest speech he ever delivered. ) (p. 136)

Make up his addled mind.(addled= confused)

Four years ago, Jimmy Carter did not feel it appropriate to celebrate his inauguration with even one formal ball, let alone ten. No partying for the man from Plains. Instead, Carter’s 1977 inaugural address was somber, pointing out America’s limitations as a nation. The tone of pessimism and defeat that marked Carter’s first day in office came to define his entire presidency. (p. 145)

Many of whom don’t think that Ronald Reagan has a first-rate intellect. He has long studied the nuances of domestic and foreign policy and possesses a stunning ability to recollect the most minute facts for the purposes of a speech or a debate. (p. 146)

She (Nancy) is known to blurt out her personal thoughts. (p147)

Reacting to the heat, Nancy fires her newly appointed press secretary for not “protecting” her from the media backlash.

Soon, she is being described (by the press) as being cheap and self-absorbed. … comparing her to the imperious wife of Argentinian dictator Juan Peron, Eva, who longed  for her own unlimited power. (p147)

In truth, Nancy Reagan is much more interested in high fashion and copies the dress and look of two icons: Jackie Kennedy and England’s Duchess of Windsor. (p147)

The Reagans have brought California’s weather with them. Tens of thousands of people stand in shirtsleeves and light jackets on this fifty-six-degree day. The crowd stretch from the Capitol Building all the way down to the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial. American flags and red, white, and blue bunting seem to be everywhere, imbuing this day with a jubilant sense of patriotism. (p149-150)

There are many in the media who despise Ronald Reagan. Terms such as lightweight, B-movie actor, and even dangerous are sometimes used to denigrate him, both privately and in print. (p150)

He craves approval and applause, thanks to growing up the son of an alcoholic father who gave him little of either….He is a loyal man but has put little effort into fatherhood, often ignoring his children when they need him most. Reagan’s world revolves around his conservative ideals and Nancy, with whom he has been known to get annoyed but rarely angry.

“It is time for us to realize that we are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams,” he preaches in his inaugural address. “We’re not, as some would have us believe, doomed to inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing.” (p153)

Her public approval rating is one of the worst a First Lady has ever experienced, for many consider her a controlling ice queen. (p189)

Nancy Reagan now works with Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver to regulate the president’s schedule. Fearing that he will be overscheduled, Nancy decides whom Reagan will and will not see. This practice will continue throughout Reagan’s presidency. Nancy’s behavior is so hands-on that Deaver will one day state,” I always imagined that when I died there would be a phone in my coffin and at the other end of it would be Nancy Reagan.” (P191)

Nancy needs strength as well. She knows America does not like her. The press has been ruthless, disapproving of what they perceive to be her power over the president. The criticism nettles her, but Nancy endures it. She can be a vain, selfish, and even deluded woman, far too reliant on fortune-teller. But she is also very clever. And her loyalty and love for Ronald Reagan are absolute. (P192)

“People are prepared to put up with sacrifice if they know those sacrifices are the foundation of future prosperity.” (Thatcher) (p 201)

“I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign,” Reagan says casually, allowing the moment to build, taking great care not to rush the punch. “I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience. “ (p 238)

He (Ronald Reagan) delegates much power to Nancy. (p 244)

“I want her fired,” Nancy told Regan in a call to his home one night. (p247)

“I don’t care. Fire the goddamned woman,” Nancy Reagan said, seething. (p248)

“The President’s schedule is the single most potent tool in the White House,” Regan will write, “because it determines what the most powerful man in the world is going to do and when he is going to do it. By humoring Mrs. Reagan we gave her this tool, or more accurately, gave it to an unknown woman in San Francisco who believed that the zodiac controls events and human behavior and that she could read the secrets of the future in the movement of the planets.”

Regan was referring to the astrologist Joan Quigley. Thanks to Nancy’s intervention, Ronald Reagan now goes nowhere and does nothing without approval from Miss Quigley. Nancy is also receiving advice from a second stargazer, Jeane Dixon, but it is Quigley who has Nancy’s ear and who is telling her the president should not appear in public until May because of “the malevolent movements of Uranus and Saturn.” (p.248)

“The power of the Presidency is often thought to reside within this Oval Office. Yet it doesn’t rest here; it rests in you, the American people, and in your trust. Your trust is what gives a President his powers of leadership and his personal strength…” (p251)

Thanks to the efforts of Reagan and Thatcher, global communism has been severely weakened. .. None of this would have happened without Ronald Reagan’s unswerving lifelong belief in freedom and America’s exceptionalism. England’s Iron Lady understands that:” Your beliefs, your convictions, your faith shone through everything you did,” Thatcher responded to Reagan’s letter. “You have been an example and inspiration to us all.” (p 260)

Time and events have changed Nancy Reagan. Shortly after her return from Berlin in 1987, the First Lady was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy to remove one breast. The procedure was a success, and Nancy’s very public ordeal softened her in the eyes of many.(p 262)

His daughter, forty-one-year-old Patti Davis, is now fully exposed for the entire country to see. Playboy magazine is on newsstands everywhere, its cover promising a father’s ultimate humiliation. Patti wears nothing but a smile as the hands of a muscular unseen man cup her bare breasts. (p 268) (humiliate her mother and father—and the whole world knows it.)

Patti Davis publicly states that her rebellion is Nancy’s fault, saying that her mother was physically and emotionally abusive, a chronic prescription drug user who slapped her daughter when she ate too much and even slapped her when she began menstruating at a very young age. (p269)

“I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.”(Ronald Reagan) (p274)

Nancy knows that her unswerving devotion to her husband made her a target of scorn in their White House days, and for that she makes no apologies. “I’m the one who knows him best, and I was the only person in the White House who had absolutely no agenda of her own—except helping him, “she stated in her autobiography.”

The Reagans’ good friend Jimmy Stewart once noted that if “Nancy had been Ron’s first wife instead of his second, he would have been a real star in Hollywood, with a couple Oscars to show for it.” (p 277)

From the day they met in 1949, she made it her mission to marry Ronald Reagan and then mold him into the man she thought he could be. She has endured years of scathing attacks, all because of her loyalty to her husband.

Even now, in the midst of what doctors are calling “continual neurological degradation”, Nancy protects the former president. No outsiders are allowed to see him, other than family. Right to the end, she is managing the legacy of Ronald Reagan, even as she struggles to imagine life without him. (P279)

Reagan’s funeral is the largest in America since that of President John F. Kennedy more than forty years ago. (p 281)

“Ronald Reagan’s life was rich not only in public achievement, but also in private happiness. Indeed, his public achievements were rooted in his private business.”

“The great turning point of his life was his meeting and marriage with Nancy. On that, we have the plain testimony of a loving and grateful husband. “Nancy came along and saved my soul.” (p 282)

“I know in my heart that man is good,” the inscription on Reagan’s tombstone reads, “that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.” (p283)

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '心之初' 的评论 : 谢谢心之初临帖阅读! 我不太懂政治，但现在Biden的领导下，美国情况太糟糕了，物价涨成这样子，下一届民主党肯定没戏了。再次感谢你的input,祝夏安!

[心之初]

"没有南希，就没有里根的荣耀和成功，是她成就了里根辉煌的一生。

我就喜歡里根說的：我希望你們都是共和黨人。假如美國現在的總統是施瓦辛格（可惜出生在奧地利）。世界會不會不一樣。普洗欺負老頭？

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '菲儿天地' 的评论 : 菲儿好! 菲儿博学强记，对美国历史了如指掌，我是知之甚少，读一本写一本，没有系统，连一些基本常识都缺乏的人。哪里可以担当起读书会的重任，年轻时书读得少，现在有点时间补读一些而已。谢谢菲儿临帖夸赞，周中快乐！

[菲儿天地]

回复 '秋水天长' 的评论 : +1

过来补课，拜读好文，暖冬是个非常认真的读书人，一直想让暖冬组织读书会呢！

我原来去过里根的博物馆，也写过他们两个的文。他们的故事挺感人的。

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '秋水天长' 的评论 : 秋水啊，谢谢你的留言和夸赞，你每次那么用心写，我能感受到你的诚意和善意。这篇读书报告没有什么评论的，就是把书内容分享一下。南希到老都很优雅，我们要学习的。
你们家后院的果树，春天一定抽出嫰绿的新枝，想必也是非常享心悦目的。享受这样的日子吧，很快又是夏天了。祝秋水春好！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 'Tigerlily66' 的评论 : Lily好! 谢谢Lily临帖夸赞，你们那里梨花才开放吗？ 我们这里都早早谢了，好好享受你们的春天，多拍些照片。今年火龙果枝条剪太多了，估计不会多。预祝Lily周末快乐！

[秋水天长]

暖冬的书评写的真好，提纲挈领，言简意赅，又具体化生活化，读起来津津有味，很受益。谢谢精彩分享，我要向南希学习，太多可取之处：）））
也喜欢花苞，喜欢嫩芽：）孕育着希望，欣欣向荣。小鸟好漂亮。

[Tigerlily66]

南希和里根的故事还真没仔细读过，谢谢暖冬的精彩介绍。鸟儿和花苞的照片拍得真好，种花种果都其乐融融，我今天研究了半天梨花：）祝暖冬的火龙果今年大丰收！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 'cxyz' 的评论 : 小C好! 这本书不厚，字体也大，才300页不到，读起来很轻松。笔记是后来读完了从头开始做的 也是为了写这篇读书报告。是的，小鸟的照片也是碰巧拍到，我们这边虽然四季不明 但是植物的生长还是有四季的。谢谢小C,新周快乐！

[cxyz]

佩服暖冬读大部头英文书籍，还做书摘。心静才可以啊。
小鸟真好看。也喜欢四季带给人的不同的感受和期待。

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '心中之城' 的评论 : 心城好! 我对历史政治了解的少，好像没有特别喜欢的总统。今天整理书架，发现自己还买了另一本里根回忆录，看来潜意识中还是有点喜欢的，抑或是里根的传记回忆录出版的比较多:) 历史上是不是肯尼迪夫人也很高雅端庄?
松鼠看来不止你我不喜欢，还有不少人也会说"不要跟我提松鼠":)，看来确实不招人待见。那天果子没有了，它还来，我还是赶走它了。我心态还不够好的。据说，松鼠不爱火龙果的，Let's see.谢谢心城阅读，新周快乐!

[心中之城]

暖冬书评好分享！里根也是我敬重的总统之一。南希的自信优雅也是无人可比的。暖冬是个知足常乐的人啊，难怪小松鼠们都想来你家后院蹭饭呢。。心态好最重要。期待暖冬家火龙果好收成！周末愉快！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '麦姐' 的评论 : 麦子好! 是的，不管外界曾经对南希有过什么负面报道，但是南希对里根的情和爱感动人的，里根一直也是很依赖她的。麦子说的是，一年又一年，四季在我眼里就是后院的瓜果，所以我都要记下来，它们长苞、开花、结果的日子。谢谢麦子，新周快乐！

[麦姐]

谢谢暖冬的精彩书评介绍里根夫妇，看来南希眼光很厉害，里根也不负她的期待。南希对患阿尔茨海默症的里根不离不弃，非常感人。小鸟真好看，火龙果有花苞了，然后开花结果，每年看到你写摘火龙果，我就会感慨一年又过去了。祝暖冬和家人节日快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '小声音' 的评论 : 小小好! 是的，男人的成功是因为背后有好女人:) 我好像没有去过里根图书馆，离得很远。这鸟好像叫house flinch,叫声也很清脆，种果树不被动物破坏看来很难，小鸟很聪明，会隔着网啄的。
希望今年火龙果不负我望，小小家一样要丰收。我的火龙果前一阵打掉很多枝条:)
小小周末快乐!

[小声音]

读着暖冬的书评，想起了一句话，每一个成功的男人背后都有一位伟大的女人！
曾去过几次里根图书馆，印象不深了，暖冬的博文又让我想了起来了，南希是真爱里根，她造就了里根，也成就了自己：））
暖冬小鸟pp抓拍的很棒，虽然隔着窗纱也很清晰，小鸟头上红色的羽毛，很漂亮！
我们家枇杷也吃完了，也是与小鸟共享，哈哈！
火龙果生长得很好，一定又是一个丰收年：））
暖冬周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 'xiaxi' 的评论:遐西好! 特意去酒后真言家找出下面这个贴，真言家的火龙果一次可以结五十多个，这才真正叫做wcx的一道风景，我去年总共也就十个左右，跟他的比起来小巫都算不上:)
https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myblog/74877/202108/10204.html
我也就这两年看了几本书，书读得不多，不过这年代不需要读太多书，知识信息处处有。遐西的地方离里根的图书馆近，一定比我一本书上了解的多很多。谢谢遐西的留言，周日快乐!

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '海风随意吹' 的评论 : 海风好! 你一定对美国历史比较了解，对总统也有比较，才这么说的，我就是根据这本书来写的，平时了解很少。谢谢海风，周日快乐!

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '边走边看66' 的评论 : 边边好! 这些都是那本书上说的，那时里根已经从电影转到电视上面了，应该是一见钟情了，所以讨好里根的两个小孩，有装温柔，再又称自己怀孕了，希望里根向她求婚，后来婚礼也很简单，也不抱怨。。。呵呵，应该是真爱，她最后也是熬出来了:) 边边周日快乐!

[xiaxi]

暖冬爱读书也认真读书，是我的榜样！
我也常在图书馆买旧书，以前很多旅游书籍都是在那里买的。
我家附近没什么名胜古迹，来了客人，还带到里根图书馆几次。
暖冬家的火龙果，是WXC里一道靓丽的风景！鸟吃枇杷抓拍的真棒！可惜这么好的枇杷让它给吃了。

[海风随意吹]

谢谢暖冬分享读书笔记。用今天的眼光来看，里根夫妇挺温和中庸的。

[边走边看66]

南希对里根是真爱啊， 还不知道她佯装怀孕，还对里根穷追不舍，能！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 'spot321' 的评论 : 点点好! 好久不见了，问候你! 谢谢你的点评，祝春好，周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '幑宁' 的评论 :徴宁好! 你这个第一个字不认识，用手机不太好copy,用手写结果出来的是这个字，不好意思，等我有空来查查。美国的旧书太便宜了，虽然有时候提醒自己不要再买了，家里没地方放，书又重，但还是有时候忍不住:) 旅游的书一样的，有些文字写得很好的。谢谢你的来访，周末快乐!

[spot321]

暖冬的书评让人如读书一般，好看！

[幑宁]

谢谢暖冬好书评！也去图书馆买过旧书，不过没你好学，都是有关旅游的：）。

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '美丽风景' 的评论 : 谢谢新朋友美丽风景临帖阅读夸赞，周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '觉晓' 的评论 : 觉晓好! 里根的任职是1981-1989,正逢中国改革开放，也是我们这代人刚刚步入青春年华，所以对他比较亲切。1984年他去复旦演讲，讲的真好，觉晓有空可以去网上找来听听。还好，没有把他的名字译成"李根":) 谢谢觉晓留言，周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '混迹花草中的灰蘑菇' 的评论 : 辉蘑菇好! 谢谢你的阅读，我这篇基本就是概括总结，没有加个人的评判，所以就是一个笔记。或许是生活太无聊了，所以在家上班的日子，后院的一草一木就更显得重要，它们的成长变化带给人喜悦和美好。谢谢辉蘑菇临帖，周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 'Once-always' 的评论 : Oncemm好! 这鸟枇杷很大胆，我推门了，它也不飞走。不过，显然我有点偏心，最后几颗就是剩下来给小鸟吃的，因为它吃再多也不像松鼠破坏力那么大:) 看来人同情弱者是一种本能:))
好久没读书了，写起文章来笔头也硬。我有时翻翻自己前面写的文章，发现文章是以前的写得好些，这篇能得到Oncemm的认可，也很高兴。南希确实是个推妻，整本书读下来感觉对她的评价是负面的更多些，也真难为她了，不过对里根这么好，善始善终，也很难得。谢谢Oncemm临帖阅读，周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '黑贝王妃' 的评论 : 王妃好! 是的，在里根南希这个个案中，还真是"成功男人背后都有一个了不起的女人的":)) 谢谢王妃临帖，周末快乐！

[美丽风景]

谢谢， 很好的文章！

[觉晓]

谢谢暖冬书评。记得小学时听得多电台里“里根”总统，总觉得这个中文译名很有趣，因为“根”是很中国普通人名字，我祖父那个年代。

[混迹花草中的灰蘑菇]

公众人物，总是有人说正说负的，但从常人角度看他们的夫妻关系，让人感动，谢谢暖冬分享。你对你家后院的观察真是棒，满满的是对生活的热爱

[Once-always]

一早醒来读到暖mm的新文好开心。第一张图抓拍得太好了，鸟赃俱在！唉，这鸟居然偷吃得那么威风凛凛，这都什么世道啊。：） 暖mm，你这篇介绍里根和南希的文章写得好，我也不是政治迷，平时也就在字里行间中依稀知道一些，这么详细地读到他们的故事还是第一次，谢谢暖mm的分享。南希绝对是位推妻啊，这种死心塌地真让人敬畏。：） 枇杷虽逝，但暖mm的火龙果结花苞了，我也有了新一轮的期盼。：）

[黑贝王妃]

依稀记得有刺杀里根的这么回事。是啊，每个成功得男士背后都有一个强大的女人，里根南希也不例外。

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '歲月沈香' 的评论 : 沈香好! 沈香谬赞，文学城才女真多，不过我算不上的。这些有关里根南希的，也就是现学现卖的。里根在美国历史上是个杰出的总统，为大众做了不少事。
看到沈香的新作了，现在太困了，明天再来细细拜读。周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '湘水北逝' 的评论 : 欢迎新朋友湘水! 你说的是，书中介绍的里根和南希确实很恩爱，两人的外貌也很相配，又都当过演员。南希的气度不凡，到老了有时候还穿一身红。他们在政治上更是合作默契。谢谢你的input，周末快乐!

[歲月沈香]

我也有在图书馆买旧书的习惯，有时候真能选到自己喜欢的书或画册：）

[歲月沈香]

赞大才女暖冬的文学功底深厚，尽管知道不少有关里根和南希的故事，但读着暖冬的文字依然津津有味，里根在美国历史上还算是一位了不起的总统。鸟儿吃枇杷的照片抓拍得很好！暖冬复活节快乐！

[湘水北逝]

喜欢里根总统夫妇，作为领导民主自由战胜共产主义的伟大领导人之外，还是体现传统西方文化中的人格魅力优雅风度的最后一对夫妻兼情侣，特别是保持到生命的最后阶段

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '无法弄' 的评论 : 弄弄好! 是的，第一张小鸟造型啊，构图本来都不错，可惜有点背光，你看它嘴角残留的枇杷，这鸟很喜欢吃枇杷，树顶上的那几颗都是它/还有雌鸟吃的。
我记得里根1984年在复旦大学演讲过，口才真好，我相信是这么长的稿子他是背下来的，当时看录像时还惊讶他的口才，读了这本书知道了他原来记性很好，演讲稿都是背下来的。你说的老大姐这么逗，不过，八十年代的中国刚刚开放，也难怪她这么激动。我对八十年代的美国和英国情况知道不多，谢谢弄弄的input,你对英国的情况很了解的，谢谢补充。周末快乐！

[无法弄]

小鸟好看！记得里根访问中国时，我们单位的老大姐，当时30多岁，平时说话刻薄，那时激动得说了不少不体面的话。我是我们那比较开明开放的人，但听不下这么低级的笑话。年轻的里根真精神，里根时代美国也很强劲，和英国的合作也是遥相呼应，只是英国当时国内问题严峻，撒切尔夫人处理得不好。

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '老朽' 的评论 : 朽爷好! 书中有提到里根年轻时不管不顾小孩的，把小孩往那种boarding school一扔，平时互动也很少，也就是说，子女和父母的感情都不深，所以这样的家庭出叛逆的子女不奇怪了。谢谢朽爷的补充，by the way,这里的英文都是书摘，不是我写的。我要是能写出这样的，也可以出版了:)) 谢谢朽爷的大驾光临，周末快乐！

[老朽]

你的英文真好，里根的儿子也反叛，加入民主党阵营。

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '寒一凡' 的评论 : 一凡好! 谢谢你的"彼此成全，相伴一生"，南希可能有这样那样的缺点，但是对里根的爱是发自内心，自始至终。一凡春好，周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '大号蚂蚁' 的评论 : 谢谢大号蚂蚁uinput,难怪里根的葬礼是继JF肯尼迪后40年最大的葬礼，近四千人参加了他的葬礼。再次谢谢你的留言，周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '杜鹃盛开' 的评论 : 杜鹃好! 是的，这些25美分的书有些是很好的书，我现在是怕东西越堆越多，不敢买，想想自己当年读书时，哪有这么好的条件。这世界资源缺乏的地方哪里有这么好的条件和资源啊。这篇后面的英文是抄摘的，不是我写的。谢谢杜鹃，周末快乐！

[寒一凡]

津津有味地读完了暖冬的书评。里根和南希他俩是幸运的，彼此成全，有爱情相伴一生，这便胜却人间无数了。暖冬复活节快乐！

[大号蚂蚁]

里根是林肯以后最伟大的总统

[杜鹃盛开]

谢谢暖冬分享里根和南希的故事，话说我也特喜欢买图书馆的25分钱的书，很多精装的：）佩服暖冬坚持英文写作！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '燕麦禾儿' 的评论 : 呵呵，里根遇见南希都四十岁了，江山易改本性难移，土豆成不了金豆豆:) 祝燕儿春好!

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '南山松' 的评论 : 松松好! 是的，我也是从这本书上了解很多历史，人和事。读书比较有成就感，读完了写一写，自己加深印象，还可以与大家分享，如松松自己近期写的海明威作品。日子好快啊，转眼火龙果又要开花了，又是一年! 谢谢松松临帖，周末快乐!

[燕麦禾儿]

回复 '暖冬cool夏' 的评论 : 哈，谢谢暖儿赞同。

如果里根是土豆，土豆就是土豆，无论南希怎么改造，也成不了总统滴。：）

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '主流媒体' 的评论 : 主流媒体好! 好久不见了，问候你! 看你最近开始重新写文了，好着呢! 你静不下心来读书，因为家中还有儿子，你还只有一半空巢，等你彻底空巢了，就会有心情，就会有更多的时间。
有院子的房子好，可以种点东西，有点地更像一个家。现在的新房越来越挤，院子越来越小，还没有阳光。享受这样有院子的住宅吧，可以坐着吹吹风，晒晒太阳，还有鸟语花香，偶尔来点瓜果飘香呢:) 祝主流媒体周末快乐！

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '燕麦禾儿' 的评论 : 燕儿好! 谢谢燕儿的鼓励和分享! 你还真说对了，一个女人爱一个男人或许从崇拜开始，南希对里根的欣赏和期待可能比里根本人对自己的都要高。里根的第一次婚姻对里根打击还是蛮大的，他原本还想等前妻回心转意的，不料前妻已经有人了，故此开始放纵自己。
南希不会享受一个只会种土豆的男人，这点是肯定的。里根的妈妈说这话不奇怪了，天下父母都差不多，东方的，西方的。。。
谢谢燕儿的来访，你的留言有深度的。周末快乐!

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '7grizzly' 的评论 : Hi, my friend. Originally I was about to write one more paragraph to conclude that no matter how glorified a life like president may seem, men are equal in front of death. The last decade's life of Reagan, who was plagued by Alzheimer's disease, was pitifully hard, coinciding with what the poem says here. Their family lives were not enviable, for sure. Did you see in the middle of my snippets that Nancy even slapped her daughter? Then no wonder the daughter was so rebellious.
Thanks for the poem. I love that. And thank you for your thoughtful comments. Have a great weekend!

[南山松]

谢谢暖暖的精彩书评，让我对里根、撒切尔夫人和南希都有了一定的了解。
片片也拍得好，到时候就又有火龙果了：）

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 'BeijingGirl1' 的评论 : 京妞好! 小鸟应该不会吃火龙果，松鼠好像看网上说也不会吃，老鼠已经证实不会吃，它怕火龙果身上的刺，所以，我的担心会少很多。不过，红肉的火龙果每次开花要人工授粉，还得求人:)) 种点东西不容易。谢谢京妞惦记，周末快乐！

[主流媒体]

暖冬好静心，我很久以前就沉不下心来看书了，叹气。

院子是个好地方，我家太太有事没事都会每天走过去看几次，我也爱看，有时也动动手，毕竟我是农十几代。那是个观察生命，领悟生命的地方。：-）

[燕麦禾儿]

暖儿，书评写得真好！我读得津津有味。我感觉，与其说是南希改造了里根，不如说是南希的崇拜欣赏让里根获得了自信，看到了自己的潜力。：）男人是特别需要女人欣赏夸赞的。：）

里根的母亲说:"我为有一个总统的儿子骄傲,同样也为有个种土豆的儿子骄傲。”
妻子和母亲，可真是不一样。：）南希会欣赏一个只会种土豆的里根吗？：）

[7grizzly]

Nancy married Ronald Reagan to mold him? I thought it was a big no-no trying to
change one's better half. The two must have been made for each other. Thanks for
sharing the interesting snippets from the book.

Their (and Thatcher's) final years reminded me of these lines:

No memory of having starred,
Atones for later disregard,
Or prevent the end from being hard.

They might have fallen too much in love with office and success and neglected their
children. Their family lives were not enviable.

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 'ID的D主' 的评论 : 大地主好! 也要给你上茶呢，你是我文城里认识的第一个把我旧文翻出来读的人，好男人啊:)) 说真的，你这么勤快，这么有才，会唱歌会写文，妥妥的一枚好男人! 是你夫人的功劳吗:)) 开个玩笑。
南希真是一个推妇(从推妈引申过来)，她看到别人没有看到的里根的一面，发现他的潜质，成就了里根的一生，读完还是感慨的。所以丈夫不行只能怪自己啦:)) 谢谢大地主临帖，周末农场劳动愉快!

[暖冬cool夏]

回复 '亮亮妈妈' 的评论 : 给亮妈上茶，家里就是茶叶多! 是的，读书其实比读杂志有意思，这本书写得好，读起来轻松，又有收获。小鸟抓拍得不够清楚，相机不行，光线也不够好，否则第一张再清楚些该多好啊。现在枇杷没了，小鸟也不来了。亮妈周末快乐，春天快乐!

[BeijingGirl1]

暖冬好书评。 照片排得好。 希望小鸟和松鼠不会再吃火龙果了， 那个颜色最好能吓退它们。

[ID的D主]

巧得很，刚刚看完暖冬几年前的博文《好男人都去哪儿了？》（https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myblog/70796/201908/11967.html）正准备留言呢，转眼就看见这篇新博文了。那么就留在这里吧。

好男人都去哪儿了？不止一次听到大龄姑娘问起。

好男人是女人教出来的！女人是男人的学校，男人通过女人成长、成熟。学校好，学生就好。里根就是绝好的例子。

[亮亮妈妈]

谢谢暖冬介绍里根和南希。知道很多以前不知道的故事。小鸟和火龙果都拍得漂亮。祝周末快乐。

[亮亮妈妈]

沙发！