Ronald Reagan: the pragmatist

The tipoff that Gov. Ronald Reagan had a streak of pragmatism in him came soon after his inaugural speech on Jan. 2, 1967, in which he promised to "squeeze, cut and trim" the cost of state government to close a significant budget gap. Two days later, however, he told aides that all the cutting and trimming in the world might not suffice. A tax increase could be necessary, Reagan said, and, if so, he didn't want to wait "until everyone forgets that we did not cause the problem -- we only inherited it."

By Lou Cannon

June 15, 2008