Of course I think it would have been better if Henry Fonda had not had children. I think it is really rude to commit suicide like his wife did, and leave young children. Of course, she was miserable in her marriage to Henry. Henry was really incapable of expressing his feelings. I watched a fascinating interview with Peter lately, where he described the laborious effort he put into finally getting his father to say he loved him right before he died. I don't think children should have to go through this, ever.
I think Jane Fonda and Patti Davis are quite similar, actually. I am certainly not arguing that conservative Republicans are worse parents than liberal Democrats. What I am saying is that I don't think it is an important criterion for evaluating presidents, and also that I believe it is dangerous to idealize people.
I have read some of the same books Janice has about the Reagans and their children. It is really difficult for children growing up with an alcoholic parent to express feelings, usually. I think Reagan was definitely damaged by his experiences as a child, just like Clinton was in a similar, although even less functional, environment. If Nancy herself admits she was not a very good mother, why is it hard for Reagan admirers to accept that?
Clinton was the parent who stayed home with Chelsea when she was a little girl, while Hillary had a career. He was the more nurturing of the two, apparently. I am sure Chelsea must be embarrassed by her father, but she has grown up being obviously loved. Bill spends a lot of time with her, and was devastated when she left for college, while Hillary dealt with it well, from all the press accounts I have read and Hillary's own statement. Certainly, she got a lot more attention than the Reagan children.
By Ron's account in the PBS documentary, the children were secondary to the marriage. He also relates a situation where a Reagan aide was sent to tell him his father was proud of him after seeing him perform as a ballet dancer. Ron stated that his father had a very hard time communicating with him directly.I don't think that is very good parenting. Children love even parents who physically abuse them. They are hard wired to love their parents, which helps to ensure their survival. The fact that the Reagan children are trying to work out their complex feelings and resolve the relationships before their father dies, while in the cases of Patti and Michael, profiting from being his children, does not make Ronald Reagan father of the year, although I certainly have sympathy for him because he himself was not well parented.
We do not really know much about the child of the prostitute who is alleged to be Bill's. Obviously, Clinton will sacrifice quite a lot to gain and keep political power. Is it true what someone said on this thread recently, that the child and his mother live in Australia now? She has said nothing, so I would imagine she was paid a LOT of money to go away. Certainly fathers need to be responsible for their children, but in the case of a black prostitute getting pregnant while Bill was paying her to have sex with him, it seems more like entrapment of him and a meal ticket for her. She bears a lot of responsibility for the situation. |
