Reagan’s Contempt for History

Bitburg, Germany, 1945; Managua, Nicaragua, 1985. The two appear to be so far apart that no occurrence could possibly bring them together. But in March and April, 1985, Ronald Reagan asked himself a question, Whom shall I honor? And his answers showed that Bitburg and Managua were closer to each other than anyone had supposed.

It began with Michael Deaver’s trip to Germany, in search of “photo opportunities” for the president’s visit. Deaver used his ingenuity along the way to purchase BMW automobiles for himself, his friends and connections, with a discount reserved for diplomats. This swindle made the news, and President Reagan said of it genially: “People in his position have always done thi...