When audiences return to theaters on Sept. 25 for the re-release of the hit film “Reagan” – a special “director’s cut” featuring 10 minutes of new footage – they’ll once again see veteran actor Nick Searcy portraying one of the most influential figures of the Reagan administration.
James A. Baker III served as White House chief of staff, Treasury secretary and later secretary of State. Yet despite becoming one of Ronald Reagan’s closest advisers, Baker was never considered part of Reagan’s original inner circle.
For Searcy, that’s precisely what made him fascinating.
“He wasn’t really a Reaganite,” Searcy told producer Mark Joseph on Mark’s podcast, “The Mark Joseph Show.” “He was hired because of his abilities and his reputation.”
The more Searcy researched Baker, the more he came to believe that great leaders don’t surround themselves exclusively with people who think exactly the way they do.
The value of a different voice
Preparing for the role meant reading Baker’s memoir and watching hours of interviews. Rather than finding an ideological crusader, Searcy discovered a pragmatic negotiator.
“He was a deal maker,” Searcy said. “Let’s get as far as we can, take that deal, and move forward.”
That approach contrasted with Reagan’s more philosophical conservatism, yet Searcy believes the difference ultimately strengthened the administration.
“I don’t think it’s good to have everybody being a ‘yes man,’” he said.
Leaders, he argues, benefit from hearing competing perspectives before making difficult decisions.
Understanding Reagan
Although Searcy has long admired Reagan, he says working on the film changed what he appreciated most.
Instead of focusing primarily on Reagan’s presidency, “Reagan” explores the experiences that shaped his worldview long before he entered the White House.
“What I liked most was seeing Reagan’s journey,” Searcy said.
In particular, he was fascinated by Reagan’s years leading the Screen Actors Guild and the internal battles that influenced his political philosophy.
“I didn’t realize how important that part of his life was.”
Politics at the dinner table
Searcy’s own interest in politics began long before Hollywood.
He grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, where local government was a frequent topic of conversation. His father repeatedly ran for county office as a Republican in a region dominated by Democrats.
“He never won,” Searcy recalled with a smile, “but he came close.”
Watching those campaigns taught him that politics isn’t only about Washington. Sometimes it’s about local decisions that directly affect everyday life.
Hollywood came later
Acting, however, remained Searcy’s first dream. He says he knew by age 12 that he wanted to perform, despite having no actors anywhere in his family. That dream eventually led him from North Carolina to theater in New York before breakthrough roles in “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “Days of Thunder,” “The Prince of Tides,” “Cast Away” and later television’s “Justified.”
Looking back, Searcy says his greatest professional success isn’t fame. It’s simply making a living as an actor for more than three decades.
“I’ve been very fortunate,” he said.
Success – and uncertainty
Even with a long résumé, Searcy says an acting career never becomes predictable. There have been stretches lasting more than a year without work. Those experiences taught him and his wife to live cautiously rather than assume the next job would always arrive.
“We didn’t trust the money,” he said. That perspective, he believes, has allowed his family to weather the industry’s inevitable ups and downs.
From acting to directing
Searcy has also expanded into directing and producing.
His film “Gosnell” marked his first major directing project after years of acting. It told the story of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, whose dangerous and unethical practices in his abortion clinic led to his conviction on murder and manslaughter charges, resulting in a life sentence in prison. Searcy says the experience gave him a new appreciation for the responsibility directors carry.
“As an actor, you go back to your trailer,” he joked. “As a director, every decision is yours.”
Although he still enjoys acting, Searcy hopes to spend more of the coming years developing projects he has written and produced himself.
Working together despite differences
One subject that repeatedly surfaced during the conversation was disagreement. Searcy acknowledged that people working on “Reagan” came from a variety of political backgrounds. Yet on set, he says, professionalism consistently mattered more than ideology.
For him, that’s one of filmmaking’s greatest strengths. Artists with different perspectives can still collaborate in pursuit of the same creative goal.
Looking back
Researching James Baker ultimately left Searcy with a deeper appreciation for leadership built on confidence rather than conformity. Baker wasn’t hired because he always agreed with Ronald Reagan. He was valued because he brought experience, judgment and a willingness to offer another perspective when it mattered.
As “Reagan” returns to theaters beginning Sept. 25, audiences will once again watch one of the defining political partnerships of the 1980s unfold on screen.
For Searcy, however, Baker’s greatest lesson reaches far beyond politics: The strongest leaders aren’t those who surround themselves with echoes. They’re the ones confident enough to invite honest disagreement – and wise enough to listen before making the final decision.
The trailer:
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