Actor Dennis Quaid, who stars in the upcoming biopic "Reagan," praised the late U.S. President as his favorite and a "bada--." Quaid also shared his views on the similarities between the era leading up to Reagan's presidency and the current political climate.
Dennis Quaid, the star of the forthcoming biopic "Reagan," has heaped praise on the 40th U.S. President, calling him a "bada--" and his favorite president in a recent interview. Quaid, who plays the titular role in the film, made these remarks while speaking on renowned Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson's podcast.
Quaid's admiration for Reagan is rooted in his perception of the former president's character and accomplishments during his two terms in office. "He was my favorite president," Quaid asserted to Peterson. "I will say that." Despite initially voting for Jimmy Carter in 1976, Quaid later switched his allegiance to Reagan in 1980.
Quaid attributes his shift in political affiliation to the disillusionment that pervaded the country during the Carter era. "Those times remind me very much of what's going on today," Quaid said, comparing the lack of confidence and sense of national decline that characterized the late 1970s to the present-day political climate.
"Carter had his malaise speech," Quaid recalled. "The country had lost confidence in itself about who we are. We kind of accepted that we were a nation in decline. It was after Watergate, it was after Vietnam."
Quaid believes Reagan's entry into the political scene marked a turning point for the nation. "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,'" Quaid said.
Peterson highlighted the significance of Reagan's stance on the Soviet Union, which he famously labeled an "evil empire." Both Peterson and Quaid emphasized that Carter's "nice guy" approach to international relations was ineffective in dealing with the antagonistic leaders of the time.
"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," Peterson added, a sentiment shared by Quaid.
Quaid's admiration for Reagan extends beyond his political achievements. The actor praised Reagan's personal qualities, including his charisma and humor. "He was just a great guy," Quaid said. "He was very charming, very funny. I think he was just a great leader."
"Reagan" is set to premiere in theaters nationwide on August 30.
