Flanked by an American flag and a copy of Lawrence Welk 's book Ah-One, Ah-Two, former California Governor Ronald Reagan was interviewed in his Los Angeles office last week by TIME Correspondent Jess Cook. Excerpts:
Conservative leaders meeting in Maryland a few days ago concluded that "Ford is unacceptable at the moment." Do you take issue with this?
No, because I'm in disagreement with what is being done [in Washington]. You hope, by raising a kind of grass-roots feeling or expression about what you think should be done, that you can influence an Administration.
Why are conservatives so at odds with a President whose...