In the 1980 presidential election, Republican Ronald Reagan ran against the incumbent, Democrat Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterWhy Dr. Fauci is Donald Trump's worst nightmare The Memo: New shutdowns add to Trump woes The Memo: Democrats grow more bullish on Texas MORE. Reagan famously hit a home run in their one debate byaskingAmericans, at a time when the economy was staggering,Are you better off than you were four years ago? It was a close race going into the debate, but a week later Reagan won the election decisively.No one remembers Carters response.

Its the last question that President TrumpDonald John TrumpCivil rights legend Rep. John Lewis dies Biden warns of Russian election interference after receiving intelligence briefings Texas officials offer schools option to hold online-only classes until November MORE wants anyone to ask him to such devastating effect a week before the election in November, which is why Dr. Anthony FauciAnthony FauciHillicon Valley: Russian hackers return to spotlight with vaccine research attack | Twitter says 130 accounts targeted in this week's cyberattack | Four fired, dozens suspended in CBP probe into racist, sexist Facebook groups Overnight Health Care: White House blocks CDC director from testifying before House panel | Fauci urges action on masks | Administration document says counties in 'red zone' should close bars, gyms White House blocks CDC director from testifying before House panel on reopening schools MORE is a presidential nightmare.Americans are horribly worse off than they were four years ago, and they know it.Less than four months before the election, Trump is down by 15 percentage points against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenBiden warns of Russian election interference after receiving intelligence briefings Hillicon Valley: Russian hackers return to spotlight with vaccine research attack | Twitter says 130 accounts targeted in this week's cyberattack | Four fired, dozens suspended in CBP probe into racist, sexist Facebook groups Trump campaign's Brad Parscale calls media 'criminal network' MORE in the most recentQuinnipiacUniversity poll.

The presidents reelection strategy is to revive the economy by pushing Americans back to work and children back to school without being honest about the risks from the coronavirus pandemic, which he airily waves away.Despitecoronavirus casesurgesthroughout the country, Trump claims that the pandemic is under control and that 99 percent of cases aretotally harmless.

Dr. Fauci gets in the way of that strategy by telling Americans the truth about the pandemic.He regularly reminds them that the pandemic is far from over, urges caution in reopening the economy and the schools, and unhesitatingly contradicts the presidents wildly off-base, feel-good statements.Fauci bluntly insisted that itsobviously notthe case that99 percent of the cases are harmless.

Ina mid-JuneNew York Times-Sienapoll,76 percent of respondents stated that they trusted Fauci foraccurate information about the pandemic.Only 26 percent said the same of Trump, who must have felt the way the Evil Queen did when the Magic Mirror said that Snow White was the fairest of them all.

Indeed, there are reports that the pollaccountsfor the botched attempt by the White House to kneecap Dr. Fauci with snide presidential remarks (nice man,but hes made a lot of mistakes), unflattering cartoons, an opposition-research style memorandum critical of Fauci and even an op-ed by that well known medical giant, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro,contendingthat Faucis advice should be taken withskepticism and caution.

Dr. Fauci pushed back hard, which probably stunned a president used to bending, if not breaking, any member of his administration who crosses him, and not used to having someone out-tough him. Fauci called the White House attacksbizarre; asserted that the publiccan trust me; dismissed Navarro asin a world by himself; and said "lets stop this nonsense and focus on the virus.

What happened next was extremely gratifying to anyone who likes to see bullies get their comeuppance.Numerous public health experts rallied to Faucis defense, and even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMemo to Mitch: Repeal the Republican tax increase Travel industry calls for targeted relief amid coronavirus pandemic Why Dr. Fauci is Donald Trump's worst nightmare MORE (R-Ky.) said he hadtotal confidence in Fauci. Trump backed down, which he probably hates to do even more than wearing a mask in public.Trump rebuked Navarro for the op-ed and, sounding like a supplicant, insisted that hegets along very well with Dr. Fauci.

Generations from now, when historians examine the Great Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020-21, they will likely be baffled as to why the president of the United States refused to listen to, and even tried to discredit, the nations leading virologist when so many Americans were falling ill and dying from a virus.They may also have a hard time understanding how, after so many centuries of scientific progress, the American people could confer their highest office on a man who, when his personal political needs and science conflicted, rejected science and scientific expertise.

Fortunately, Dr. Fauci emerged unscathed, and perhaps even stronger, from the White Houses attempted mauling.In the absence of presidential leadership, his expertise and advice is much-needed as the coronavirus plunges its talons ever deeper into the American people.When Fauci looks at a map of the United States showing coronavirus cases, his focus is on the ugly, spreading red blotches of a pandemic that is killing Americans.When Donald Trump looks at a map like that,he sees only himself.

Gregory J. Wallance, a writer in New York City, was a federal prosecutor during the Carter and Reagan administrations. He is the author of the historical novel, Two Men Before the Storm: Arba Cranes Recollection of Dred Scott and the Supreme Court Case That Started the Civil War. Follow him on Twitter at @gregorywallance.

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Why Dr. Fauci is Donald Trump's worst nightmare | TheHill - The Hill