Reagan, who died 20 years ago on Wednesday, relied not only on his affable and congenial spirit to achieve his presidential agenda but on a willingness to build compromise into the formula. The combination created a recipe not only for popularity among the American public but for a lasting legacy of presidential productivity.

This Saturday, NewsNation will air the 90-minute documentary film “Reagan: Portrait of a Presidency” about the life and legacy of President Ronald Reagan, narrated by actor Dean Cain. The documentary film will air from 9-10:30 p.m. ET (8-9:30 p.m. CT), followed by “Reagan: The Post Show,” with NewsNation senior political contributor George Will and chief Washington anchor Leland Vittert from 10:30-11 p.m. ET (9:30-10 p.m. CT). To find NewsNation on your screen, go to JoinNNN.com. 

Unlike today’s Washington, where animosity and divisiveness are the rules rather than the exceptions, Reagan’s presidency is viewed as one that saw past party loyalties to work toward the betterment of the greater good rather than for the advancement of partisan politics.

Talmage Boston, a historian, attorney, and the author of “How The Best Did It: Leadership Lessons From Our Top Presidents,” said that Reagan’s pitch across the political aisle was received favorably because of his reputation of acting like a gentleman.

That was not only true among Republicans, but also with Democrats like his chief rival, former U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill based on Reagan’s understanding that to get things done, he had to appeal as much to Democrats as much as he did to Republicans.

“The (political) atmosphere was just so conducive because of his leadership toward people working together as opposed to people wanting to do battle every single day,” Boston told NewsNation.

Ronald Reagan’s flexibility

A portion of Reagan’s appeal to his political opponents was borne out of compassion, Boston said.

Reagan had only been in office two months when he was shot by John Hinkley, Jr., who attempted to assassinate the president outside of Washington’s Hilton Hotel on March 30, 1981.

Civility led politicians from the country’s two major political parties to extend an outpouring of sympathy and concern toward Reagan. He recovered quickly, and the groundwork that he had laid through his gentle, but tough nature and a willingness to be flexible continued to serve him well during the remainder of his two-term presidency, Boston said.