sion that resulted from his partial deafness and the unexpected questions. When he did not say anything worth printing, White House spokesman Larry Speakes would supply a quote. Reagan increased his patriotic image by hosting a party in celebration of the Statue of Liberty. Leslie Stahl, a reporter for CBS, called him a "symbol of pride in America" (64).
             Along with his image, the public also fell in love with his personality. They enjoyed hearing his speeches, filled with entertaining anecdotes and jokes. Knowing that he meant well, they overlooked his factual errors. Most people did not realize that somebody else had written the President's speeches, anecdotes, and jokes. His sense of humor also fascinated the public when he joked about John Hinckley's assassination attempt on him. His popularity increased, and he received increased support from both the public and Congress. Reagan had an "instinctive ability to reassure and soothe...grieving Americans" after a tragedy (54). After the Challenger exploded in early 1986, he gave a speech that emphasized renewal, saying that America
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