James Traficant: “I question many of the economic policies, like many Democrats. And we can take a look at Ronald Reagan as any other…”

“I question many of the economic policies, like many Democrats. And we can take a look at Ronald Reagan as any other president, and we can question many things. But I think we have to give the Gipper his due here today. Ronald Reagan, probably more than any other single individual, was responsible for correctly identifying the Soviet Union as the big bad bear, for pressing communism around the world, and for challenging the people of the free world to really actually tear down the Berlin Wall. And, more than any other individual, Ronald Reagan is to be credited with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the demise almost of communism, and the dismantling of the Berlin Wall. Now I do agree with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley), whether he was serious about it or not, and he is a great Member, that, honestly, we probably should name the Pentagon after this fearless leader. But the Republican party wants to honor their great president, and it is a lesson that maybe the Democrats should learn from it. I believe that I will support that because he was a great president, and I will vote for the rule, and I will vote for the bill. But I want to say this to the Republican party. There are many Democrats that want the legacy of Robert Kennedy remembered with a significant naming in this District; and since RFK has become now a suburban stadium, there is no real present honoring that legacy.”