Ronald Reagan’s Daughter Says Her Father Would Be ‘Appalled’ By Politics Today: He’d Be ‘Really Scared for Our Democracy’

Ronald Reagan’s daughter Patti Davis told Meet The Press Sunday that her father would be “appalled” by the state of politics today and “really scared for our democracy.”

Davis talked about her new book, Dear Mom and Dad with NBC’s Kristen Welker. Davis had a tumultuous relationship with her father and mother, Nancy Reagan, but was able to reconnect after the 40th president and conservative icon was diagnosed in with Alzheimer’s Disease in 1994.

“You write this beautiful account of Tip O’Neill (D-MA) visiting your father, his hospital bed, and how different our politics feel today,” Welker said. “The ability to reach across the aisle, and frankly, to form those types of bonds where you can debate vigorously in Washington but be there for each other on a very personal level.”

Welker then asked about the current state of politics.

“I think he would be so, I think he’d be appalled, really,” Davis said, continuing:

It was just more civilized. He didn’t understand lack of civility. He didn’t understand attacking another person. I mean, he could be pretty pointed in his, in what he’d say about someone else. But he didn’t understand cruelty, and that’s what we’re dealing with now…

I think he would be really scared for our democracy. And, I think that, I don’t know, I think he would address people more than any candidates, you know? I think he would address the American people at what has divided us. In my own opinion and I think, I don’t know, I think this is probably how he would think is, our divisions really started because we’re all so scared. There’s so much fear around, whether we’re going to get shot in a mass shooting, or our children are, or if you’re going to walk into a store … or a church, or wherever.

We’re scared, and fear morphs into anger. It just does. It’s non sustainable. We don’t want to be afraid. We don’t mind so much being angry, and there are people on the public stage and on the political front who understand very well that synergy between fear and anger, and are masterful at exploiting it.

Watch the clip above via NBC News.

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