Ronald Reagan

I'm asking Congress to give this peace initiative and democracy a chance.

And if they'd rewrite the Constitution, I'd try to be around for the next 20th.

I'm always cautiously optimistic.

These refugees are not simply people caught in the middle of a war.

I have concluded that the statutory fiscal year 1985 limit for Eximbank authority should be retained unchanged.

I, Ronald Reagan, do hereby proclaim May 1, 1985, as Loyalty Day.

May 1, 1985, is Law Day, U.S.A.

Our plan will mark an historic commitment to American families.

My goal is to keep America the premier job-creating nation on Earth.

And we've asked Congress to release $14 million for those freedom fighters—aid that will go immediately for medicines, food, and clothing and other support to help these men and their families survive.

We have made this proposal in a sincere effort to start a dialog aimed at true internal reconciliation, which can bring peace and liberty to Nicaragua.

We've asked both sides—the Communists and the democratic resistance—to lay down their arms.

I ask only that the Members of our own Congress do the same.

It's going to be a fight.

Well, if they do, they'll be lying in their teeth, as they did in 1982.

Well, I think when they see the Contadora process and neighboring countries all in support of this—and the contras are the ones who are willing to lay down their arms, to simply ask for the right to negotiate and discuss what kind of a…

We've all been in agreement; yes, it is a compromise.

Well, how is adding a 2-percent raise each year cutting it?

I believe we now have an important new opportunity to promote peace and reconciliation in Nicaragua.

I don't know whether you could say that, because there have been summit meetings before.

Democracy is the road to peace.

Children are not only a joy to the parents who raise them; they also represent a society's future.

We, like you, believe peace can be achieved through national reconciliation and democracy.

Drug trafficking is a criminal activity that has no frontiers and can only be controlled by a combined effort of all countries involved.

I believe that direct negotiations between the parties is the best way to achieve settlement.