Doc Hastings: “Ronald Reagan is a large part of why I have the honor of standing here today. I am from Washington State but in the…”

“Ronald Reagan is a large part of why I have the honor of standing here today. I am from Washington State but in the mid-1960s I lived in California. In 1966 I had the privilege of casting my first vote for Ronald Reagan in the gubernatorial primary and subsequently in the general election when he was elected Governor. I moved back to Washington in 1976, and I served as a Reagan delegate to the Presidential Convention in Kansas City. He inspired me to get involved in public service. And 2 years later, I was elected to the Washington State legislature. Reagan viewed the government as a servant of the people, not their master. Throughout his career, he worked for less government control over our lives. During his first inaugural address he said, and I quote, "It is not my intent to do away with government. It is rather to make it work, work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it, foster productivity, not stifle it." While he made no apologies for what he believed, he was a pragmatist, not willing to sacrifice the good for the perfect.”