Remembering President Reagan’s visit to Idaho and his ‘crusade’ to end Soviet Communism highlighted in new film

IDAHO FALLS — Air Force One landed connected nan tarmac astatine what is now Magic Valley Regional Airport successful Twin Falls.

It was Friday, Oct. 31, 1986. President Ronald Reagan was present to be a run rally for U.S. Senator Steve Symms astatine nan College of Southern Idaho.

He and Symms, who passed distant earlier this month astatine property 86, arrived astatine nan Eldon Evans Expo Center successful a mule-drawn wagon to an enthusiastic crowd that was chanting “Reagan! Reagan! Reagan!”

The 48-year-old Republican legislator from Nampa had unseated four-term Democrat Frank Church successful a adjacent title six years earlier, nan Associated Press reports. He was now seeking re-election for a 2nd term.

Following immoderate little remarks and an preamble from Symms, Reagan walked up to nan pulpit to reside nan crowd.

“I’ve travel present coming successful support of a champion connected nan squad that put nan American system backmost connected track, rebuilt her subject spot and restored her confidence. He’s made a quality for Idaho and our country, and I dream that you’ll do everything successful your powerfulness to spot that Steve Symms is re-elected to nan United States Senate,” Reagan told a cheering crowd.

Symms went connected to win 51% of nan ballot against his Democratic opponent, John Evans, who was serving arsenic Idaho’s politician astatine nan time.

RELATED | How a Malad banker became nan 2nd Latter-day Saint Democrat to service arsenic Idaho’s governor

Aside from a travel to Boise nan twelvemonth before, this seems to beryllium President Reagan’s only sojourn to nan Gem State during his clip successful office. America’s 40th president had earned 72% of nan ballot successful Idaho during nan wide predetermination 2 years earlier. He’d won a landslide re-election bid nationwide, carrying 49 states and 58% of nan celebrated vote, according to voting records.

RELATED | Presidents who person visited Idaho, and what you whitethorn not cognize astir America’s erstwhile leaders

For Reagan, nan item of nan 1986 travel to Idaho had thing to do pinch nan rally. A White House diary entry posted connected nan Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum website shows that what Reagan enjoyed astir was a sojourn pinch a group of workplace owners.

“A good to do workplace family … said up and challenged nan continued workplace subsidies and (felt) that farming should get backmost successful nan marketplace spot and disconnected nan national manus out,” Reagan wrote.

Poster for caller “Reagan” movie starring Dennis Quaid. | Courtesy photo

New biopic astir Reagan portrays his popularity

Thirty-five years aft leaving office, Reagan is remembered arsenic 1 of nan astir celebrated presidents. A caller movie astir his life is coming to theaters this week. “Reagan,” directed by Sean McNamara and starring Dennis Quaid successful nan title role, hits theaters August 30.

The movie was 14 years successful nan making and is told from nan position of a KGB supplier who kept tabs connected Reagan passim his profession successful Hollywood and politics. It’s based connected Paul Kengor’s 2007 book, “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and nan Fall of Communism.”

Kengor could not beryllium reached for comment, but in a caller interview from Grove City College — a backstage wide arts schoolhouse successful occidental Pennsylvania wherever he teaches governmental subject — Kengor says he served arsenic an advisor to nan filmmakers.

Jonas McCord and Howard Klausner wrote nan script, which Kengor says intimately follows his book. He attended nan Hollywood premiere past week and he’s thrilled pinch what he saw.

“The full point is truthful good. It’s an fantabulous film,” Kengor said.

Kengor’s book originates astatine Rock River successful Dixon, Illinois, wherever Reagan worked arsenic a lifeguard for 7 summers and saved 77 group from drowning. These experiences “instilled successful nan young man a basal respect for nan dignity and sanctity of quality life,” Kengor wrote.

It besides instilled beardown assurance successful Reagan, a value Kengor says he carried pinch him nan remainder of his life that served him good arsenic president years later.

Additionally, Kengor explains Reagan had a heavy condemnation that God had a scheme for his life.

These qualities led him to “predict and judge that he could extremity nan Cold War.” His decree to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall” was nan culmination of what Reagan said was a “crusade for freedom” that was God’s scheme for America.

“Ronald Reagan believed America was chosen by God to face nan Soviet Communist empire and prevail. As nan leader of nan United States astatine a typical infinitesimal successful time, he sensed that God had ordained specified a domiciled upon, arsenic he put it, his ‘team,'” Kengor writes.

Noting his accomplishments and nan spot he exuded connected nan world stage, it’s nary wonder, Kengor writes, that pundits referred to Reagan arsenic nan “‘Teflon president’ because, for illustration a Teflon frying pan, thing unseemly appeared to instrumentality to him.”

“I’m amazed astatine this Teflon Presidency,” erstwhile CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite erstwhile said, which Kengor notes successful his book. “Reagan is moreover much celebrated than (Franklin) Roosevelt, and I ne'er thought I’d spot anyone that well-liked … Nobody hates Reagan. It’s amazing.”

“Reagan” was primitively slated for merchandise successful 2021. After years of delays, Kengor is gladsome group are yet capable to spot it.

He says it’s a movie pinch wide appeal, but is peculiarly important for young group “who person nary first-hand representation of Reagan aliases nan Cold War that defined half of nan 20th century.”

“Ronald Reagan was truthful profoundly impacted by his childhood, teen, and assemblage years successful ways that intelligibly affected what he did arsenic president of nan United States successful nan 1980s,” Kengor told Grove City College.

A segment from “Reagan,” successful which America’s 40th president, played by Dennis Quaid, is seen riding his equine astatine his ranch, Rancho del Cielo. | Courtesy Rob Batzdorff