Cliff Stearns: “today we celebrate the 90th birthday of Ronald Reagan. As we honor his life it is important to reflect on what he has…”

“today we celebrate the 90th birthday of Ronald Reagan. As we honor his life it is important to reflect on what he has contributed to our nation. As I consider this remarkable life, from his boyhood to the present, I see the heroic figure of a man coming to the rescue. His first period of public service was when he served as lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon, Illinois. In seven years as a lifeguard, he is credited with saving 77 lives. To this very day, the sum of Ronald Reagan's contributions is measured by what he has done for others. After a successful career in Hollywood as an actor and union president, Reagan again turned to public service. He witnessed the turmoil of the 1960s and the difficulties facing his beloved state of California. He saw the need for leadership and a new course directed from the governor's mansion. Never before holding public office, Ronald Reagan boldly stepped forward and offered his vision to the voters of America's most populous state. He won in a landslide. After two terms in Sacramento, Governor Reagan saw a series of threats menacing the United States. He challenged the incumbent Republican President in 1976 for the nomination, and, although he did not succeed, he revitalized the conservative movement. In 1980, Reagan again entered the presidential race and this time he won his party's nomination. I remember well the era of uncertainty that clouded America's future.…”