Reagan gave a couple of memorable speeches at CPAC after Republican defeats in '74 and '76. "A Time For Choosing", however was his speech at the Goldwater convention in '64 that rocketed him to the national political scene.
His '75 speech at CPAC "Let Them Go Their Way" has parallels to today's situation with the GOP.
Americans are hungry to feel once again a sense of mission and greatness.Man oh man, do I miss Ronald Reagan.I don 't know about you, but I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" -- when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
It was a feeling that there was not a sufficient difference now between the parties that kept a majority of the voters away from the polls. When have we ever advocated a closed-door policy? Who has ever been barred from participating?
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let us show that we stand for fiscal integrity and sound money and above all for an end to deficit spending, with ultimate retirement of the national debt.
[SNIP]Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people. Let us also call for an end to the nit-picking, the harassment and over-regulation of business and industry which restricts expansion and our ability to compete in world markets.
[SNIP]A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.
I do not believe I have proposed anything that is contrary to what has been considered Republican principle. It is at the same time the very basis of conservatism. It is time to reassert that principle and raise it to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way.
And lets also remember that only days after Reagan’s speech in 64, Goldwater went down in flames. I’m sure people were writing Reagan off then.
2 yrs later he’s Gov of CA. 16 yrs later he’s President.