The Great Liberator: Margaret Thatcher's eulogy for President Reagan

The Weekly Standard ^ | June 21, 2004 | Margaret Thatcher

[quidnunc]

We have lost a great president, a great American, and a great man. And I have lost a dear friend. In his lifetime Ronald Reagan was such a cheerful and invigorating presence that it was easy to forget what daunting historic tasks he set himself. He sought to mend America's wounded spirit, to restore the strength of the free world, and to free the slaves of communism. These were causes hard to accomplish and heavy with risk.

Yet they were pursued with almost a lightness of spirit. For Ronald Reagan also embodied another great cause — what Arnold Bennett once called "the great cause of cheering us all up." His politics had a freshness and optimism that won converts from every class and every nation — and ultimately from the very heart of the evil empire.

Yet his humor often had a purpose beyond humor. In the terrible hours after the attempt on his life, his easy jokes gave reassurance to an anxious world. They were evidence that in the aftermath of terror and in the midst of hysteria, one great heart at least remained sane and jocular. They were truly grace under pressure.

-snip-

[The_Victor]

Lady Thatcher presented an incredible eulogy.

[Dante3]

Very moving.

[fso301]

Very fitting that at the sunset service, she was the last to pay respects before the last sliver of sun sank beind the mountains.

[The_Victor]

With the lever of American patriotism, he lifted up the world. And so today the world--in Prague, in Budapest, in Warsaw, in Sofia, in Bucharest, in Kiev, and in Moscow itself--the world mourns the passing of the Great Liberator and echoes his prayer, "God Bless America."

There is no more fitting tribute to a man who so loved freedom, than the places around the world that today enjoy the fruits of his efforts.

[vox humana]

It was clearly the best delivered eulogy of the week. No one can match Thatcher for sincere feeling.

[nutmeg]

BTTT

[NonValueAdded]

"Free the slaves of communism" was the phrase that jumped out at me from her fantastic tribute.

[The Westerner]

Her eulogy was A+. Her delivery was A+. No one came close to matching her eloquence and emotional tone.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[KSCITYBOY]

marked

[TheDon]

Agreed. She is another giant among mankind.

[cherry]

As did Brian Mulronney.....

was it so long ago that we had Mulronney,Reagan, Thatcher, and yes even Gorbachov to lead us away from the cold war....

What leaders we had then....what statesmen....

Except for perhaps Tony Blair, we are sorely lacking in true charismatic leadership.....none from France, none from Canada, and even though Dubya is so far superior to most leaders today, or those that want to lead, he does not have that wonderful and powerful presence of self that Reagan or Thatcher had....