Russ Feingold: “Today I pay my respects to a beloved leader who, with grace, wit, and charisma, led our country through some of the…”

“Today I pay my respects to a beloved leader who, with grace, wit, and charisma, led our country through some of the great challenges of the twentieth century. President Ronald Wilson Reagan was a dedicated public servant whose confidence and optimism reinvigorated the American people and made him one of the most honored and respected Presidents in our Nation's history. Although he lived most of his life in California, President Reagan was a fellow Midwesterner. Born in 1911 in Tampico, IL, Ronald Wilson Reagan attended high school in nearby Dixon and worked his way through Eureka College. There he earned his B.A., played on the football team, and participated in school plays. He eventually won a contract in Hollywood and appeared in 53 films over two decades. The father of four children became increasingly involved in politics and in 1966 was elected the governor of California, and was reelected in 1970. His optimistic message, at a time when the country was beset by inflation and by the taking of American hostages in Iran, helped him to win the presidency in 1980. Four years later, he was reelected in a 49-state sweep. In foreign affairs, it is impossible to separate President Reagan's legacy from the astounding change in world affairs that began while he was in office: the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and the end of the Cold War. President Reagan spoke frankly and frequently about the bankruptcy-- both moral and economic--of the Soviet regime.”