The Greatest

The President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States. The president is in charge of preserving, protecting, and defending the Constitution of the United States of America. It is the President of the United States’ job to dispatch soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to resolve small conflicts in peacekeeping efforts. No one person is more important to the U.S. Military than the president. He will decide their fate in deployments throughout the world. The U.S. President must be strong, decisive, defiant, patriotic, and optimistic. He must exemplify the behavior for his very soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guard members to have under his command. The Commander-in-Chief must represent America in the finest traditions of the Founding Fathers, as if they were looking down upon him from above.

On June 6, 2004, America lost President Ronald Reagan. There was no greater president in the twentieth century than Ronald Reagan. He personified patriotism and all that America stood for. He conquered the Soviet Union, crushing the “Evil Empire,” and loosening the communist jaws on the European continent without firing a single shot. He battled Russia, making critical strategic moves without launching a single missile or invading a single country. President Reagan’s policies allowed America to flourish while overcoming an enemy bent on taking over the world.

Liberals will argue that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the greatest president of the twentieth century. After all, he did when World War II, fighting in two theaters of war. In reminder, President Ronald Reagan won a thirty-year Cold War with minimal loss of life. He fought a seemingly endless battle with the liberal media against him, always remaining the optimist. He kept America safe with the looming threat of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles pointed at American citizens, while liberals chanted, “You can’t do that. You’re going to end the world.” He built the largest military in U.S. History and America stood strong against the ugly, Soviet Bear.

America thrived during President Reagan’s tenure. He brought prosperity to America not seen since after World War II. By cutting top marginal tax rate from 90%-28%, he allowed Americans to keep more of their own money, spending it and ushering in one of the longest economic booms in American history. Even in the 1990’s, before President Clinton raised taxes, growth continued, jobs flourished, and technology boomed. All of this prosperity came from President Reagan’s tax cuts despite the liberal embellishments of doom.

Cutting taxes enabled employers to hire more workers, invest more money in the Stock Market, and delve into future technologies. Men like Bill Gates could not have succeeded had it not been for President Reagan. These new computer programs ushered in a whole new technology sector, bringing more and more jobs to more and more Americans. Reagan was elected in an Electoral College landslide in 1980. It gave Americans the best chance for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Twenty years later that election marks one of the finest in America.

John Marshall once said, “The power to tax involves the power to destroy.” President Reagan understood this the minute he took office. This leveled the importance of implementing his tax cuts. When he took office in 1981, America was facing one of the worst economic periods since the Great Depression. Interest rates were at an all time high, there were gas lines, unemployment was at its highest in 50 years, and America’s morale was at rock bottom.

After congress passed the proposed tax cuts, liberals screamed, “This is gonna send us into the next depression.” They were wrong as usual. Had President Reagan raised taxes to increase revenue, we would’ve sunk into a deeper recession-a veritable “quagmire,” taking even longer to recover and limiting the military budget that was needed to fight the menacing Russian machine invading Afghanistan.

The world was in turmoil, America was suffering, and the liberals were happy, all the while blaming President Ronald Reagan. In 1981, the economy started to turn for the better. Six months later, unemployment began to decline, people started working, and the American machine, with all its mite, began the long, arduous journey out of a recession. With the hard work of the American people and President Reagan’s foresight, they had completely erased President Carter’s recession. Soon, Reagan would focus his crosshairs on OPEC and the Middle East.

President Reagan understood that less dependence on foreign oil would ensure lower gas prices for Americans, allowing them to spend their money elsewhere. Companies such as Halliburton, Brown and Root and others began more and more exploration. His policies made OPEC keep oil prices competitive, reducing the price of oil to Americans. This allowed for even more prosperity to America. After years and years, President Reagan had nearly broken OPEC’s back. This began an oil boom, explaining to OPEC that Americans would not sit idly by and take it in the rear end. After all, President Reagan understood America and Americans.

He took a similar stance with the Soviet Union. He defiantly faced, and in no uncertain terms, told them we would not be bullied, blackmailed, or extorted. We would fight them if it meant pushing the button and sending ICBM’s into Moscow. Boldly he touted the Star Wars program. Bravely, he built a strong, defiant U.S. Armed Forces, forcing the Soviet Union to spend the bulk of their budgeted dollars to defend a program that never left the ground. Facing Russia head on, something liberals decreed would never work, strengthened the morale of Americans, giving them pride in their country for the first time in years. President Reagan’s great service to his country-a country of misfits that kicked out tyranny-strengthened a sleeping giant and gave us the pride to wave the American flag.

President Ronald Wilson Reagan gained the respect and admiration of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guard members serving under him. He gave them a sense of duty, purpose, and a drive for perfection. He elevated our military to an even higher level. This was the beginning of my trust in President Reagan. It was the beginning of my journey.

While President Reagan served his first four years in office, I walked to school from fifth to eighth grades. Proudly, I sent up the flag every morning as a young kid. I felt safe. I felt secure no matter what the nightly news said. In his second term, I attended grades nine through twelve and watched him build a strong, viable military. He strengthened my faith in our military, America, and the people that served Her so greatly.

In my four years of high school, my patriotism swelled inside of me. I wanted. No, I needed to serve my country. And I hold President Reagan responsible for my unyielding patriotism. That was his gift to me. His undying devotion to God and country trickled into my life as I watched television. All the while, an unsuspecting liberal media becoming his largest accomplice.

It is now in reflection of his death, that I realized just how lucky I was to have him as my president, as a guiding light of optimism, and to have him associated with the word, American. There aren’t many opportunities to say that you’ve brushed with greatness. But watching his demeanor, his purpose, his conviction and honor, have given me that opportunity. He is and will always be an example of what Americanism is. His life stood for so much to so many and I’m glad that I got a small chance to view history. President Reagan had inspired this poor old country boy. His actions with the Soviet Union told me that it was a God given gift to be an American, and that America wasn’t a dirty word. America was a state of mind, a prosperous country, and the hope of the entire world. On August 10, 1989, I enlisted into the U.S. Army, to fulfill that hope. That dream. My American destiny. And today, I will always be a soldier, forever serving in that greater cause of freedom and liberty for this comparably young nation.

I am proud to be an American and I think back to those wonderful days when America prospered. I can’t help but remember some of President Reagan’s addresses, giving me those words of encouragement and hope. His legacy continues on in me and in every American that wishes to participate in this great country of ours. For Reagan was the foundation upon which liberty lay. An extension of the very Founding Fathers that formed and instituted this great republic known as America. And for that, he’ll always be measured as a giant among men. It was those thoughts they lay heavy on my heart as the day to say goodbye drew near.

President Reagan’s funeral was one of the saddest moments of my life. And on June 11, 2004, they buried him before sunset. I wept. I bawled. I could barely perform my work. I asked myself why I was crying, why a grown man would shed tears for a former president. A man I only saw on television occasionally. I couldn’t stop crying. His death tore at me like I was a small child being ripped away from my mother. The loss of this great man had touched me. Even though I was a liberal in my teenage years, President Ronald Reagan’s death had gutted me. Why? Because he was there when I walked to school in my youth. He was there when I played with other children. And he was there when I entered my senior year in high school. President Reagan was telling me I could go to sleep safely at night. That no Russian missile would harm me on this day. I lived life normally during those eight years. I became a believer in America.

As a teen, I can remember hearing the clamoring from the news media that a Soviet nuclear strike could happen. Talk at the dinner table involved “mutually assured destruction” and bomb shelters. I never had to worry. Not as long as President Reagan was there. Not on his watch. He gave me that courage. That inspiration and hope that everything was under control. It was in that reflection, hitting me like a brick at how great the man was serving as President of the United States. He gave me meaning and purpose. He gave me faith and the belief that America was the greatest country in the world.

As they placed the casket on the stone, the tears stung my face rolling down my cheeks. It was the discovery of losing “The Greatest” and the indelible stamp he left on my life during my impressionable years, a time when the wind could have sent me in any direction. Fortunately, the wind blew me into the Army. I credit President Ronald Wilson Reagan for blowing that wind. For explaining to me what it was to be the Commander-in-Chief, and for what it meant to be American. That is why President Reagan is the greatest U.S. President in the twentieth century.

Men like Bill Gates could not have succeeded had it not been for President Reagan.

LOL this is a silly statement. I don't even think Reagan would give himself or the government this type of credit.

"LOL this is a silly statement. I don't even think Reagan would give himself or the government this type of credit."

True, but I was merely speaking of the ability to grow through tax cuts. You know, small business turning into big business. There is not sentimental connection there. But thanks for reading it though.

All right. How about men like Jim Robinson, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity. Self-created men. That's what I was speaking of.

I guess you would have to ask Jim to what credit he gives the government for what achievements he's made in his life. As for Rush or Sean, I would say the same thing.

True, but I was merely speaking of the ability to grow through tax cuts. You know, small business turning into big business. There is not sentimental connection there. But thanks for reading it though.

I didn't know you were the author. Guess I didn't read all THAT close :)

I can appreciate your points. But it's hard not to take what you wrote literally since it's so often uttered by the left.

There was the big picture. Reagan had a couple of major things he wanted, objects of his focus. He accomplished them, or rather we did at his insistence.

Reagan exuded class. Just think of story after story about how he made EVERY person he ever touched in some way feel like the most important person in the world that day. It would be nice to have each and every Reagan personal story recorded. It would make for the very best reading of the Reagan years among many great books on the man. What an inspiration he was.

He and Nancy the TRUE love affair of the century. How fun that is to imagine and what a classy couple.

Yet, all such things fail to capture the most vital part of why Reagan was so important, at least in my estimation. At a time when Americans were dangerously close to the precipice of becoming truly European, Reagan restored pride in this country, the pride that middle America must feel if this nation is to succeed over the long run.

El Dorado! Our President Ronald Reagan now resides forever in the eternal golden sunset of the heavens. What a glorious sight he picked for his final resting place and what an enthralling inscription he placed upon his grave.

And, your beautiful and moving tribute and homage to the man who gave so many millions of us the wonderful gift of opportunity and the vigorous defense of Liberty during his life will be treasured for as long as mankind lives.

Thank you for your thoughtful ping and paying such deep respect to a great man and President.

"I guess you would have to ask Jim to what credit he gives the government for what achievements he's made in his life. As for Rush or Sean, I would say the same thing."

Well. I didn't mean government at all. I was speaking of capitalism and how Reagan reduced taxes, making it easier on business to do what it does best including men like Bill Gates, Jim Robinson, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity. It was Reagan's vision to limit government and reducing the amount of money that they take is one way. That's what I was getting at.

Oh, well. I'm a might slow at explainin' myself. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear in the essay. As the author, I take full responsibility.

"Thank you for your thoughtful ping and paying such deep respect to a great man and President."

It's still not good enough. Not for him. I don't know if I could ever make it good enough. I just know I enjoy life and Americans a little better after this long, terrible week. If I learned one thing, it was to embrace America and Americans.

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