President Ronald Reagan

Despite his laid-back working habits, Reagan definitely created good 'photo ops.' He had grace and style, and if he was a bit bored with the routine away from the cameras, he responded with renewed energy when in front of them. I watched him one day at an event as he sat waiting to speak. Reagan's batteries looked low. When the emcee began the introduction, however, Reagan started to transform. It was as if someone were pumping air into a flat tire. When the moment came and those magical words, “Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States,” were uttered, he was on his feet, full of vim and vigor, ready to deliver one of his patented great speeches. I can only presume that his years of acting taught him pacing and that he saved the best for when he had to go onstage.

Excerpt from Photo Op by David Hume Kennerly, 1995