Dennis Quaid, star of the upcoming biopic "Reagan," discusses the former president's humility, his fight against communism, and the disconnect between Hollywood and small-town America.
On the front porch of Ronald Reagan's boyhood home in Dixon, Illinois, Dennis Quaid couldn't help but be struck by the simplicity of the man he portrays in the upcoming biopic "Reagan."
"Humble is the description because that's how I felt when I came into the gate of the Western White House," Quaid told Fox News Digital. "He was a humble man."
Dennis Quaid Reflects on Ronald Reagan's Legacy and American Values
Quaid's journey to Reagan's birthplace offered a profound insight into the formative experiences that shaped the 40th president of the United States. The actor visited the 816 S. Hennepin Ave. house where Reagan grew up in the 1920s, now preserved by Young America's Foundation.
"You come here, and it's a beautiful house actually," Quaid marveled. "This architecture is the example of that period of America. The whole town reminds me of, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life' in a way. You can really feel those values."
Dennis Quaid Reflects on Ronald Reagan's Legacy and American Values
Dixon also holds a special place in Reagan's history as the setting for Lowell Park, where he worked as a lifeguard over seven summers and reportedly saved 77 lives. Quaid's tour of Reagan's boyhood home and the park left him with a deep appreciation for the former president's humble roots.
"He mowed all that grass, he really worked along those fences and dug that pond himself," Quaid said of Reagan's ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
Dennis Quaid Reflects on Ronald Reagan's Legacy and American Values
One anecdote that Quaid particularly enjoyed sharing was the couple's sleeping conditions: "It was 1,100 square feet, maybe. They had a king-size bed, but it was two single beds that were zip-tied together."
But beyond the physical manifestations of Reagan's humility, Quaid was drawn to the man's unwavering convictions. Among Reagan's most ardent battles was his fight against communism. Quaid recalled Reagan's testimony before Congress, where he argued that communists should be allowed to freely express their ideas because democracy could handle it.
Dennis Quaid Reflects on Ronald Reagan's Legacy and American Values
"Reagan won the Cold War," Quaid asserted. "Reagan also testified communists are trying to take over the unions in Hollywood... And Reagan fought that at the time."
Quaid's admiration for Reagan's fight against communism was tempered by his dismay over the recent attempt on former President Trump's life. "I had the same reaction that I had when Reagan was shot," he said. "Thank God he survived it... Ronald Reagan... brought that spirit back."
Dennis Quaid Reflects on Ronald Reagan's Legacy and American Values
Quaid's exploration of Reagan's life also led him to reflect on the disconnect between Hollywood and small-town America.
"Well, there are so many people in Hollywood that are from places like this," Quaid said. "[But] Hollywood has created its own rap since the movies it makes or whatever, but it seems to have forgotten these hometown values."
Dennis Quaid Reflects on Ronald Reagan's Legacy and American Values
"I feel like Hollywood today - they lost their audience, and they're trying to find them," he added.
Quaid's message resonated with the locals of Dixon, who gathered for the premiere of "Reagan" at The Dixon: Historic Theatre.
"I’m very excited to see the movie," said Becky Anderson from nearby Rock Falls. "Growing up in this area, living in Rock Falls between his birthplace and his boyhood home, he’s always been my favorite president."
Another woman, Sara Ortgiesen from Dixon, appreciated Reagan's "integrity" and "morals."
"He was able to get along with people who maybe didn’t agree, could agree to disagree, kind of get along that way," she said.
Quaid's portrayal of Reagan has only enhanced his respect for the former president.
"He really was who he was," Quaid said. "There wasn't a lot of artifice to him. He really knew how to communicate well, he knew how to speak well. His ideas were American ideals. And they were principles, actually. That's how he governed and that's how he lived his life."
"Reagan," directed by Sean McNamara, produced by Mark Joseph, and starring Penelope Ann Miller and Jon Voight, hits theaters on Friday, August 30.
