Red, White & Blue River Valley of Tears

They used to derisively assert that Ronald Reagan was a cowboy, and a dull-minded one at that, who fell asleep during important staff meetings, and drifted off during meetings that had consequence for matters of state, here and abroad.

Then he upped and managed to take the edge off the cold war (no, I do not believe all the cold warriors are dead: Putin, the former KGB official is beginning to look only too much like himself as he responds to the Chechnyan terrorist assaults on the grand country for which he holds responsiblity) and won the heart and confidence of his primary opponent Michael Gorbachav, who closed up the USSR shop and moved to Santa Barbara, CA -- then later followed the casson carrying the body of the deceased Preesident around the country. Now we learn something else that gives color, texture, and depth to the Old Ranger:

"In a newly reissued book, 'Musical Highlights from the White House' (Krieger Publishing), [music historian] Ms. [Elise] Kirk describes chronologically the musical events that have occurred over the years in the executive mansion, as well as the presidents' own instrumental abilities.
....
"More recently, President Reagan betrayed a little musical talent in the last days of his administration, recalls U.S. Marine Band conductor Col. John Bourgeois.

"'It was the day he was saying farewell to his staff, and I presented him with a Marine Band harmonica," Col. Bourgeois says. Mr. Reagan accepted the harmonica and played "Red River Valley," "which was rather
poignant in a way.'"

Rather.

If we do not confuse ourselves with too much self-satisfaction in name calling and twisting the truth for personal or partisan advantage in the wistful exercise of false witness, perhaps we will finally acknowledge that to be a cowboy, to follow the "cowboy code," is something more than an after-the-fact exercise in convenient nostalgia. Ride the river.