Word to LIve by & Reagan Forum

Words To Live By – The Campaign Trail

In 1984, the economy was in an upswing. Oil prices were low, interest rates were high, and the lurking problem of the mounting federal deficit caused little public concern. Our popular President Reagan was earning the label "the Teflon president" for his ability to escape unscathed from setbacks. So, the challenging task of running against Ronald Reagan fell to former Vice President Walter Mondale who made two bold choices in his campaign, both of which backfired. First, he selected a woman, New York Representative Geraldine Ferraro, as his running mate. Media scrutiny of her husband’s finances put Ferraro on the defensive. Second, Mondale announced in his acceptance speech that he would raise taxes to fight the deficit. Seizing on such a position, President Reagan succeeded in tagging Mondale as a typical free-spending Democrat and won the most lopsided electoral victory since 1936: 49 out of 50 states.

A Reagan Forum – Charters of Freedom Unveiling Ceremony

President Reagan strongly believed in the importance of educating our youth about the Founding Fathers and the nation's foundational documents, such as the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. In 1981, he eloquently articulated this conviction by referring to these documents as the "Charters of Freedom," underscoring their role as the bedrock of American law and guardians of inalienable rights and privileges. It is for these reasons that the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute recently worked with Foundation Forward to install a permanent Charters of Freedom Monument on the Reagan Library campus. The monument includes life-sized replicas of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence, as well as a panel on Civil Rights. This monument was dedicated and unveiled during a ceremony on the Reagan Library campus on the 4^th of July.

Words To Live By – Apollo Lunar Landing Anniversary

Fifteen years after the Apollo 11 lunar landing, the President invited the crew members to the White House for a celebration. You’ll be intrigued by the President’s remarks – he gives a little history and in the second half of the podcast, we’ll hear him explain all the inventions that have emerged from the space program. After his speech, you’ll hear Neil Armstrong speak and present the President with a gift, a small American flag that the crew had taken to the moon in 1969. Today, it’s been 55 years since that historic landing. Recall that at 1:18 pm, Pacific Daylight Time on July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin brought down the lunar lander Eagle on the moon's surface. Collins remained in the command module Columbia, which orbited 69 miles above. Five more missions sent ten more men to the moon’s cratered surface and 843 pounds of precious lunar rocks and soil were returned for analysis.

A Reagan Forum – Looking Forward: Implications of President Reagan's Peace Through Strength Policies Today

President Reagan hated war. He wanted to prevent war. And in the event he ever had to use force, it would be to advance freedom – and not to conquer. President Reagan sought peace, and he understood that peace requires strength. It is strength that tyrants respect. It is strength that enemies understand. It is strength that keeps the peace. As a guiding philosophy, “Peace Through Strength” is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago. In this Reagan Forum podcast we look back at our 80^th anniversary of D-Day commemoration event held on June 6, 2024. The specific panel in this podcast focuses on where we need our leaders to rediscover and recommit to President Reagan’s philosophy. The Wall Street Journal’s Kate Bachelder Odell moderated a conversation with Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Burt, who was with Ronald Reagan in Normandy, Frank Lavin, who served as Ronald Reagan’s White House Director of Political Affairs—and later served as ambassador to Singapore under President George W. Bush, and Matt Kroenig, who is Vice President and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and a Georgetown professor.

Words To Live By – The Great Outdoors

This year, it’s been estimated that about 350 million people will visit our national parks. Now if you’re wondering why I’m speaking about national parks, perhaps it’s important to remember that Ronald Reagan was a serious outdoorsman. In April 1977, he wrote a radio address about the environment, four years before becoming president. And in 1984, he addressed the National Campers and Hikers Association in Bowling Green, Kentucky. As governor of California, Ronald Reagan had an admirable record of safeguarding the environment, to the surprise of some of his critics. Governor Reagan’s administration added 145,000 acres of parkland, more than any other modern California governor. He enforced new, tougher measures on air and water quality. He stopped plans for dams on two rivers, the Feather and the Eel, despite intense pressure from commercial interests and signed into law a bill to protect California’s wild and scenic rivers.

A Reagan Forum – Looking Back: D-Day and President Reagan's 1984 Speech

It was June 6, 1984. President Reagan delivered two speeches that day to honor the 40^th anniversary of D-Day. People forget that there were two speeches. Of course, there’s the “Pointe du Hoc” speech, and then his other remarks at Omaha Beach. There, he honored those who fought, those who died and those who returned. Lisa Zanatta Henn was there that day in 1984, keeping a promise she made to her father, and she joined us at the Reagan Library on June 6, 1984 to honor the 80^th anniversary of D-Day. She sat on a panel alongside Jim Kuhn, Assistant to the President in the Reagan White House, who was in Normandy in June of ‘84. They were also joined by Cameron Toor, a recent veteran of the U.S. Army’s elite 75th Ranger Regiment. They were joined on stage in conversation with presidential historian, bestselling author and Rice University Professor Douglas Brinkley.

Words To Live By – Law Enforcement and Crime

Today, we’ll listen to a radio address delivered 40 years ago on law enforcement and crime - certainly a hot topic in our major cities where cutbacks in law enforcement and weak sentencing are suspected causes of an increased crime rate. So, take a guess: what state has the lowest violent crime rate? That would be New Hampshire. And the highest? In the United States, New Mexico is the most dangerous state, with a higher rate of violent crimes per capita than any other location. Arkansas is a close second with California coming in as the 5^th most dangerous state in the union. So let’s hear from Ronald Reagan on crime, beginning with his thoughts in 1984 and then closing, in the second half of the podcast, with a very direct radio broadcast he delivered 8 years before.

A Reagan Forum - Fireside Chat with Dr. Condoleezza Rice

Last month we shared with you our two panels and our one Keynote Fireside Chat as part of our June 5, 2024 event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of President Ronald Reagan. This month we turn to our panels and Keynote Fireside Chat that were held at the Reagan Library on June 6, 2024, on the day the country and the world commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. This occasion was marked brilliantly by President Reagan 40 years ago on that day in 1984 when he delivered two memorable and moving speeches, one of which highlighted the selfless and heroic actions of the “boys of Pointe du Hoc.” During our programs, we heard from people who were with President Reagan in France that day, as well as discussion around President Reagan’s steadfast support of our allies and the “Peace Through Strength” policy he championed. Our day ended with a lively and fascinating conversation with Dr. Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State and now Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. It is this conversation with Dr. Rice we will cover in today’s Reagan Forum podcast. During this hour-long discussion, Dr. Rice sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Board Chairman Fred Ryan. The two discussed the importance of looking back at D-Day, our nation’s military today, the political environment of today, including the wars in Ukraine and Israel and the threat Taiwan faces from China, the importance of bi-partisanship and working with Allied Nations, and so much more. 

Words To Live By - Firecracker 400, Daytona Beach

Ok here’s a trivia question for you….There was a famous car racing competition that took place in Daytona Beach, Florida on the 4^th of July - do you know the name? Yes, it was called the Firecracker 400 and 40 years ago….our 40^th President attended! In 1989, the "Firecracker" moniker was dropped, and the race was known simply as the Pepsi 400 through 2007. In the early years, the race was always scheduled for July 4, regardless of the day of the week. Beginning in 1988, the race was moved to the first Saturday of July…and today….well, it’s called Coke Zero Sugar 400 and held in August at the Daytona Raceway in Florida…and so it goes… But let’s go back to 1984! The "Start your engines" command was given by President Ronald Reagan but not in person…from the phone on Air Force One! He then later landed at Daytona Beach International Airport and was escorted to one of the main press boxes at the speedway where he was met by a number of reporters, one of them being Ned Jarrett, who asked him to do some play-by-play commentary on MRN - the Motor Racing Network. And here’s how it started… 

A Reagan Forum – Fireside Chat with Ben Mulroney and Carol Thatcher

As we have been sharing with you all month, we gathered at the Reagan Library on June 5, 2024, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of President Reagan.  The day was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on our 40th President’s legacy and its enduring impact to this day and beyond.  We began with a special ceremony to honor this 20-year milestone.  From there, we heard from many who served in the Reagan Administration, discussing both his domestic and foreign policies, and how they continue to shape the world.  We concluded the day with a special after dinner conversation with Peggy Noonan and the children of two of President Reagan’s closest friends and allies on the world stage, Margaret Thatcher and Brian Mulroney. In today’s Reagan Forum Podcast we focus on our keynote fireside chat.  When talking about President Reagan’s legacy, it is impossible to not intertwine it with his allies and his friends. Including former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.  Three greats who are now gone. Gone—and missed more than ever, as the world longs for their unique brand of decisive, principled leadership. In our final reflection on the life, death and legacy of President Ronald Reagan, we were so deeply honored that two children of these leaders agreed to be a part of our program.  In our keynote fireside chat, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Peggy Noonan sat down in conversation with Carol Thatcher and Ben Mulroney. No one else could possibly offer a perspective like theirs on two of President Reagan’s greatest allies.