Author of books that inspired the movie ‘Reagan’ sees important comparisons between 2024 and 1980

EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Paul Kengor, author of the two books that served as inspiration for the movie ‘Reagan’ sees similarities between the impending confrontation between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris and the 1980 presidential election.

Kengor, professor of political science at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, published his book ‘God and Ronald Reaganin 2004, which explored the former president’s walk of faith. It was a hit and quickly caught the attention of filmmaker Mark Joseph, who told Kengor that he had been “waiting” for a book like this because no one had seen that side of Reagan’s story, he still asked Kengor if anyone had the film rights to the book, and the rest is history.

When the two started talking, they decided to focus the film on another book by Kengor, “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism,” which was released in 2006 and focused on Reagan’s efforts to stem communist expansion in prevent the world. . “Reagan,” starring Dennis Quaid and Jon Voight, hit theaters in August and has grossed about $30 million, while receiving poor reviews from most critics.

The word “inflation” has been uttered more often by the 2024 candidates than “communism.” Kengor admits that times are “very different,” but the author still sees important similarities between the 2024 presidential elections and 1980, when Reagan defeated incumbent President Jimmy Carter in a landslide.

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Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office. (Noah “Nanea” Hamilton/Rawhide Photos)

The slogans, for example.

While “Make America great againis now firmly associated with Trump and his MAGA hat-wearing supporters, Kengor reminded readers that the phrase actually began with President Reagan.

“Interestingly, in 1980, when Reagan was running against Jimmy Carter, he used a very similar message to Donald Trump’s, which was, ‘Are you better off now than you were four years ago?’” Kengor said. Fox News digital. “And you know, that was a Trump theme and also Trump’s phrase: ‘Make America Great Again.’ That was Reagan’s message. That was Reagan’s 1980 campaign message.”

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Kengor said he gave himself a refresher on the 1980 election by rereading “The Crusader.”

“I think part two of the book or part three is called Make America Great Again. And I saw that, and I thought, I bet some people are going to read that now and think this is some sort of Trump-esque thing. But you know, it was Reagan. It was Reagan first.”

Make America Great Again hats. (Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images)

Kengor searched his desk of old memories, trying to find some old “Make America Great Again” campaign buttons.

“But I have a button on my desk that says it has a photo of Reagan 1980 and it says ‘Make America Great Again.’ Trump didn’t steal that from Reagan. Trump used it in 2016 as a Reaganesque phrase, and then it caught on. And eventually it ended up on the red hat and became Trump’s line.

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Reagan was known for his strong conservative principles. And while the Gipper was the leader of a now-bygone era, Kengor said his principles are still very much part of the current Republican platform, insisting Trump checks the boxes.

“I wrote a book called ’11 Principles of a Reagan Conservative,’ which is co-published with the Young America’s Foundation and the Reagan Ranch Center,” he said. “And it sort of lists 11 key Reagan areas: faith, freedom, family, sanctity, dignity of human life, limited government, lower taxes, peace through strength, anti-communism.”

Washington: President Reagan joins Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger (R) and others as they laugh at a comment by Vice President George Bush (L), ahead of a Cabinet meeting. (Getty)

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“Trump can check off virtually all 11 of Reagan’s principles or ideas,” Kengor continued. “So even though times are very different, conservatism believes that conservatism is based on proven ideas and principles. So no matter where you are in any given time or campaign, those principles should be shared by conservatives as they “We really are conservatives, so the ideas of Reagan’s era should be carried over to conservatives in 2024 and beyond.”