Every Republican presidential candidate claims the mantle of Ronald Reagan. This is not surprising. Reagan won the presidency in 1980 by defeating an incumbent in a landslide, winning 44 of 50 states, and then got reelected in 1984 by sweeping 49 of 50 states. Few presidents enjoyed such decisive success at the ballot box and, more broadly, in changing America and the world for the better.

Not only would Republican presidential aspirants like to emulate Reagan's political appeal; they also identify with his brand of conservatism. As they jockey for the 2012 presidential nomination, they invoke Ronald Reagan: "I believe as Ronald Reagan believed...."

This begs the question: What did Ronald Reagan believe? Or, even more specific: What would Reagan do if he were president right now?

In this talk, Dr. Paul Kengor answers those questions and more. He lays out the underlying thinking that formed the basis of Ronald Reagan's political philosophy and the policies (foreign and domestic) that he pursued. Professor Kengor shares what he calls his "Reagan Seven;" that is, seven beliefs that undergirded Reagan's actions as president and as a public figure. These core principles get us closer to the crux of what Ronald Reagan's conservatism was about, and what his GOP emulators today might take to heart.

Paul Kengor PhD is a professor of political sciences at Grove City College and the executive director of the College's Center for Vision and Values.

Dr. Kengor is a frequent television political commentator and opinion page contributor. He is a regular featured columnist at Townhall.com and his articles have appeared in numerous publications from across the ideological spectrum. He is most known for his best selling books, including God and Ronald Reagan, God and George W. Bush, God and Hillary Clinton, and co-editor of The Reagan Presidency: Assessing the Man and His Legacy. In 2007 he completed The Judge, an authorized biography of former Reagan confidant and National Security Advisor William P. Clark, Jr..

Dr. Kengor earned his bachelor's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and his master's degree from American University. He is married to Susan Kengor and has seven children. He is a practicing Roman Catholic and avid Pittsburgh sports fan especially for the Pittsburgh Steelers.