Lincoln Chafee: “I pay tribute to President Ronald Reagan, a man for whom I had the utmost respect. A strong, principled leader…”

“I pay tribute to President Ronald Reagan, a man for whom I had the utmost respect. A strong, principled leader, President Reagan used his optimism and humor to help the Nation feel better in a post-Vietnam, post-Watergate country coping with an energy crisis and high inflation. He brought strong leadership and could relate to people from all walks of life very, very easily. Democrats controlled the House during both of his terms, and the Senate during his last 2 years in office. In order to advance his priorities, he had to bridge the partisan divide and work with members of the other party. He was also very proud of his good personal relations with Tip O'Neill and other Democratic leaders. The proof of his appeal was his ability to carry a Democrat stronghold like my state of Rhode Island in the 1984 election. He was the last Republican Presidential candidate to do so. With tremendous vision and dignity, President Reagan will ultimately be remembered for ending the cold war and promoting freedom and democracy throughout the world in a peaceful way.”