Word: reagan
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Dates: during 1980-1980
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...Reagan's father (Jack) observed to Mr. Reagan's mother (Nelle) and brother (Moon) that baby Ronald looked like "a fat Dutchman." Mr. Reagan readily took to his nickname because he felt that Ronald was "a bit on the sissy side." So, should we call him Dutch? Dutch and Mommie? Granted, this is not the sort of problem that has the country's big thinkers in a tizzy, but perhaps nicknames count for more than they appear to. Harry Truman was lucky enough to have his given name sound like a nickname, so as President...
...known as "Good Old Smitty" to his white supporters, if not to blacks or to Mrs. Smith. Thailand's former Prime Minister Kriangsak Chamanan was called "Sweet Eyes." Such definite nicknames are useful not only to normal citizens but to journalists as well. In the matter of Mr. Reagan it will be considerably easier for, say, a pleased New York Post to write its 3-in. headlines: BONNIE RONNIE, or DUTCH TREAT, rather than resorting to a characteristic, though imprecise, YAY. There is, of course, a kind of nickname that does not stem from a desire for familiarity. Sobriquet...
Unfortunately, none of this offers much of a guide toward what to call soon-to-be President Reagan. Neither does America's own history, which is packed with presidential sobriquets equally various and baffling. George Washington was known not only as the Father of His Country, but also as the Stepfather of His Country and the Father of Pittsburgh. At least four U.S. Presidents were known as "His Accidency" (Tyler, Fillmore, Arthur and Andrew Johnson). That name, while suggestive, is still a cut above "His Fraudulency" (Rutherford B. Hayes). Mar tin Van Buren was alternately called "Whiskey Van," because...
...good many former Presidents were known as "The" some thing- "The Napoleon of the Stump" (Polk); "The Sage of Wheatland" (Buchanan); "The Squire of Hyde Park." Perhaps Mr. Reagan will come to be known as "The Squire of Rancho del Cielo," or "The Gipper," in reference to his second most memorable movie role, or in reference to the first, "The Rest of Me." New York Builder Donald Trump is called "The Donald" by Mrs. Trump, so we might call Mr. Reagan "The Ronald." It is too early to tell...
...dwindled in our century, from "The Hero of San Juan Hill," who sported 17, to "Tricky Dick," who needed but one. Either we are growing less fond of our leaders, or they are growing further away from us. In any case, it will be a healthy sign for Mr Reagan should the public start calling him Ronnie or even Sweet Eyes. TIME'S congressional correspondent Neil MacNeil recalls that when Mike DiSalle, then mayor of Toledo, escorted ex-King Michael of Yugoslavia in an open-car parade, the citizens called out to the mayor, "Hey, Mike" and "Mike" this...