I was at a gathering today in honor of President Ronald Reagan’s 105th birthday and the guest speaker noted that one of Reagan’s attributes as a leader was that he simply loved… hence, he was beloved by peoples across all walks of life and political spectrum… 

...it reminded me of a piece that I wrote recently which was not published given the editor thought it was more of an essay than a current affairs column… but the comment tonight about Reagan, leadership, and love resonated with me… so here is part of my essay that was not published in relation to leadership and “love”…

… If words are to set leaders apart, then nothing beats “love.”  That’s what a leader freely utters when speaking about his or her nation.  

Love stands for the most powerful force as it is the foundation for the desire to do the right thing (just and equitable) given as mere mortals leaders face difficult challenges and choices.

A successful American leadership need not be a clever accountant, a savvy lawyer, a politically-correct politician, or trained in the military.  Although ideal and admirable skills, they are not the necessary tools to lead.  An American leader, however, should exhume love and admiration for his or her country – a passion that may not be ignored!
Regarding love of country, a Founding Father Samuel Adams said “If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”

… it should be noted that in modern times if a leader like President Reagan’s special attribute was love, one may note ancient Greek historian Xenophon’s biography of the 6th c. BCE Persian king Cyrus the Great where the great king says, “it is love that must bind all of us together.” 

… so on his birthday today, as an Iranian-American, I will never forget President Reagan’s views on the demise of Iran at the hands of the Carter Administration linked here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aywPCFwBY_o 

[pic source linkedin:  for educational purposes only]