Asa Hutchinson: “as I listened to the speeches and the various tributes to Ronald Reagan and the speeches that are in favor of this…”

“as I listened to the speeches and the various tributes to Ronald Reagan and the speeches that are in favor of this legislation to name the Washington National Airport after former President Ronald Reagan, I had not intended to speak today. But I was moved by some of the tributes that I have heard. I was dismayed by noticing the opposition to this legislation--surprised and dismayed. And I thought there was little I could add to some of the glowing tributes that we have heard except my own personal experience because I think in many ways I like many of my generation owe to Ronald Reagan the inspiration and the motivation to go into the whole sphere of the political arena. In 1964 I was in junior high school living in the northwest corner of Arkansas. My parents were not particularly political. But I watched the news and followed closely the political events that year and the election campaign between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater. I remember--I think it was about 10 days before the election that year-- watching on our black-and-white television in Arkansas a speech by an actor by the name of Ronald Reagan.”