--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reagan was an exceedingly likeable guy…" description: "\"Reagan was an exceedingly likeable guy, just a heck of a nice fellow, despite his politics. He was funny and loved a good joke, the dirtier, I'm afraid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/walter-cronkite-1759_charisma_reagan-was-an-exceedingly-likeable-guy-j_3225236.jpg" --- # Reagan was an exceedingly likeable guy, just a heck of a… ![“Reagan was an exceedingly likeable guy, just a heck of a nice fellow, despite his politics. He was funny and loved a good joke, the dirtier, I'm afraid the more ethnic, the better. I don't think he brought very much to the presidency, except charisma and success.” quote by Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/walter-cronkite-1759_charisma_reagan-was-an-exceedingly-likeable-guy-j_3225236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/walter-cronkite-1759_charisma_reagan-was-an-exceedingly-likeable-guy-j_3225236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/walter-cronkite-1759_charisma_reagan-was-an-exceedingly-likeable-guy-j_3225236.jpg) > “Reagan was an exceedingly likeable guy, just a heck of a nice fellow, despite his politics. He was funny and loved a good joke, the dirtier, I'm afraid the more ethnic, the better. I don't think he brought very much to the presidency, except charisma and success.” [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote praises Reagan’s personal charm and humor while questioning his substantive impact as president. **In simple terms:** Reagan was likable but not very effective as a leader. Key Takeaway Value charisma but seek competence. Themes leadership charisma politics evaluation Mood critical analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - campaign speeches - media interviews - historical analysis Key Concepts political effectiveness personal appeal public perception Questions to Reflect On - What qualities matter most in a leader? - How do personal traits affect public perception? A Different Perspective Charisma alone cannot compensate for lack of policy achievements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brought Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brought-presidency-6079068/) [Charisma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charisma/) [Despite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite/) [Fellows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellows/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Likeable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likeable/) [Likeable Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likeable-guy-4203034/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [Presidency Charisma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency-charisma-6079067/) [Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reagan/) [Reagan Exceedingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reagan-exceedingly-6079066/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [Ted Cruz is a nice guy, a likeable guy. He's not crazy. He's not nasty. And he certainly is not - he's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/ted-cruz-is-a-nice-guy-a-likeable-guy-he-s-not-crazy-he-s-not-nasty/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I'm a likeable guy in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/i-m-a-likeable-guy-in-a-lot-of-ways/) [Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/) > [Outside the ring, I'm not a mean guy. I'm a likeable guy. I'm reachable, to my people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervonta-davis/outside-the-ring-i-m-not-a-mean-guy-i-m-a-likeable-guy-i-m-reachable/) [Gervonta Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervonta-davis/) > [Theresa Rebeck's writing is so scarily funny. I just love how unapologetic she is with her writing: she doesn't try to make her characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-rabe/theresa-rebeck-s-writing-is-so-scarily-funny-i-just-love-how/) [Lily Rabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-rabe/) > [You have to have faith that if you want people to like your brand, you have to do likeable things. There has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-chapman/you-have-to-have-faith-that-if-you-want-people-to-like-your-brand-you/) [Jeff Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-chapman/) > [The Postman Always Rings Twice that's a book that I think every writer should read - that has to do with technique. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/the-postman-always-rings-twice-that-s-a-book-that-i-think-every/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [The vegan diet is obviously lacking whatever essential nutrient it is that makes people likeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/the-vegan-diet-is-obviously-lacking-whatever-essential-nutrient-it-is/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) > [I was supposed to be authoritative, but at the same time had to be likeable, a quality that is a bonus, not a requirement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-dee-myers/i-was-supposed-to-be-authoritative-but-at-the-same-time-had-to-be/) [Dee Dee Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-dee-myers/) > [Jonathan Coe's genial, likeable novel can only be described as a kind of lit-prog-rock concept album... Coe recreates the period with such loving accuracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bradshaw/jonathan-coe-s-genial-likeable-novel-can-only-be-described-as-a-kind/) [Peter Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bradshaw/) > [Anywhere you go liking everyone, everyone will be likeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/anywhere-you-go-liking-everyone-everyone-will-be-likeable/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Gillard is as likeable as Rudd is charmless. She is self-deprecating; he is ludicrously vainglorious. She is a mistress of understatement; he is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/gillard-is-as-likeable-as-rudd-is-charmless-she-is-self-deprecating/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [Live like Spongebob, Laugh out loud all day for no reason and annoy all the mean people with your happiness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spongebob/live-like-spongebob-laugh-out-loud-all-day-for-no-reason-and-annoy/) [Spongebob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spongebob/) > [It really takes likeable superstars to get the attention of the masses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wyatt/it-really-takes-likeable-superstars-to-get-the-attention-of-the-masses/) [Jennifer Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wyatt/) > [The individual attributes of warmth and competence are often perceived to be negatively correlated. That doesn't mean they actually are, but that's how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/the-individual-attributes-of-warmth-and-competence-are-often/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The easiest way for readers to connect with characters and feel sympathy is to make the character entertaining, sympathetic and likeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randa-abdel-fattah/the-easiest-way-for-readers-to-connect-with-characters-and-feel/) [Randa Abdel-Fattah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randa-abdel-fattah/) ## More by Walter Cronkite > [I'm a liberal, but I'm not biased. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-a-liberal-but-i-m-not-biased-seriously/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I've gone from the most trusted man in America to one of the most debated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-ve-gone-from-the-most-trusted-man-in-america-to-one-of-the-most/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I do think that the success, although still not complete... in the recognition of equal rights... to all Americans, regardless of color, creed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-do-think-that-the-success-although-still-not-complete-in-the/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Be kind to an old man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/be-kind-to-an-old-man/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I learned early on that in the real world, the masks of tragedy and comedy adorn the proscenium of every life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-learned-early-on-that-in-the-real-world-the-masks-of-tragedy-and/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [It is clear that military force and our policy of preemption are alone insufficient to make us safe. But help is on the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-is-clear-that-military-force-and-our-policy-of-preemption-are/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [In all my years as a news commentator I was never once, able to tell the truth, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/in-all-my-years-as-a-news-commentator-i-was-never-once-able-to-tell/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I think people make way too much of ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-people-make-way-too-much-of-ratings/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I grew my mustache when I was nineteen in order to look older. I never shaved it off even though it overran its usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-grew-my-mustache-when-i-was-nineteen-in-order-to-look-older-i-never/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I'm so tired of stories starting, 'Maud Jones was walking her dog down Broadway.' 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Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Building confidence is an ongoing process and something that can be accomplished over time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/building-confidence-is-an-ongoing-process-and-something-that-can-be/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [No one has more charisma than me in WWE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheamus/no-one-has-more-charisma-than-me-in-wwe/) [Sheamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheamus/) > [They say I'm a natural, I have natural charisma. People say that. I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-henry/they-say-i-m-a-natural-i-have-natural-charisma-people-say-that-i-don/) [Dwight Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-henry/) > [I think generally the heads of terrorist groups are very, very smart people. They're also great manipulators. I would presume that cult leaders are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-napoleoni/i-think-generally-the-heads-of-terrorist-groups-are-very-very-smart/) [Loretta Napoleoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-napoleoni/) > [“If you're completely off your rocker and have delusions of grandeur in which your personal existence is of special significance to the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-wolfe/if-you-re-completely-off-your-rocker-and-have-delusions-of-grandeur/) [Edward M. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-wolfe/) > [Never be impressed with charisma. Look for character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/never-be-impressed-with-charisma-look-for-character/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [New concepts should be introduced by the power of imagery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coop/new-concepts-should-be-introduced-by-the-power-of-imagery/) [Douglas Coop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coop/) > [Charisma is not just saying hello. It's dropping what you're doing to say hello.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/charisma-is-not-just-saying-hello-it-s-dropping-what-you-re-doing-to/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“When they are authentically engaged, their positive impressions create memorable moments and leave a lasting impact. Physical beauty becomes irrelevant because their exuberance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/when-they-are-authentically-engaged-their-positive-impressions-create/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [John Kerry and Ralph Nader met face-to-face, it was a historic meeting. Astronomers said today their meeting actually created what is called a 'charisma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/john-kerry-and-ralph-nader-met-face-to-face-it-was-a-historic-meeting/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [In high school I had B's and C's, not too many A's, but I must have done well on that medical school test, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-marshall/in-high-school-i-had-b-s-and-c-s-not-too-many-a-s-but-i-must-have/) [Barry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-marshall/) > [Jeanne Moreau, Lauren Bacall, they had this unconventional beauty, this amazing charisma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-de-la-baume/jeanne-moreau-lauren-bacall-they-had-this-unconventional-beauty-this/) [Josephine de La Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-de-la-baume/) [Browse all 349 Charisma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charisma/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Reagan was an exceedingly likeable guy, just a heck of a nice fellow, despite his politics. 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