The Fourth of July is not typically celebrated in Britain. Unsurprising, really.
However, this week festive celebrations were held outside the U.S. Embassy in London, on the 235th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The focus was not only on traditional Independence Day activities, but also the unveiling of a statute to honor former President Ronald Reagan.
The statue will be placed alongside statues of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower in Grosvenor Square, the leafy English garden located in front of the U.S. Embassy which, with its brutalist modern architecture and constant armed security, stands in stark contrast to its tranquil Edwardian surroundings. Grosvenor Square has long held strong American historical associations, as the original home for the first U.S. ambassador to London, future president John Adams, as well as where the plans for the D-Day invasions of Normandy were first devised during World War II.
An impressive list of speakers and attendees attended the unveiling ceremony. Joining the current U.S. ambassadors to Britain and his predecessor on center stage were Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state, as well as a senior British government minister, Foreign Secretary William Hague. Unfortunately, neither Reagan's stalwart ally, the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, nor his wife, Nancy, could attend.
Upon entering Grosvenor Square for the ceremonies, all guests were generously given both American flags and Union Jacks to waive at opportune moments. A video loop of Reagan's funniest anecdotes, stories and jokes was playing on a large screen. Groups of local English school children, dressed in their red and grey uniforms, lined up along the garden wall to witness the day's events. In the background, a brass band played reassuring renditions of classic American tunes from the 19th century. And, there were mimes, passing out complimentary bags of jelly beans, so pretty much everything was covered.
The English love outdoor activities during the long summer days that they enjoy due to their islands' high latitude. The recently concluded Wimbledon tennis tournament and the three-day rock festival at Glastonbury are just two of the most well-known examples. As a result, the unveiling of the Reagan statue in Grosvenor Square felt as much like a village summer fete, as it did a traditional American barbeque.
This year is the centenary of Reagan's birth and ceremonies have been conducted across Eastern Europe commemorating the life and achievements of a man who worked throughout his presidency to bring freedom to millions. Reagan was particularly dedicated to expanding freedom to those dark corners of the world where it was absent. It is very interesting to try to envision what his reaction would be to the Arab Spring unfolding across the Middle East and North Africa, and what his views would be on the current challenges facing China.
Comparisons have often been made of Obama and Reagan. Unfortunately, Obama the president has repeatedly failed to live up the rhetorical heights promised by Obama the candidate.
Looking through the declared Republican candidates for 2012 uncovers little better. The leading GOP contender, Mitt Romney, was also in London this week on a quick fund-raising tour. However, it remains unclear whether, despite his current financial advantage and strong showings in early polls, he can sufficiently connect with the Republican base to win the nomination. By contrast, Michele Bachmann, who is building momentum among dissatisfied Tea Party voters with her fundamentalist Christian background and stories of raising 23 foster children, seems to lack the gravitas and historical weight necessary to make a serious challenge for the nomination.
Reagan was a politician led by principles, who directly engaged in the political and philosophical challenges that faced the world he lived in. On this basis, he sought to share with the world his personal commitment to freedom at home and abroad, which has been the foundation of both America and Britain over the last two centuries. He stood up to the leaders of the Soviet Union and directly confronted their totalitarian regime. Using the power of political rhetoric and diplomacy, the Berlin Wall fell without a shot being fired.
As the Republican primaries and caucuses approach, it is interesting to note Reagan was an active Democrat for many years. The young Reagan voted for FDR four times before casting his first Republican vote for Eisenhower in 1952. Fittingly, statues of both leaders will be his neighbors in Grosvenor Square for many warm English summers to come.