Mark Souder: “I rise to pay tribute to the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Many have called our new freshman class…”

“I rise to pay tribute to the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Many have called our new freshman class the children of the Reagan revolution or the real Reagan revolution. Ideologically, this is true. We are committed to the principles upon which Ronald Reagan was the chief spokesman: reduce the size of Government, cut taxes, rebuild not undermine our Nation's strong moral and family base, and stand for a strong America. In my case, it goes beyond the generalization. In 1964, just after my 15th birthday, I heard Ronald Reagan's famous speech for Barry Goldwater for President. Like many others, I was moved to action. First, I took $5 of my hard-earned ``pop-bottle sorting'' money I earned at our family's general store and sent it to Goldwater. Second, I was activated and never looked back. After Goldwater's shocking defeat--he did pretty well in my hometown of Grabill--I organized a Young Americans for Freedom chapter at Leo High School, one of the Nation's first high school YAF chapters. At our 1968 Leo High School commencement, as senior class president, I was asked to speak. In my draft remarks was a quote from then Governor of California Ronald Reagan, with the comment, ``who will someday make a great President of the United States.'' Our faculty advisor, Mrs. Mumma, said to delete it or I couldn't speak. It was deleted off my cards, but I ad-libbed it anyway, being a somewhat independent person.”