Dennis Quaid praises ‘bada--’ Ronald Reagan as favorite president, sees parallels to today’s struggles
'Reagan' premieres in theaters nationwide later this summer
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dennis Quaid, star of the upcoming biopic "Reagan," described the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan as a "bada--" and his favorite president in a new interview. He also remarked that the years leading up to the iconic Republican president’s time in office remind him of America today.
Quaid made the points while speaking on famous Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson’s podcast. He described his impression of Reagan’s character and achievements during his two terms.
"He was my favorite president. I will say that," Quaid declared to Peterson, adding that he voted for Carter in 1976, which he "regretted."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Reagan" star Dennis Quaid spoke to Jordan Peterson recently about the qualities that made the 40th president a "bada--." (Getty Images)
"I did vote for Jimmy Carter in ’76, regretted it. But in 1980 I voted for Ronald Reagan. My dad was a huge Reagan fan. And I voted for him and went home, and my roommate at that time – from Texas – he said, ‘Who’d you vote for?’ and I said, "Ronald Reagan.’ And he said, ‘You’re out of the hippies.’"
Peterson asked Quaid why he switched from voting for a Democratic candidate to a Republican one, to which the actor replied by describing the time immediately before Reagan as a depressing period that reminds him of today.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Those times remind me very much of what’s going on today... Carter had his malaise speech. The country had lost confidence in itself about who we are," Quaid said, adding, "We kind of accepted that we were a nation in decline. It was after Watergate, it was after Vietnam."
The actor went on to mention how the U.S. under Carter tried to "play nice" with the Soviet Union and appease them, getting nothing in return as communism grew in the world.
He then described how Reagan’s entrance on the stage changed this attitude, stating, "Reagan, who had always been, you know, this kind of cold warrior and great communicator, came along and told people, ‘Pick yourself up,’ you know? ‘There’s a brighter day ahead.’"
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}DENNIS QUAID ON HIS FAITH GETTING HIM THROUGH GOOD AND HARD TIMES: ‘WE ALL NEED THAT’
California Gov. Ronald Reagan, flanked by executive secretary Edwin Meese III, left; Alameda County Sheriff Frank I. Madigan, second from right, and California Highway Patrol Commissioner H.W. Sullivan, right, proclaims "a state of extreme emergency" exists at the University of California, Berkeley, on February 6, 1969. Reagan called on legislators to enact measures to deal with militant student and faculty members. (Photo by Sacramento Bee/Sacramento Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Peterson remarked on the significance of the 40th president’s stance on the Soviets constituting an "evil empire."
Both men characterized Carter being a "nice guy" on the world stage, noting it wasn’t the right approach in dealing with the "bada—" world leaders looking to hurt the United States.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Quaid stated this is why he liked Reagan so much, because he was a "bada--" as well who could go toe-to-toe with America’s enemies.
"That’s one of the attractions that I had for Reagan," Quaid said, "You know, he’s a bada--, but he’s my bada--."
"And a principled person," the psychologist added, to which the actor agreed.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Reagan" premieres in theaters nationwide on August 30.