[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 6, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H187-H188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PRESIDENT REAGAN TURNS 90

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Madam Speaker, tonight we celebrate the 90th birthday 
of President Ronald Reagan, and I would like to read some lines from a 
column that appeared on Sunday in the London Times in London, England. 
It was written by Andrew Sullivan, and frankly I cannot say this better 
than he did about a President that I have admired literally for many, 
many years. Let me read and I quote: ``He will turn 90 on Tuesday, but 
in all likelihood he will barely be aware of it. The cruelty of 
Alzheimer's has robbed Ronald Reagan of the capacity for clear memory. 
But that doesn't apply to the rest of us.
  ``He seems, in some respects, a historical oddity now, his political 
and cultural presence obscured by the Clinton psychodrama and the Bush 
dynasty. But his successors do not begin to compare--either in 
achievement or legacy.''

                              {time}  1845

  Madam Speaker, Reagan stood for two simple but indisputably big 
things: the expansion of freedom at home and the extinction of tyranny 
abroad. He achieved both.
  When he came into office, the top tax rates in the United States were 
70 percent. Against all odds, Reagan slashed the top rate to 28 percent 
and ignited the economic boom that is still with us.
  He was right about taxation and the role of government. He was also 
right about the other great question of his day, the Soviet Union.
  I will never forget the moment I heard his ``evil empire'' speech. It 
was broadcast on Radio 4 with skeptical British commentary about this 
inflammatory new president who knew nothing about the complexities of 
communism.
  But for all the criticism, what came through in my teenage brain was 
the actual truth. Yes, the Soviet Union was evil. Who now doubts that? 
He alone saw that communism was destined to be put on the ash heap of 
history, as he told the House of Commons, and he helped put it there.
  Think of Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. In the 1980s, they were nuclear 
freeze supporters; and yet both now thoughtlessly enjoy the soft and 
easy fruits of a greater man's courage.
  The critics harp on the economic deficits of the Reagan era, but the 
truth is that the Federal revenue boomed on Reagan's watch. What 
created the deficits was an unprecedented increase in defense spending, 
the bargaining chip that eventually forced the Soviets to surrender.
  The end of the welfare entitlement was also presaged by Reagan. 
Reagan's unlikeliest dream, the nuclear missile defense, is also still 
with us. Lampooned as ``Star Wars,'' it will soon regain the pre-
eminence it deserves in American military defense, as Donald Rumsfeld 
aggressively moves it forward.
  He was devoted to his second wife with a romantic zeal, wore a coat 
and tie at all times in the Oval Office, a room he considered sacred.
  Madam Speaker, it takes time to recognize greatness and sometimes it 
appears in the oddest forms. When he dies, this country will go into 
shock. For Americans know in their hearts that this unlikely man 
understood the deepest meaning of their country in a way nobody else 
has done for a generation.
  Madam Speaker, I remember when Ronald Reagan, just outside of this 
Capitol, stepped aboard Marine One for the last time and saluted back 
and left the presidency. I remember turning to my wife and saying, ``He 
was a long time coming. He will be a long time gone.''
  Mr. President, on behalf of a grateful Nation, let me say, thank you, 
God bless you, and happy birthday.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I so much appreciate my 
colleague for taking a moment to express

[[Page H188]]

his deep appreciation for truly one of the greatest Americans of all 
time, former governor of California and President of the United States, 
Ronald Reagan.
  I want to share with my colleagues just a couple of thoughts because 
my colleague has been kind enough to take this time.
  I will never forget, while a member of the State Legislature, one day 
listening to television as I heard for the first time Ronald Reagan 
giving a speech for then candidate for President Barry Goldwater. And I 
rolled over and said to my family, ``By golly, he ought to run for 
governor of California.'' And by golly, not very far after that, he did 
run and was successfully elected.
  During that period of time, it was my privilege to work very closely 
with the governor. And people should know this about Ronald Reagan, two 
items I would mention. The first is it was my privilege to work with 
him on what is now known as the Child Development Act of 1972. It was 
the first quality preschool day-care act in the country and now serves 
as a model for the country, a Ronald Reagan-signed bill in 1972. And 25 
years later the Federal Government discovered it might be an issue.
  Another item: In the southland in my district in California, air 
quality is by far the most serious challenge we faced in the last 20 or 
30 years. It was Ronald Reagan who signed model language developing a 
regional district that has developed the toughest clean air standards 
in the entire country, leading the country.
  Above and beyond that, let me say that the gentleman is correct at 
pointing to this great man as President of the United States.

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