Just got done reading "In The President's Secret Service" by Ronald Kessler. While it borders on the trashy side of the presidency (the affairs of JFK and LBJ, the ego of Carter, the oddities of Nixon), the part that struck me most was about Ronald Reagan.
Now, I'm a child of the 80s, so Reagan was the first president I can consciously remember. Or maybe there are whisps of Carter stuck in my grey matter, but really, my primacy with a president was Reagan. Specifically, when Reagan was shot.
From Reagan's own mouth and from the memories of his Secret Service agents, I learned some interesting things about the day of the shooting. If you're interested, grab yourself a copy of the book-I think you'll like it.
But, how does this relate to health care? Well, one of Reagan's only memories once he was in the hospital was a hand holding his. He knew the hand was female. He knew the hand was soft and feminine. Yet, more than anything, he took comfort from the hand. Was it a nurse? Maybe. Was it Nancy, his wife? Later, yes, but initially, it was a nurse...someone who knew that in moments of terror and pain and confusion, simply touching another person can help them feel more comfort and secure. Who'd have thought that nearly 30 years after the shooting, we could still learn something like this? Guess that's all the more reason Reagan was the great communicator.
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