Patti Davis, the Daughter of Ronald Reagan, Says Her Father Would Be Appalled by Today’s Politics

WELKER: “I wonder if you could reflect on today’s politics. You write this beautiful account of Tip O’Neill visiting your father, his hospital bed, and how different our politics feel today, the inability to reach across the aisle, and frankly, to form those types of bonds where you can debate vigorously in Washington, but be there for each other on a very personal level. What do you think your father would say about our current state of politics?”
DAVIS: “I think he would be so — I think he’d be appalled, really, you know? And yeah, they used to have martinis together, two, you know, old Irish guys, like, sharing a drink after. You know, it was like two lawyers battling it out in court, and then going and having a drink together, you know? It was just more civilized. And he didn’t understand lack of civility. He didn’t understand attacking another person. I mean, he could be, you know, pretty pointed in what he would say about someone else, but he didn’t understand cruelty. And that’s what we’re dealing with now. And I think he wouldn’t understand that. I think he would be really scared for our democracy. I don’t know who — I think he would address people more than any candidates, you know? I think he would address the American people at what has divided us. And, I mean, in my own opinion and, I don’t know, I think this probably is how he would think, is our divisions really started because we’re all so scared. There is so much fear around whether we’re going to get shot in a mass shooting, or our children are, or, you know, if you walk into a store, is there going to be — or a church, wherever, you know? We’re scared. And fear morphs into anger. It just does. It’s not sustainable. We don’t want to be afraid. We don’t mind so much being angry. And, you know, there are people on the public stage and on the political front who understand very well that synergy between fear and anger, and who are masterful at exploiting it.”