Conservative Student News

Although several horses are still kept at Rancho Del Cielo, the burro, Wendy, is the only animal original to the Ranch. Wendy’s pasture is enclosed by a long wooden fence that Reagan built.

My early childhood memories are few and far between, but the ones I do have are clear and meaningful. One such memory is of an event that occurred when I was four years old – I remember running down the rows of a strawberry patch on a warm summer afternoon waving an orange row-marker flag and yelling, “President Reagan, President Reagan!” as loudly as my little lungs could manage. I felt certain that my demonstration would convince all of the other berry-pickers to re-elect Reagan for President that fall.

Although this might seem like a trivial event to an observer, it was momentous to me. From a very early age I had a strong, almost instinctual love for former President Ronald Reagan. Thus, I was elated when I had a chance to visit Reagan’s ranch, in Santa Barbara, CA during March.

The Young America’s Foundation (YAF), the principle outreach organization of the Conservative Movement, introduces thousands of students to the conservative principles of Ronald Reagan and intellectual leaders who influenced the former President by hosting seminars, conferences and speakers throughout the U.S. each year.

Most recently, I was lucky enough to be invited by YAF to join a group of about 20 student leaders for a weekend at the Reagan Ranch, which YAF has preserved as a living monument to the President since 1998.

This particular seminar focused on the thought of the late Dr. Russell Kirk, a historical, conservative social philosopher and critic and acclaimed author who had a profound impact on the political thought and policy of Ronald Reagan. Before heading up to the Ranch, I had a chance to listen to many powerful speakers, including Kirk’s wife, Annette Kirk, and several Reagan and Kirk scholars and biographers.

Russell Kirk, who based much of his work on the thought Burke and T.S. Elliot, is best known for his book, The Conservative Mind. Kirk was a founder of modern conservative thought, largely due to the publishing of this book, which made conservative principles like individual freedom, free enterprise, a traditional value system and a strong national defense, credible and applicable to the general public. Kirk referred to these foundational moral and social principles as “permanent things.”

It was Kirk who gave the Conservative Movement in the U.S. its very name – had it not been for his influence, the Movement would have been known as “Individualism.” Kirk was revolutionary because he helped explain to the ordinary man how conservatism is not an ideology; rather it is more of a general frame of mind.

Kirk thought that it was culturally debilitating to rely on government for the answers to all of society’s problems. He adhered to “localist” principles, thinking that small and local organizations, churches, schools and businesses were the ones that shaped society rather than big government. Kirk recognized that conservative men and women must take active roles in society if they were to insure the longevity of the conservative principles and values that made America great.

Ronald Reagan was very familiar with Kirk’s writings and held similar beliefs which in turn influenced his political leadership. As a political leader, Reagan believed that he had the duty to ensure that basic moral and social principles stayed intact in society and provided a foundation from which all important decisions should be made. Like Kirk, he recognized that these principles, or “permanent things,” have endured in all lasting civilizations throughout history and are also necessary for the longevity of America.

According Dr. Lee Edwards, author of the first political biography on Ronald Reagan, the President not only adopted public policy based on these foundational moral and social principles, but also lived them in his day-to-day life, particularly the virtues of courage, prudence, justice and wisdom.

Armed with this new knowledge, on the second day of the seminar I joined the rest of the group to spend the day at Reagan’s adored “Rancho del Cielo” (Ranch in the Sky) located at the very top of one of the mountains in Santa Barbara.

The President and his wife, Nancy, owned the ranch for over 25 years; Reagan even spent nearly a full year of one of his presidential terms at the Ranch. It truly became the “Second White House,” and it was the place where the President made some of his important decisions and hosted famous guests from around the world including Queen Elizabeth, Mikhail Gorbachev, Colin Powell, Brian Mulroney and Margaret Thatcher.

Once at the Ranch, I was truly amazed with what I saw. The ranch house itself is very small, with only one small bedroom. The interior design is simple and natural, decorated with Mexican blankets and paintings of horses.

Inside the house, it feels as though the President has just stepped out and will be returning at any time to great his visitors. The bed was made by Nancy Reagan herself, who directed and oversaw the layout of the entire house before it was opened for private tours. The house sits at the edge of “Lucky Lake,” a tiny lake Reagan made himself and the place where he re-proposed to Nancy, parasol in hand, in a small canoe.

The attraction of the Ranch for the Reagans was clearly the beautiful, rolling hills where Nancy and Ronald would ride their horses every morning. Although it is perpetually winding, there is an ethereal peace and calm about the location; from the President’s land one can catch a breathtaking panoramic view of the ocean and coastline or walk for hours along the wooded paths the President made himself.

After visiting the Ranch, and hearing countless Reagan stories and traditions, I felt an even deeper appreciation for the former President. Reagan had a great love of nature and gained pleasure from simple things like building a fire, eating his favorite meal with Nancy, macaroni and cheese, or building the long wooden fence that encloses the horse pasture and the dock on Lucky Lake.

The President and Nancy began each day by riding their horses after breakfast. At the end of every ride, it was tradition for the President to help Nancy off of her horse and then give her a kiss. Each morning during his Presidency, Reagan would also sit at his kitchen table and faithfully do his “Washington Homework” where he would write letters, read the newspaper and make important policy decisions. The President may also have been a bit of a “neat freak” – his garage tools were meticulously organized and categorized. His garage also contained his vast collection of saddles from around the world, most of which he had received as gifts.

Overall, the Ranch gave me a sense for the genuine personality of this great leader who embraced a strong work ethic and high moral standards and possessed a deep love for his family and America.

Students who are native to California or planning a trip to this sunny state should consider paying a visit to YAF’s headquarters in Santa Barbara. YAF hosts seminars and trips to Reagan Ranch for students throughout the year. For the true Reagan enthusiast, YAF even offers student internships at the Reagan Ranch Center. For more information on these opportunities, or to learn more about YAF, students can log onto www.yaf.org.

The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal is also a wonderful resource for conservative students interested in learning more about Russell Kirk or his influence on President Reagan. The Center’s website is: www.kirkcenter.org.