I had a feeling all day on November 4, 1980 that we would have a big win, but never dreamed it would be the margin of victory that it was. IIRC, Carter conceded at 7:30 Central Time, before the West Coast polls had closed, and we went up with a whoop, it was so exciting.
I remember even better Inauguration Day, with Reagan at the lunch in the Capitol's Statuary Hall and announcing that he had received official word of the Iranian Hostages release. I have that on tape, and still break down to this day when I replay it.
Local news here in Los Angeles reported that over 5000 people visited the library and gravesite yesterday when it reopened. I don't think any of us who care about such things need worry that the numbers of visitors will diminish anytime soon. The library will have extended hours through the July 4th holiday to accommodate the crowds. People are being invited to sign condolence books which will be presented to Mrs. Reagan. In addition, the library director was interviewed this morning, and he said that she had called him and said how overwhelmed and grateful she is with the outpouring of love from the general public. That seems to mean more to her than anything else, and seems to be sustaining her.
All of the cards, letters, signs, jars of jelly beans, and so on from the general public are being saved for Mrs. Reagan, the family, and for the library's own historical records. So I encourage anyone who's interested in doing so to send your own personal condolence card to the library. Here's the address:
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation
40 Presidential Drive
Simi Valley, CA 93065
Lastly, the weather here locally has been pleasant, in the high 70's to low 80's during the day after our customary morning low cloud cover burns off. The sunsets have been gorgeous.
He certainly worked behind the scenes during the first Gulf War trying to get the Arab countries to stay OUT of the coalition formed to remove Saddam Hussein from Kuwait.