I've never heard this speech before nor have I read the text of it. I was 8-years-old when Reagan took office. I was lucky in that he helped shape my view of America as I grew up. With a healthy dose of parental involvement combined with Reagan being President from the time I was 8-years-old to 16-years-old insured that I can honestly say that I've always believed in the good of the American people and in a small and limited government. I consider it a blessing in my life that I grew up with Ronald Reagan as my president.
I was 7 years old when Reagan took office and I feel you on your sentiments. The difference happened to be that I lived with my liberal mother who always spewed hatred for Reagan. She voted for Mondale and the other guy (I dont remember Reagan's other challenger). Even though I listened to "Reagan is going to kill us all" and "Reagan is going to start WWIII" all the time, when I grew old enough to understand politics a little better, I realized my mother was full of bovine excrement. It was this moment that I learned to hate liberalism.
I was just 5 years old when Reagan was elected. Being a child raised with a hefty dose of television I quickly learned to love Reagan. As I got older I learned about his vision of limited government and it is at the core of my beliefs. I miss Reagan.
I was three when Reagan was sworn in.
I still remember seeing him on TV in his second term and thinking that I liked him (I was 11 when he left office).
Been a conservative ever since!