Margaret Thatcher And Ronald Reagan Remembered As Political Soul Mates

With Margaret Thatcher dead, Ronald Reagan and the former British Prime Minister are being remembered as political soul mates.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Margaret Thatcher died from a stroke at age 87. Margaret Thatcher was the United Kingdom’s first female Prime Minister and the only woman to serve in that role so far.

Margaret Thatcher’s death recalls how her 11 year reign as PM reshaped British politics, earning her the nickname, the “Iron Lady,” after comments she made about diplomacy and Russia during the end of the Cold War.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan recalls the Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan friendship:

“Ronnie and Margaret were political soul mates committed to freedom and resolved to end communism. As prime minister, Margaret had the clear vision and strong determination to stand up for her beliefs at a time when so many were afraid to ‘rock the boat.’ As a result, she helped to bring about the collapse of the Soviet Union and the liberation of millions of people.”

Biographer Geoffrey Smith, author of Reagan and Thatcher, says the Thatcher, Reagan friendship was relatively close for two national leaders:

“It was closer ideologically and warmer personally than any relationship between any other British prime minister and any other American president.”

Margaret Thatcher convinced Ronald Reagan to trust Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev. In December of 1984, Margaret Thatcher said, “I like Mr. Gorbachev. We can do business together.” In kind, Garbachev said Margaret Thatcher “was a contribution to the change in atmosphere between our country and the West and to the end of the Cold War.”

Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University historian, says Margaret Thatcher “certainly liked Reagan a lot from the moment he won office and he felt the same. They had a deep respect, admiration and a friendship. Each believed in the strength of free markets, disdained communism and saw themselves and their countries as part of a transatlantic alliance.”

Both Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan took strong stands on government regulations, working on telecommunications, environmental issues, business, and health care. Both believed unions posed a danger to people. In 1984, in regards to a miners union strike Margaret Thatcher said, “We always have to be aware of the enemy within, which is much more difficult to fight and more dangerous to liberty.”

What do you think about Margaret Thatcher after reading this little bit of history?