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Index |
Reagan's Quotes
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His Life in Pictures
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Reagan Media Clips
What is
Greatness? - A
Tribute to Ronald ReaganA.
Is it fame? Money? Power? A lot has been said, and will be
said, about Ronald Reagan over the course of this week, about his
greatness. Personally I have always felt that great men make a difference
in the world around them. Whose name will be remembered in 100 years? Bill Gates
or Ronald Reagan?
RR's
life affected me b/c of the following:
#1
- He made me believe that anything is possible. This man's optimism, wit,
charm, faith, leadership, hard work, are an example to every human being.
Also, the man made the words character and principle, actually mean something to
me. Have faith in God, do good for your country, and don't be narrow
minded.
RR
was one of those leaders that appears once every generation, at the exact time
when they were needed most. I would go as far as to say that he was the
greatest President of the last 50 years, and that goes up to the present
day. I'd rank him #4 on the all time list, after
Lincoln, Washington, and FDR.
Now,
let's go a little bit more in depth.
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"I have left orders to
be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet
meeting.." - RR
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B.
An American Story: If ever there was a story of the
"American Dream", Ronald
Reagan's life should be on the front page. Lifeguard,
Sports Broadcaster, Actor, Father, Corporate Spokesperson, Governor, and
President.
Before
RR was elected, the United States was involved in the "Carter Years",
and I don't say that affectionately. Inflation, mortgage rates and gas
prices were all sky rocketing. Scores of Americans were still being held
hostage in Iran after more than 1 year of Jimmy Carter's
ineptitude. In essence, the nation had lost its sense of identity.
Americans were not being told how to fix their problems, they
were being told they were to blame for their problems. The
time was ripe, for a new leader.
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"Politics is not a bad
profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you
can always write a book.." - RR
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C.
Underestimating Reagan: The political landscape of Reagan's
political career is littered with people who didn't take him seriously.
Those people soon found themselves unemployed.
Who would have thought that this so called "dumb actor" from a little
town, would be twice elected Governor of California, the nation's biggest state,
let alone twice elected President. Here's a case in point: when the incumbent Governor of California
learned that RR would be his opponent, he was thrilled, it would be a piece of
cake against this Hollywood B actor with no political experience. RR won
by 1 million votes.
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"Abortion is advocated
only by persons who have themselves been born." - RR
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How
did he do it? Well, take a look at some of the quotes below:
D.
Quotable Quotes: Aside from the end of the Cold War, RR may
well be remembered for the innumerable one liners of his career.
"Honey, I forgot to duck" and "I hope you're all Republicans"
among them. He seemed to have this uncanny ability to mix
self deprecating humor and
charm against all of his opponents, which endeared
him to the nation.
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"How do you tell a
Communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an
anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin." - RR
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E.
His Faith: RR's father, Jack, was an alcoholic, and Reagan
resented his father for having that weakness. He felt his father should
of been strong enough to conquer it. In any case, this weakness in his
father drew him toward his mother, Nelle, a devout Disciples of Christ
believer. Reagan began attending sunday school and church with his mother
from a very young age, later commenting that the spiritual foundations of his
life were solidified during those early years.
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"You can tell a lot
about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans." - RR
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F.
The Reagan Revolution: RR saved the Republican party, it's
that simple. Every presidency since the Eisenhower administration had
ended in failure. Kennedy was assassinated, Johnson was doomed by
Vietnam, Nixon resigned over Watergate, Ford didn't seem to get much done,
Carter seemed to define ineptitude. Then along came Reagan. The
eternal optimist, who believed that the country's greatest days were ahead.
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"Recession is
when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And
recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his." - RR
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G.
Absolutely NO Pity: RR wouldn't have wanted our pity over his
death. He lived a long, full, and varied life, and truly made a
difference. Even though his death brings finality, he's really been gone for
several years now due to his Alzheimer's disease. So, for his sake, and
for Nancy's, the suffering has finally ended.
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"I
am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.."
- RR
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H.
"A Shining City on a Hill" : Reagan was often
quoted as saying that he felt America was a shining city on a hill. A
beacon from which the rest of the world looked to for freedom's banner.
Some people dismissed this as rhetorical nonsense, but he really believed that
leadership was the job of this country, and the president should be at the head
of that fight.
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"Surround
yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't
interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out."
- RR
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I.
Legacy: RR ended the Cold War, it's that simple. Now
would it have ended at some point in the future? The answer is yes.
But would it have ended as soon as it did without his efforts, or as peacefully
as it did? The answer is NO. He is the first President to live
up to FDR's stature. It'll be interesting to see who will live up to
Reagan's. It hasn't happened yet.
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"Republicans
believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is
April 15." - RR
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J.
He Made It: When I learned that RR was diagnosed with Alzheimers, a
disease which robs the mind, resulting in permanent memory loss, and the
inability to function normally, it really brought home the fact that even the
greatest men, have an appointed time to die, and that nothing can keep them
from that date. But there is the satisfaction of knowing that RR made
it. He was a believer.
There
is so much more to say, but I'm going to leave you with this true story:
At
Christmas in 1995, a visitor brought Reagan a special gift, a porcelain replica
of the White House to place in his fish tank at his office in Los Angeles.
Reagan seemed bewildered as he look at this gift. "I must take it
home," Reagan said. "I have to show Nancy because I know I had
some relationship to this place. I just can't remember what is was."
- by Chris G
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