Podcast Summary: Going Big! With Wendy Borchert: Lessons from Ronald Reagan’s Vision for America

Host: Kevin Gentry
Guest: Wendy Borchert
Date: September 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Going Big! features Wendy Borchert, a pioneering woman in American public service and one of Ronald Reagan’s earliest and most influential supporters. Wendy shares her firsthand experiences with Reagan’s rise from Hollywood to the California Governor’s mansion and ultimately the White House, offering unique behind-the-scenes stories of his leadership, vision, and unwavering moral compass. The conversation delves into the lesser-known stories of campaign challenges, the transformation of political fundraising, the experience of being a woman in the political sphere at the time, and lessons for meaningful, purpose-driven living.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meeting Ronald Reagan: Early Impressions and First Encounters

• Wendy's Early Awareness
  Wendy considered Reagan "a friend, although [she] had never met him," noting their neighboring lives in Los Angeles and mutual circles ([03:31]).
• The GE Broadcasts
  Reagan’s General Electric broadcasts in the 1960s made a deep impression on Wendy:

  "I liked what he said, and I just felt friendly towards him." — Wendy ([03:31])

• Personal Initiative
  Wendy persistently attempted to get Reagan to speak at the Junior League of Los Angeles, despite initial refusals from Nancy Reagan ([04:06]).
• Historic Speech and Its Impact
  Reagan finally spoke to 300–350 women at the League, resulting in an unprecedented standing ovation. Even known Democrats were moved:

  "The vice president of the Junior League, a liberal Democrat, turned to him and said, 'You must run. You're wonderful.' And I thought, he is reaching everybody. I was so impressed." — Wendy ([05:30])

• Inception of Political Journey
  Unknown to Wendy, Reagan was already being courted to run for governor by California businessmen. Her advocacy aligned with these events ([06:50]).

2. The Essence of Reagan’s Communication and Leadership

• Content and Style
  Reagan spoke about pressing national issues (taxes, Communist influence, family finances), and noticeably, not about himself ([08:04]).
• Connection with the Audience
  On why Reagan was so effective:

  "He explained things so that...the ordinary man could understand...He had a demeanor that was friendly, relaxed. You knew he enjoyed people. And that came across." — Wendy ([09:20]) His humor, moral integrity, and faith also stood out ([09:20]).

3. Reagan’s Core Values and Decision-Making

• Strong Center and Unwavering Morals

  "Had a core right down the middle...He had a very strong set of moral values...against that, any policy or situation...he could judge it by this core. It never wavered." — Wendy ([12:37])

• Leadership Under Criticism
  Despite being ridiculed as a "broken down old actor," Reagan took on tough challenges, like running against popular Democratic Governor Pat Brown and later winning in a landslide ([11:27]).

4. The Reality of the Campaign Trail

• Fundraising Challenges
  Wendy recounted volunteering for Reagan’s campaigns, ultimately serving as Western Finance Director during the 1980 race:

  "We didn't have the internet...I raised $7 million. And $7 million in 1979 is a lot of campaign money." — Wendy ([22:33])

• Empowering Grassroots Donors
  She empowered volunteers to raise money as they saw fit for their communities:

  "You knew your community. Women gave coffee hours...elegant, large black tie dinners...I gave them carte blanche." — Wendy ([23:16])

• Clashes and Crisis Moments
  Wendy describes a major disagreement with campaign manager John Sears over spending. She and others confronted Reagan, telling him directly that Sears was jeopardizing the campaign, leading to Sears’ dismissal ([24:16]–[29:24]).
• "This mic is mine!"
  Reagan's defiant televised moment during the New Hampshire primary was a turning point:

  "When Ronald Reagan grabbed that mic and said, 'This mic is mine, I paid for it,' ... I thought, we've got our candidate back." — Wendy ([28:49])

5. Behind-the-Scenes Heroics

• Saving the Campaign Payroll
  Wendy revealed how she safeguarded campaign funds from wasteful spending by withholding checks until leadership changed, enabling the campaign to make payroll in a crisis:

  "If, let's say you sent me $20,000 from your fundraiser, I turned in 15, and I put 5,000 in the trunk of my car...I just was trying to withhold anything I could from Sears." ([31:48]) "I provided that afternoon enough for payroll for the next month." ([32:51])

• Acknowledgment from Leadership

  “Bill Casey told Ed Meese that in front of me ... 'We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Wendy.'” ([32:58])

6. Women in Politics and Leadership

• Unusual Pathways
  Reagan did appoint prominent women like Sandra Day O’Connor but, as Wendy discusses, female participation was rare during the time ([34:28]).
• Personal Philosophy
  Wendy shared how her family’s ethos and her grandfather’s guidance pushed her to go “big” and not accept unfair setbacks:

  "I never thought as a woman that I could not live that in any less degree than a man." ([35:01])

• Fighting for Fairness
  She recounted high school and Stanford incidents where she courageously challenged grades she felt were biased, learning to stand up for herself ([36:53], [38:53]).
• Skepticism About Affirmative Action
  Despite being a rare female board member at the Hoover Institution (under 35 quota), Wendy felt more empowered by merit than category-driven appointments ([41:15]-[48:32]).

7. Leadership Lessons from Ronald Reagan

• Purpose, Conviction, and Listening

  "He believed in certain things, he followed a path, but he took opportunities as they came...He was a great listener and he'd listen to people, but once he made up his mind...he would go ahead." — Wendy ([49:45])

• Courage in Crisis
  On Reagan’s handling of the Berkeley riots and air traffic controllers’ strike:

  “There were the riots at Berkeley...He said, 'You stop it in 24 hours or I'm calling in the troops.'...The air controllers’ strike. What did he do? 'Okay, you shape up or I fire you.' And what did he do? [He fired them.]” ([50:28])

• Faith and Purpose
  After surviving an assassination attempt, Reagan believed "God had saved him...to lead this country" ([51:20]).
• Civility in Public Life
  Wendy contrasted Reagan's constructive, respectful relationship with Democratic Speaker Tip O’Neill to today’s “lack of civility”:

  "They embraced, calling each other friends. Now, would that happen today? I don't think so." ([53:20])

8. Enduring Vision for America

• Reagan’s Hopes for America
  Wendy closed with words Reagan delivered in August 1988:

  "I hope our children will see that we had a vision to pass forward a nation as nearly perfect as we could, where there is decency, tolerance, generosity, honesty, courage, common sense, fairness and piety. This is what I want for America." ([56:30])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reagan’s Communicative Power:

  “He explained things...The ordinary man could understand...He had a demeanor that was friendly, relaxed.” — Wendy ([09:20])

• On Cross-Party Respect:

  “Reagan would want that kind of civility to return to this country. People respecting each other, respecting their views...” — Wendy ([53:38])

• On Women in Leadership:

  “I never felt as a girl or as a young woman that I couldn't. It didn't matter what arena.” — Wendy ([36:05])

• On Belief and Purpose:

  “He believed greatly in the Lord...He really knew what he believed was right and wrong...He was consistent in all his efforts.” — Wendy ([12:37])

• Reagan’s Vision for America:

  “Where there is decency, tolerance, generosity, honesty, courage, common sense, fairness and piety. This is what I want for America.” — Ronald Reagan, read by Wendy ([56:30])

Important Timestamps

• 03:31 – Wendy’s first impressions and early connection to Ronald Reagan
• 05:30 – The Junior League speech & bipartisan appeal
• 09:20 – Reagan’s communication style and ability to connect
• 12:37 – Discussion of Reagan’s unwavering values
• 22:33 – Wendy’s fundraising for Reagan’s campaign
• 24:16 – Crisis with campaign manager John Sears
• 28:49 – Reagan’s “This mic is mine!” moment in New Hampshire
• 31:48 – Wendy’s strategic withholding of campaign funds
• 32:58 – Bill Casey’s acknowledgment of Wendy’s crucial role
• 36:53, 38:53 – Early life lessons on standing up for fairness
• 41:15-48:32 – Challenges and philosophy about women in leadership
• 49:45 – Lessons on leadership and conviction from Reagan
• 56:30 – Wendy closes with Reagan’s vision for America

Conclusion

This episode offers a compelling tour of American history through Wendy Borchert’s eyes. She showcases the impact of personal conviction, resolute faith, and practical leadership in shaping not just political outcomes, but the course of a nation. Through vivid anecdotes and candid assessments, Wendy reminds listeners that greatness emerges in moments when individuals act with courage, clarity, and consistency—all principles embodied by Ronald Reagan.

Her parting words, echoing Reagan’s own hopes for America, serve as an invitation to choose vision, character, and action in one’s own pursuit of “going big.”