Word to LIve by & Reagan Forum

Words To Live By - Taiwan and China, Part 2

Today’s podcast continues on the theme of Taiwan and China, but we’re moving up to 1984. In the spring of 1984, President Reagan spent six days in the People’s Republic of China, visiting Beijing and Shanghai. This visit followed Premier Zhao Ziyang’s visit to Washington DC in January 1984, clearing the diplomatic path for the President to visit China.

A Reagan Forum - Tom Cotton

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to March 7, 2022 for our in-person event with United States Senator Tom Cotton, who was the Foundation’s sixth speaker in its Time for Choosing Speaker Series, a new forum for leading voices in the conservative movement. Tom Cotton is the United States Senator from Arkansas. He previously served as a lawyer, leaving law because of the September 11th attacks on our country and joining the military. He served nearly five years on active duty in the United States Army as an Infantry Officer. Senator Cotton served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan with a Provincial Reconstruction Team. Between his two combat tours, he served with The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery.

Words To Live By - Taiwan and China, Part 1

Today, we’ll begin a two-part podcast about Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China by hearing Ronald Reagan’s thoughts in the 70’s and 80’s. Governor Ronald Reagan was a vocal supporter of Taiwan and was first introduced to the country in 1971 when he traveled there at the request of President Nixon. His task was to reassure Chiang Kai-shek that the United States remained committed to U.S.-Taiwan relations, even though Henry Kissinger was holding secret meetings in the People’s Republic of China. Ronald Reagan regarded Taiwan as a loyal, democratic, longtime ally to whom we owed unqualified support and he was concerned how Al Haig and others in the state department were so eager to improve relations with the Peoples Republic of China, that, ultimately as president, tried to press him back from this pledge of support.

A Reagan Forum - John Avlon

In this week’s “A Reagan Forum” we present American journalist and political commentator John Avlon, who joined us at the Reagan Library virtually on February 28, 2022, to discuss his newest book, Lincoln and the Fight for Peace which is a revelatory history of Abraham Lincoln’s plan to secure a just and lasting peace after the Civil War — a vision that inspired future presidents as well as the world’s most famous peacemakers, including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a story of war and peace, race and reconciliation.

Words To Live By - St. Patrick’s Day

For today’s podcast, we’re showcasing how President Reagan used humor and Irish wit to build relationships, defuse anger and reach across the aisle consistently. We know how he fought with Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill, and we also know how hard he worked to build a relationship with his political foe whom he considered a friend and colleague. You’ll hear him say that we live in “a country which permits two not-so-shy and not-so-retiring Irishmen to have it out on the issues rather than on each other or their countrymen.” A lesson our current politicians seem to have missed.

A Reagan Forum - Newt Gingrich

In this week’s “A Reagan Forum” we present former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Speaker Gingrich is well-known as the architect of the “Contract with America” that led the Republican Party to victory in 1994, creating the first conservative majority in the House in 40 years. He is also recognized internationally as an expert on world history, military issues, and international affairs, as he is the longest-serving teacher of the Joint War Fighting course for Major Generals.

Newspapers

The subject today? Newspapers. Every year in March, President Reagan would deliver a speech to the National Newspaper Association at their annual meeting, often inviting them to the White House. His remarks were always very entertaining – and well, you know the phrase, keep your friends close but your enemies closer? He always kept his eye on the ball.

Best of President and Nancy Reagan’s Love Story

In this week’s “A Reagan Forum” we’re going to break from our normal format to honor President and Mrs. Reagan on what would have been their 70^th wedding anniversary on March 4, 2022. 70 years prior, on March 4, 1952, Ronald Reagan wed Nancy Davis at the Little Brown Church in the Valley near Los Angeles, California. Their only wedding guests were their best man and maid of honor, married couple William Holden and his wife, Brenda. It’s been said that Romeo had his Juliet, Antony had his Cleopatra. Prince Edward had his Wallis, and Ronald Reagan had his beloved Nancy. Charlton Heston once said theirs was “probably the greatest love affair in the history of the American Presidency.”

The Olympics and Controversy

Today’s podcast on the Olympics is inspired by some of the controversies surrounding the 2022 Beijing games, which is no surprise because controversies have plagued this global event for years. Today, you’ll hear Ronald Reagan’s critical thinking on the subject from the 1970’s.

A Reagan Forum - Craig Shirley

In this week’s “A Reagan Forum” we present Craig Shirley, the author of four bestsellers on President Ronald Reagan, including “Rendezvous with Destiny” and “Reagan’s Revolution.” On this visit to the Reagan Library, Craig launched his latest book, “April 1945: The Hinge of History,” which is the long-awaited follow-up to the widely praised December 1941. In April 1945, Craig combines engaging anecdotes with deft research to look at the several events which changed the face of the world forever: the sudden death of President Roosevelt followed by Harry S. Truman’s rise to office; Adolph Hitler’s suicide; and the horrific discoveries of Dachau and Auschwitz. During his visit, Craig sat down with Reagan Foundation Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller to discuss his book.