On the recordFebruary 9, 2011
I am honored to speak today in remembrance of the life and legacy of our 40th President, Ronald Reagan. Just prior to Ronald Reagan assuming the Presidency, many people wondered whether this country's best days were behind us. "What I'd really like to do," he said after six months in the White House, "is go down in history as the President who made Americans believe in themselves again." He created a sense of pride in our nation that was severely lacking following the Vietnam war. His reforms to our tax code, tax cuts and a significantly lowered rate of inflation lead to the longest peacetime economic expansion in our history. President Reagan's longest lasting legacy remains his role in winning the Cold War. While the common doctrine of the time called for containing Communism, Reagan boldly predicted that it would soon be "left on the ash-heap of history." During the journey that was the Reagan Revolution, he restored prosperity, confidence, optimism, faith, and pride in America. We along with countless others around the world will be forever grateful.
