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Interviewee
Vincent Rutherford, the interviewee was born in New York to Slobdan (Dan) Rutherford and Draginja (Carolyn) Rutherford. He has a sister (Vera) and a brother (Alex). He married Deborah Rutherford and they have one child (Sarah). -
Political Beliefs
What are your political beliefs?
"I believe in less government control, more Biblical based country and government, anti-abortion, and I am a conservative Republican." -
Favorite President
Who is your favorite president?
"My favorite President is Ronald Reagan." -
Conflicts in the World
Were there any conflicts in the world during the time of his Presidency?
"Yes. The US was involved in the Cold War with Russia and tensions in the Middle East." -
Handling the Situation
Did he do a good job in handling the situation? How?
"I thought he did. He made America stronger, increased defense spending and boosted the people's morale." -
Agreeing with the President
What were some of his actions/beliefs that you agreed with? Why?
"He had a conservative point of view. He wanted less government control and tried to trim the budget. He gave a speech after the Challenger blew up and quoted Scripture." -
Disagreeing with the President
What were some of his actions/beliefs that you disagreed with? Why?
"Some of his people traded weapons for hostages. There were also issues with Oliver North, who was involved with the arms for hostages trade. I disagreed with how he gave too much control to his advisors. -
Favorite Quote
Do you have a favorite quote from this president (say it)?
"One of my favorites is 'Trust but verify'. On a larger scale, the speech that he gave after the Challenger disaster was very uplifting." -
Influential President
What was the most influential thing that this President did during his presidency?
"I would say standing up to Russia during the Cold War which led to the downfall of the Soviet Union." -
Reflection on Life
How if at all did this influence your life?
"It made me feel better about the role of President, that there are still leaders that can lead by example; who can make a mistake but still be man enough to set an example." -
Descriptive Word
Use one word to describe him.
"Charismatic." -
Favorite Qualities
What were your favorite qualities that he possessed?
"I believe that he was a strong leader, great communicator, biblically based, honest, and firm." -
Presidency Goals
What do you think his main presidency goals were? Did he fulfill them?
"He wanted a stronger foreign defense and stronger economy by less government and less taxation. He also wanted people to feel better about the country. I believe that he did fulfill his goals for his presidency." -
Shaping the World
In closing, describe how his presidency shaped your life and the world we live in today?
"His leadership gave something for Americans to believe that their government could be better. He gave the people hope that they could strive, succeed, and prosper. He also reinforced the idea the Christianity was something to hold to value."
