Word to LIve by & Reagan Forum

A Reagan Forum – President Reagan's Birthday

February 6, 2024, marked the 113^th anniversary of the birth of Ronald Wilson Reagan. He used to love to joke that each birthday was the anniversary of his 39^th birthday, so 2024 would have marked the 74th anniversary of his 39^th birthday! Since President Reagan’s passing on June 5, 2004, the Reagan Foundation has worked with the United States Marine Corps Camp Pendleton to hold a birthday celebration on February 6 of each year to honor the life and legacy of our nation’s 40^th president. Each year the program includes live musical entertainment from the 1^st Marine Division Band, an honor guard, a rifle guard, and the official laying of the White House Presidential Wreath on President Reagan’s gravesite. Keynote speakers in prior years have included Ed Meese, Elizabeth Dole, James Baker, and Henry Kissinger. In this week’s A Reagan Forum podcast, we listen in to the ceremony held on February 6, 2024, with special keynote speaker Lech Walesa, who shared President Reagan’s commitment to securing and preserving human rights, democracy, and freedom around the world. As the leader of the Solidarity movement, Lech Walesa’s role in the Cold War helped defeat the Soviet Union.

Words To Live By – A Birthday Celebration

40 years ago, Ronald Reagan traveled to his hometown in Dixon, Illinois for his 73^rd birthday celebration on February 6^th, 1984. True to form, the jokes were flying, as were the warm memories. He was there with his older brother, Neil, his sister-in-law, and of course, Nancy. They toured one of the homes the Reagan family had lived in during childhood which had just been renovated by the Ronald Reagan Home Restoration Foundation. Then, they viewed a homecoming parade from the Nachusa House Hostel. Finally, the president delivered remarks at the Dixon High School Gymnasium.

A Reagan Forum – Gold Star Memorial Unveiling

In 1984, while speaking at Memorial Day ceremonies honoring an unknown serviceman of the Vietnam Conflict, President Reagan said, “We know why he died. He saw the horrors of war but bravely faced them, certain his own cause and his country's cause was a noble one; that he was fighting for human dignity, for free men everywhere. Today we pause to embrace him and all who served us so well.” To honor the values and ideals for which our country’s sons and daughters sacrificed, to honor their commitment to duty and country, to thank them for their service and our freedom, and to make sure that they are never, ever, forgotten, the Reagan Library was honored to install a new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument honoring the families of servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the military. In this week’s A Reagan Forum podcast, we go back to November 12, 2018, for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Memorial’s unveiling. Program participants included Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel Woody Williams, actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, singer John Ondrasik from the band Five for Fighting, and local Gold Star Family members.

Words To Live By – State of the Union

By the end of January every year, except for Inaugural years, the President fulfills his or her constitutional duty to "give to the Congress information on the State of the Union" (Article II, section 3 of the Constitution). So yes, today’s podcast will focus on the infamous State of the Union address which generally includes reports on the nation's budget, economy, news, agenda, progress, achievements, and the President's priorities and legislative proposals. Because of those many diverse topics necessary, several people work on this address. Of course, the economists and budget experts handle their portion, the diplomatic and national security staff meet with the President to create their portion, etc. Let's listen to some of President Ronald Reagan's State of the Union highlights.

A Reagan Forum – Audrey Birnbaum

As part of our Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. exhibit, the Reagan Foundation has been hosting authors whose books cover the atrocities of the holocaust, mainly told through survivor’s eyes. In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast, we go back to our in-person event with Audrey Birnbaum, who shares with us the story of her grandfather and his time growing up amidst the rubble and antisemitism of war-torn Nazi Berlin in her latest book, American Wolf: From Nazi Refugee to American Spy. During this program, Audrey sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller to discuss American Wolf which is an electrifying true account brimming with last-minute rescues and life-and-death struggles that defy the impossible. They discuss how the book is not just a tale of survival, but a profound coming-of-age story, delving into the complexities of family dynamics and the search for national identity.

Words To Live By – Superbowl and Football

Well, now that we’re into football playoff season, we have the perfect opportunity to focus on Ronald Reagan’s love for football. His experience in high school on the gridiron helped him audition for radio. Let's let him tell the story.

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 Warfighting course for Major Generals. Speaker Gingrich is the author of over 40 books. He specifically came to the Reagan Library a week ago to discuss his latest book, March to the Majority: The Real Story of the Republican Revolution, which takes readers behind the scenes of the Republican Revolution in 1994 and the rise of the modern GOP to show how we can lead America toward a more conservative, prosperous future. The book shares never-before-told stories about Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Tip O’Neill, George H.W. Bush and other political figures.

Words To Live By – The Soviets 40 Years Ago

Forty years ago in January 1984, our 40^th President delivered an address to the nation and other countries on the status of US-Soviet relations. Things weren’t too rosy then – recall that Andropov was still in power, unapologetic about the massacre of KAL 007, or anything else. Until Gorbachev came into office in March 1985, that’s early in his second term as president, working with the Soviets was no day at the beach.

A Reagan Forum – RNDF 2023 Panel 10

Over the last month we have shared with you two of our keynotes at last month’s Reagan National Defense Forum. We shared with you the Forum’s keynote address with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, as well as the fireside chat with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. In this week’s Reagan Forum Podcast we are going to share the Forum’s final panel, which celebrated the Forum’s 10^th anniversary. The panel, entitled “a discussion on peace through strength with former national security leaders” featured former US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, former US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and former US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. The panel was moderated by Fox News Channel’s Bill Hemmer. During the conversation, panelists discussed Ukraine and if the U.S. and other allies should continue to provide weapons, the U.S. take on Tehran, how far the U.S. should or shouldn’t go in assisting Israel, rising tensions between China and Taiwan, and more.

Words To Live By – China and Premier Zhao Ziyang

Today’s subject? The President’s diplomatic efforts with China in 1984. Yes, in those years, there were positive diplomatic efforts. In fact, the administration developed a relationship with Ziyang who was a reformer, in office from 1980 to 1987. Shortly after George Shultz became Secretary of State, he completed an initiative with Ziyang in August 1982, that arranged for acceptance of a joint US-China communique that limited US arms sales to Taiwan in exchange for a vague pledge by the Chinese government to strive for “peaceful unification of the Motherland.” While many criticized Reagan for supporting this, knowing of his staunch support for Taiwan, it was a sign of reciprocity. Ultimately, Ziyang lost power because he criticized the government’s handling of the Tiananmen Square protests and empathized with the students. He believed China should become a liberal democracy and was placed on house arrest until his death in 2005. So let’s get started by listening to an excerpt from the President’s welcoming remarks.