[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 374 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 374

                Honoring President Ronald Wilson Reagan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 9, 2004

Mr. Frist submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
                Honoring President Ronald Wilson Reagan.

Whereas Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, was born 
        on February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois, to Nelle and John Reagan and 
        raised in Dixon, Illinois;
Whereas as a lifeguard at Rock River in Lowell, Illinois, a young Ronald Reagan 
        saved the lives of 77 swimmers;
Whereas Ronald Reagan enrolled in Eureka College where he played football, acted 
        in amateur theater, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics 
        and sociology;
Whereas Ronald Reagan landed his first job as a radio announcer for WOC in 
        Davenport, Iowa, and went on to become a popular sports announcer;
Whereas Ronald Reagan launched a movie career that spanned 50 movies, including 
        his most famous role as the football legend, ``The Gipper'';
Whereas Ronald Reagan, who received more fan mail than any other actor at Warner 
        Brothers Studios except Errol Flynn, served as president of the Screen 
        Actors Guild from 1947 to 1960;
Whereas on March 4, 1952, Ronald Reagan married his great love, Nancy Davis, who 
        was to become his lifelong confidante and companion;
Whereas Ronald Reagan was the father of 4 children: Maureen, Michael, Patti, and 
        Ronald Prescott;
Whereas Ronald Reagan hosted the popular television series ``GE Theater'' from 
        1954 to 1962;
Whereas in 1962, Ronald Reagan switched his party affiliation from Democrat to 
        Republican and 2 years later delivered a major televised speech in 
        support of Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater;
Whereas in 1966, Ronald Reagan won the governorship of California and in 1970 
        was reelected to a second term;
Whereas Governor Reagan campaigned for the Republican nomination in 1968, and 
        again in 1976;
Whereas on July 16, 1980, the former Governor won the Republican nomination and 
        on November 4, 1980, won the United States Presidency in a landslide 
        vote;
Whereas President Reagan appointed the first woman to the United States Supreme 
        Court, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor;
Whereas on March 30, 1981, only 2 months into his Presidency, Ronald Reagan 
        survived an assassination attempt and upon meeting Nancy in the 
        hospital, quipped with characteristic good humor, ``Honey, I forgot to 
        duck'';
Whereas President Reagan delivered on his promise to cut taxes for American 
        workers in 1981, and achieved the historic tax cuts of 1986 which 
        overhauled the Federal tax code and reduced tax rates for almost all 
        taxpayers, including removing 6,000,000 Americans from the tax rolls;
Whereas under President Reagan's leadership, inflation fell, interest rates 
        declined, and by the seventh year of his Presidency, the stock market 
        hit an all-time high;
Whereas President Reagan presided over the longest economic expansion in the 
        history of the United States until that time and rebuilt the national 
        defenses of the United States;
Whereas President Reagan won reelection in 1984 carrying 49 out of 50 States--
        one of the biggest electoral victories in the political history of the 
        United States;
Whereas during summit meetings with Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev in 
        December 1987, President Reagan signed a treaty to eliminate 
        intermediate-range nuclear forces;
Whereas President Reagan's steadfast opposition to communism, his unshakeable 
        resolve to defeat the ``Evil Empire'', and his secure belief in 
        government for and by the people, led to the collapse of the Berlin Wall 
        and victory in the Cold War;
Whereas President Reagan's belief in freedom as a God-given right of all peoples 
        led to a democratic revolution across Central America; and
Whereas Ronald Wilson Reagan, father, husband, actor, and dedicated public 
        servant, restored the pride, optimism and strength of the United States 
        and earned the deep respect and affection of his fellow citizens: Now, 
        therefore, be it:
    Resolved, That the Senate notes with deep sorrow and solemn 
mourning the death of Ronald Wilson Reagan.
    Resolved, That the Senate extends its heartfelt sympathy to the 
wife and family of President Reagan.
    Resolved, That the Senate commends the former President for his 
Presidency and its many accomplishments.
    Resolved, That the Senate calls on all the people of the United 
States to reflect on the record of the 40th President of the United 
States during this national period of remembrance.
    Resolved, That the Secretary communicate these resolutions to the 
House of Representatives and transmit a copy thereof to the family of 
the former President.
                                 <all>