Perspective from Reagan son-in-law on 1971 'monkey' comment

An Atlantic magazine article that paints Ronald Reagan as a racist isn't getting a pass from prominent Placer County Republican Dennis Revell. Revell, son-in-law of the president, has responded to the article by Tim Naftali, a New York University professor and first director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, with a letter to the writer — taking exception to Naftali's accusation of racism. Naftali's article was sparked by statements made by Reagan in a recently released taped 1971 telephone conversation with Nixon. Then governor of California, Reagan had phoned Nixon to complain about watching Tanzanian United Nations officials celebrating after the UN voted to recognize the People's Republic of China. "To see those, those monkeys from those African countries — damn them, they're still uncomfortable wearing shoes," Reagan said. "Mr. Naftali, Ronald Reagan was not a racist!," Revell wrote. "There is a distinct difference between ignorance and a lack of understanding … and … believing one's race is inherently superior to all others!" Revell, former Placer County Republican Party chief, said that while he's not excusing Reagan's short comment, made during a 12-minute telephone conversation, he challenges Naftali to put it in its complete historical context. Revell, who was married to Reagan's oldest daughter, Maureen said that over 25 years he witnessed a man who: "Enjoyed a great relationship with his oldest daughter's adopted little girl from TanzaniaHad a great relationship with the late President of Mozambique, Samora Machel, who the CIA said the Soviets killed because he was leading his country away from its Marxist-Leninist pastAs a result of Maureen, enjoyed a similarly long-standing relationship with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who still holds the position today.""My immediate hope is that you can see your way clear to acknowledge that while by today's standards and values his comments were inappropriate, they regrettably were a reflection of the times more than of the man," Revell said. "I'm confident if he were alive today, he would not make excuses, but would apologize and ask for forgiveness." Revell's words were echoed by others. Jay Nordlinger in National/Review.com said Reagan's comment was "sickening" but "uncharacteristic," noting that he worked to advance human rights in China, Cuba and the Soviet Union. Paul Kengor in Spectator.org said that anyone who knew Reagan would say that he was "not racist, period." But Renee Graham in The Boston Globe wrote that Reagan popularized the image of poor black women as "welfare queens," and waged a war on drugs that disproportionately targeted blacks. In releasing his letter to the media, Revell cited veteran journalist and book author Lou Cannon's comments in The National Review where he said, "One way to see this is that Reagan was advanced for his generation but his generations wasn't very advanced on race issues."