Word to LIve by & Reagan Forum

Lloyd Austin

On December 3 and 4, 2021, the Reagan Foundation and Institute held its annual Reagan National Defense Forum. In its eighth year, the Defense Forum has quickly become one of our nation’s premier gatherings for defense and national security experts. In an era where the threats to our national security are increasing in number and complexity, the Reagan National Defense Forum allows senior leaders from the defense community to come together with viewpoints on how best to deal with these challenges. As such, this year’s theme was Peace Through Strength: Enduring Challenges and Strategic Choices. During this year’s Defense Forum our panels addressed enduring and emerging threats to our national security and what strategic choices we can make to preserve our advantage. From traditional regional theaters to new domains of competition, we must ensure we have the strategy and resources necessary to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21^st century. This year’s Defense Forum’s keynote address was delivered by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Lloyd Austin, followed by a Q&A led by Fox News Anchor Bret Baier.

Education

You may recall a recent gubernatorial election in the state of Virginia where a virtual unknown Republican by the name of Glenn Youngkin prevailed. Basically, the pundits hailed his win as a victory for parental rights in education. 45 years ago, the same concern was expressed by Governor Reagan in a radio address to the nation. Actually, he wrote a number of essays on what was wrong with American education and today, you’ll have a chance to listen to a few of these. You’ll note a strong theme running throughout all his writings…which is the desirability of local control and the dangers of interference by the federal government.

Joel Rosenberg

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back just a few days to November 30, 2021 for our in-person conversation with New York Times best selling author Joel Rosenberg on his newest book, Enemies and Allies: An Unforgettable Journey Inside the Fast Moving and Immensely Turbulent Modern Middle East. Joel Rosenberg is most known for his 16 political thriller novels like The Last Jihad and The Auschwitz Escape. But he is also an American-Israeli communicators strategist, non-profit executive and author of multiple non-fiction books, including the one he joined us for. Among the readers of his books are Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former President George W. Bush, former CIA Director Porter Goss, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, former Israeli Interior Minister Natan Sharansky, and many other foreign leaders.

Venezuela and Ronald Reagan

Today, when most of us think about Venezuela, the former socialist President Hugo Chavez comes to mind. He led the nation from 2002 until his death in 2013. While initially a “populist” leader, he implemented a socialist revolution, fueled by massive oil revenues and made the country resemble an authoritarian state. After his death, President Nicolas Maduro succeeded him along with Juan Guaido, and the net result has been dismal. The South American country has been caught in a downward spiral for years with growing political discontent further fuelled by skyrocketing hyperinflation, power cuts, and shortages of food and medicine. More than 5.6 million Venezuelans have left the country in recent years. But in 1981, 40 years ago, when our 40^th President came into office, Venezuela’s leader was an advocate of democracy. With a desire to solidify the relationship with this important South American ally, President Reagan held a state dinner in November 1981 for President Luis Herrera Campins and welcomed him to the White House.

Michael Medved

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go to our in-person program with conservative talk radio host and bestselling author Michael Medved. Mr. Medved was kind enough to be our first in-person event back in July 2021 after we had been shutdown for 14 months due to COVID. The event was so successful, that he agreed to come back. Michael Medved returned to the Reagan Library just before the Thanksgiving Holiday to discuss “Guilt versus Gratitude” which confronts America’s self-esteem crisis. For all their raging disagreements, the detractors and defenders of the United States share one point of common conviction: that America represents an unprecedented, deeply consequential development in the history of civilization. The core dispute behind our current culture war involves the nature of that uniqueness, and whether America qualifies as exceptionally guilty or exceptionally great. Michael Medved addresses this ferocious debate in the context of his two New York Times bestselling books, THE AMERICAN MIRACLE and THE 10 BIG LIES ABOUT AMERICA.

Space Shuttle Columbia

1981 was a year of firsts: Ronald Reagan’s first year as President and the Space Shuttle’s first mission in April and second mission in November. From Space Shuttle Columbia’s first journey in 1981 to the last journey of Endeavour in June 2011 the Space Shuttle program inspired many Americans in many different ways. Today, we’re focused on the Space Shuttle Columbia, know as the First in the Fleet.

A Reagan Forum on Veterans Day

In this week’s Reagan Forum Podcast we go back one week to the Reagan Library’s Veterans Day Program, which included an honor guard, live music, and keynote remarks by United States Marine Corps Vietnam veteran Bob Parsons. Mr. Parsons is the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. An American entrepreneur, he is best-known as the founder of GoDaddy.com and PXG. He and his wife are also the founders of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, which provides transformational grants to nonprofit organizations including those who focus on the needs of wounded veterans and military families.

James Brady and the White House Press Briefing Room

During the assassination attempt of President Reagan in March 1981, his Press Secretary James Brady was severely wounded and permanently disabled by Hinckley’s random shots. The wound left him with slurred speech and partial paralysis that required the full-time use of a wheelchair. Never able to return to work, President and Mrs. Reagan honored his contribution by renaming the Press Briefing Room as the Brady Press Briefing Room, 40 years ago on November 9^th, 1981. In this podcast, we’ll learn about this remarkable man, James Brady, we’ll learn a little about the history of the White House Press Room and we’ll catch the President’s remarks with some fun banter from Mr. Brady and Mrs. Reagan, along with a few members of the press, like Sam Donaldson and Helen Thomas.

30th Anniversary of the Reagan Library

Although today is Veterans Day, we will spend today’s Reagan Forum Podcast celebrating the Reagan Library’s 30^th Anniversary. Last week we brought you the official opening day ceremonies from November 4, 1991. Today we go back just a few days to November 7, 2021, for the Library’s 30^th Anniversary Commemorative Program, featuring former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, former Reagan Speechwriter Peter Robinson, and David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States.

Irish-American Heritage

40 years ago this month, President Reagan was delighted to accept an award, presented to him at the 84^th Annual Dinner of the Irish-American Society in New York City. He was introduced by Dr. Kevin Cahill, president of the Society, who presented the President with a medal representing the Society's highest award. Now of course, it’s an honor receive an award. But what the President truly enjoyed was a chance to celebrate his Irish heritage and tell a few stories himself.