The Eleventh Commandment (Ronald Reagan) facts for kids

The Eleventh Commandment is a famous saying used by Ronald Reagan, who later became the President of the United States. He first used this phrase during his political campaign in 1966 when he was running to become the Governor of California.

The saying goes like this:

Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.

This means that members of the Republican political party should not say bad things about other Republicans. It's about keeping the party united and strong, especially during elections.

Reagan himself tried to follow this rule. For example, during the 1976 Republican primary election, he was running against the sitting president, Gerald Ford. Reagan avoided criticizing Ford directly in the first five primary elections, even though he lost all of them. This showed his commitment to the "Eleventh Commandment."

What is the Eleventh Commandment?

The Eleventh Commandment is a simple rule about how politicians from the same party should act towards each other. It encourages them to be supportive and avoid public arguments. This helps the party look strong and work together to achieve its goals. It's like a team rule for politicians.

Who was Ronald Reagan?

Ronald Reagan was an important American politician who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Before becoming president, he was an actor and then served as the Governor of California from 1967 to 1975. He was a very popular leader and is remembered for his strong communication skills.

Why did Reagan create this rule?

Reagan introduced the Eleventh Commandment during his 1966 campaign for Governor of California. At that time, there was a lot of disagreement and fighting among Republicans in California. Reagan wanted to bring the party together and stop members from attacking each other. He believed that if Republicans were united, they would have a better chance of winning elections.