[John Lenin]

Ours was the first revolution in the history of mankind that truly reversed the course of government, and with three little words: `We the People.' `We the People' tell the government what to do; it doesn't tell us. `We the People' are the driver; the government is the car. And we decide where it should go, and by what route, and how fast. Almost all the world's constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a document in which `We the People' tell the government what it is allowed to do. `We the People' are free. This belief has been the underlying basis for everything I've tried to do these past 8 years.

[Az Joe]

The man gets bigger with each passing year. They will speak his name centuries from now with reverence... Alexander, Charlemagne, Washington, Churchill, Reagan

[John Lenin]

Wow, this is gives me the chills

This following speech was delivered at the Republican National Convention when Ronald Reagan accepted the party nomination for president.

The major issue of this campaign is the direct political, personal and moral responsibility of Democratic Party leadership--in the White House and in Congress--for this unprecedented calamity which has befallen us. They tell us they have done the most that humanly could be done. They say that the United States has had its day in the sun; that our nation has passed its zenith. They expect you to tell your children that the American people no longer have the will to cope with their problems; that the future will be one of sacrifice and few opportunities.

My fellow citizens, I utterly reject that view. The American people, the most generous on earth, who created the highest standard of living, are not going to accept the notion that we can only make a better world for others by moving backwards ourselves. Those who believe we can have no business leading the nation.

I will not stand by and watch this great country destroy itself under mediocre leadership that drifts from one crisis to the next, eroding our national will and purpose. We have come together here because the American people deserve better from those to whom they entrust our nation's highest offices, and we stand united in our resolve to do something about it.

[Inglis]

Thank you for posting that speech.

It gave me chills, and I was saluting as I finished the last paragraph.

[RandyRep]

Thank you for posting this.

As I read this, it struck me that the truths about freedom and government and hope and the economy and the people are everlasting, and that we all need to remember them and act upon them.

The part about the tax cut driving prosperity in the '80s led me to think that is why we are still in the economic doldrums. The Congress passed the 2001 tax cut that gave $300 to each of us for 2001 on, but the next rate cuts don't apply until the 2004 tax year, and the last ones don't take effect until 2008. Frankly - it didn't stimulate the economy enough, resulting in our present economic situation. Obviously - we need to pass the 2003 tax cut bill to get the real stimulus.

[BfloGuy]

Wow! Thanks for the post. What a wonderful speech.

And I know this isn't an original thought; we all think the same thing.

But in these times where Carter and Clinton run around the world criticizing American policy, wouldn't it be wonderful to have Mr. Reagan as a counterbalance.

Guess we're on our own.

[risk]

A highly-relevant article from Bill Keller in the New York Times magazine identifies President GW Bush clearly as Reagan's Son. I'm sure you all saw it. If not, take a look. It went a long way towards reassuring me that the Bush Revolution would be a good one for our country, despite my misgivings about the religious right.

Thanks for posting this speech. I wish I'd have understood how profound they were when he spoke the words as I do now.

[First_Salute]

Salute.

[First_Salute]

Salute.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Thank you so much for posting this. Reagan's speeches, (I don't think I missed one), used to give me goose bumps and get me all fired up. He was a joy to watch and listen to. No other president has had quite the same effect upon me.

God Bless Ronald Reagan!

[First_Salute]

[Travis McGee]

BTTT!

[VOA]

I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever
quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall,
proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming
with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed
with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors
and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.
That's how I saw it, and see it still.

just repeated for emphasis