PUTTING THE SHINE BACK ON U.S.

Believe it or not, winning the election may not be the biggest challenge for Republican Donald J. Trump.

Getting his agenda past Congress — albeit one controlled by members of his party — may be.

Nevertheless, because of perhaps the biggest upset in the history of United States presidential elections Tuesday, Trump will have that chance.

Certainly, the election of the New York businessman was a message of repudiation of the last eight years of a divisive administration that governed against the will of the people. The question going forward is how much of the agenda Trump set forth in his campaign can be enacted.

› Will he build a wall on the country’s Southern border and force Mexico to pay for it?

› Can he repeal Obamacare and replace it with a workable health care plan?

› Will he cut corporate taxes, now among the highest in the world?

› Can he rebuild and modernize the military? Those are just a few of Trump’s stated plans. And he will have a Republican Congress with which to work but hardly the veto-proof majority President Obama had from 2009 to 2011. The GOP has but the slimmest majorities in the Senate and lost a few seats in their sizable majority in the House (though far fewer than anyone had predicted).

And in that Congress he has few loyal supporters, many — including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan — who waffled over backing him after he made various outrageous statements across the expanse of the campaign.

Yet, if his presidency is to be successful, if he is to accomplish any of his agenda, Trump will have to work hand in hand with Democrats and a GOP that is just as much establishment as he is an outsider.

It can be done, though. The election of a similar outsider who wanted to shake things up not all that long ago is proof.

In 1980, when the country was less partisan and members of Congress more willing to work together, President-elect Ronald Reagan faced such a task. He had a small GOP Senate majority and did not have a Republican House. Yet, he managed to cobble together legislation that gave the country the longest peacetime economic expansion in years and a rebuilt military.

Perhaps even more than his legislative plans, though, Trump has an opportunity to reverse the mood of much of the country. For the last eight years, due both to Obama’s tone-deaf governance and the seeming inability or unwillingness of elected Republicans to do anything about it, he can boost the American brand.

Throughout his campaign, he told crowds, “We’re not winning.” It was a simplistic phrase, but it was a message that resonated.

After all, they saw Obama apologizing around the world. They saw an administration practically open its southern border and, against its laws, allow entry to millions of immigrants. They saw forces of evil gobble up territory in the Middle East where U.S. treasure had been spilled to save. They saw their country offer a one-sided nuclear deal to the world’s biggest terror sponsor. They saw terrorist attacks in their country and rioting in the streets.

Thus, Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” spoke volumes.

The president-elect has something Reagan did — the wherewithal to reach the average person and the ability to speak over the heads of a biased media. Reagan could do it because of his authentic love for the country, his ability to speak plainly and his self-deprecating humor. Trump can do it because his wealth and business success — and the country’s familiarity with him from his former reality television show — keep the slings and arrows of criticism from overly affecting him.

Trump’s words after clinching victory early Wednesday morning indicate his desire.

“To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation,” he said, “I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. It’s time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans … It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will. … I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America’s interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone, with everyone — all people and all other nations. We will seek common ground, not hostility; partnership, not conflict.”

Hillary Clinton’s words in concession Wednesday signal hers — and we hope her party’s — to do likewise.

“I hope he will be a successful president for all Americans,” she said. “… We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.”

President Obama voiced a similar message shortly after Clinton’s remarks.

“Now, we’re all rooting for his success,” he said. “… We have to remember that we’re all on one team. … We all want what’s best for our country.”

If that collegiality continues into and through the Trump administration, the American greatness that is still present but perhaps has lost a little of its polish can in fact shine again.