From Reagan to Trump: GOP Has Changed — but Mike DeWine Hasn’t

Columbus, Ohio — When Governor Mike DeWine was a junior congressman representing Ohio in the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan invited him to fly on Air Force One to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, which was in DeWine’s district.

After the plane landed, Reagan told DeWine, “Come on, Congressman, and walk out with me,” inviting him to do something presidents typically do alone or accompanied by the first lady.

About the Author

Charles Hilu

Charles Hilu is a national affairs reporter at National Review. A graduate of the University of Michigan, he previously worked at the Washington Free Beacon and The Dispatch before joining National Review in 2026.

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Columbus, Ohio — When Governor Mike DeWine was a junior congressman representing Ohio in the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan invited him to fly on Air Force One to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, which was in DeWine’s district.

After the plane landed, Reagan told DeWine, “Come on, Congressman, and walk out with me,” inviting him to do something presidents typically do alone or accompanied by the first lady.

About the Author

Charles Hilu

Charles Hilu is a national affairs reporter at National Review. A graduate of the University of Michigan, he previously worked at the Washington Free Beacon and The Dispatch before joining National Review in 2026.