Reagan the Poverty-Slayer

COMPARISONS of great leaders of the past can provide political junkies with the kind of pleasure that sports fans experience when debating the relative merits of current and past athletes. Could Gale Sayers have succeeded in today’s NFL? Was Babe Ruth a better hitter than Barry Bonds? Could Bill Clinton have won the Second World War?

In sports, such discussions often turn on interesting data that shed light on the unappreciated merits of past greats. My favorite example is the remarkable punting ability of Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, who in 1940 set the all-time single-season record for average punting distance (51.4 yards).

About the Author

Kevin A. Hassett

Kevin A. Hassett was the senior adviser to National Review’s Capital Matters and was the Brent R. Nicklas Distinguished Fellow in Economics at the Hoover Institution.

Featured Tags

COMPARISONS of great leaders of the past can provide political junkies with the kind of pleasure that sports fans experience when debating the relative merits of current and past athletes. Could Gale Sayers have succeeded in today’s NFL? Was Babe Ruth a better hitter than Barry Bonds? Could Bill Clinton have won the Second World War?

In sports, such discussions often turn on interesting data that shed light on the unappreciated merits of past greats. My favorite example is the remarkable punting ability of Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, who in 1940 set the all-time single-season record for average punting distance (51.4 yards).

About the Author

Kevin A. Hassett

Kevin A. Hassett was the senior adviser to National Review’s Capital Matters and was the Brent R. Nicklas Distinguished Fellow in Economics at the Hoover Institution.