Ronald Reagan actually said...

"The names of those who have received this honor are stars in the American sky."

"Today, if it were not for a rightful pride of heritage, there would be no reason to identify Italian Americans as any kind of separate ethnic group."

"I also direct that the flag of the United States of America be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed day in memory of Christopher Columbus."

"We're adding the names of Charles (Tex) Thornton, a man whose energy and enterprise are symbolic of America herself."