In Memoriam: Maggie

Wonder not why the good die young.  Wonder why the good die at all.

On the occasion of her recent death, Margaret Thatcher's relationship with her philosophical and political soul mate, Ronald Reagan, was revisited.  Their relationship, after all, was as important to each of their countries at peace as that between Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill at war.

While it was always hugs and kisses in front of the cameras, the relationship was often vigorously contentious.  For example, Maggie was enraged when Ron invaded Grenada, which upset the president because he had stuck his neck out to support her invasion of the Falklands.  Ron intended his strategic defense initiative to compensate for an eventual elimination of nukes; Maggie wanted to maintain nukes and opposed SDI for that reason.

In spite of their differences, "[i]t all worked," said Maggie of the relationship, "because he was more afraid of me than I was of him."

Herewith more Maggie-isms:

"There is a union of mind and purpose between our peoples which is remarkable and which makes our relationship truly a remarkable one.  It is special.  It just is, and that's that."--Spoken at a Washington banquet marking 200 years of diplomatic relations between Great Britain and the United States.

"I count it a double joy that I am once again in the United States...[t]he message I have brought across the Atlantic is that we, in Britain, stand with you.  America's successes will be our successes.  Your problems will be our problems, and when you look for friends we will be there."--On the occasion of a state visit.

"Pierre, you're being obnoxious.  Stop acting like a naughty schoolboy!"--Scolding Canada's Prime Minister Trudeau for railing against Ron at a summit meeting.

"Being powerful is like being a lady.  If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

"I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left."

"I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my way in the end."

"To cure the British disease with socialism was like trying to cure leukaemia [sic] with leeches."

"The wisdom of hindsight, so useful to historians and indeed to authors of memoirs, is sadly denied to practicing politicians."

"If my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn't swim."

"Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides."

"To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies.  So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects."

"If you want something said, ask a man.  If you want something done, ask a woman."

RIP, Madam Prime Minister.  You made Britain, and indeed the world, a better place, if only for too short a while.