[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 22 (Tuesday, March 5, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H661-H663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PERMITTING USE OF ROTUNDA OF CAPITOL FOR CEREMONY TO PRESENT A GOLD
MEDAL ON BEHALF OF CONGRESS TO FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN AND HIS
WIFE NANCY REAGAN
Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 305) permitting the use of the
Rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to present a gold medal on behalf
of Congress to former President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy
Reagan, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 305
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to
be used on May 16, 2002, for a ceremony to present a gold
medal on behalf of Congress to former President Ronald Reagan
and his wife Nancy Reagan. Physical preparations for the
ceremony shall be carried out in accordance with such
conditions as the Architect of the Capitol may prescribe.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Linder) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) will
each control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder).
Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand up on behalf of awarding the
Congressional Medal to former President Reagan and his wife, Nancy.
I had a long-standing personal relationship with President Reagan,
having traveled in his campaign plane going back to the East in 1976.
He was a remarkable human being who knew who he was and what he was
about, and he left office exactly as he entered it. Uninflated by the
trappings of power, he came to do some things, he did them, and then he
left.
On the night before he announced his candidacy for President in
October of 1975, he gave a speech at the 20th anniversary celebration
of the National Review. It was a remarkably confident, uplifting, and
humorous speech; but toward the end of that speech, he looked at the
world as we see it, and it was not all pretty.
He quoted something written 40 years earlier, or so, by Whittaker
Chambers, a former Communist and popular writer in the 1940s and '50s.
He said, ``It is idle to speak of saving western civilization because
western civilization is already a wreck from within. That is why we can
hope to do little more than snatch a fingernail from a saint on the
rack, or a handful of ash from the faggots, and bury them secretly in
the flower pot against that day ages hence when a few men will dare to
believe that there once was something else, that something else was
thinkable; and that there are those who, at the dark moments, took
loving care to preserve the tokens of hope and truth.''
Reagan was looking at a very, very dark time in America. He went on
to run for President, and he did not win. In some ways, it does not
matter that he did not win in that race. The day after President Ford
won the nomination in Kansas City, Ronald Reagan assembled the friendly
troops that had followed him so ardently for the past year, and he told
them that it was just the beginning, and that we would one day reach
that shining city on the Hill.
Four years later, he ran for President again. It is valuable to
remember what kind of circumstances the United States faced in 1980 as
he ran for President. We have heard for the last 10 years that I have
been here on this floor that the 1980s was a decade of greed and that
he ran us into all kinds of debt. But let us lay some facts on the
table. Facts, as it has been said, are stubborn things.
When Ronald Reagan ran for President, we had interest rates of 21
percent, we had home mortgages at 17 percent, inflation at 14 percent,
and double-digit unemployment. He faced these challenges on that
January day when he was sworn into office, and he listed them one after
the other. Then he told the American people that we can conquer this,
because, after all, we are Americans.
Over the next 10 years, not Ronald Reagan and not government policy,
but the American people, changed the world with a cut in taxes to take
the burden of paying for government off the backs of small businesses,
the creators of jobs, with a significant reduction in regulations
across the board. The American people, over the next 8 or 10 years,
created 4 million businesses and nearly 20 million new jobs. The
revenues to the Federal Government after reducing taxes doubled from
$519 billion in 1980 to $1 trillion 54 billion in 1990.
The American people are a generous sort and also increased their
contributions to strangers, people they have never met, through
charities from $48 billion in 1980 to around $100 billion in 1990. It
is now $195 billion.
Ronald Reagan would be reluctant to take any credit for any of this.
He set a tone. He set a tone for the United States, and they followed
it. In the 4 years before he became President, from 1976 to 1980,
communist influence had increased in 14 major areas around the world
from Afghanistan to Zambia. When Ronald Reagan took office, he was
facing probably the largest expansion of communist activity in the
history of this past century.
As he left office, quietly, without bragging, without talking,
communism was collapsing on its own. Shortly thereafter, the Berlin
Wall fell, and the
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whole idea of communism and socialism were both empirically and
theoretically discredited. We now face expansions of freedom around the
world.
He was an unassuming and decent man, and the American people saw
that. They saw what he was, and they gave him two huge Presidential
victories. But my favorite story about him was told by his friend of
many, many years, Mike Deaver, who, while walking with Ronald Reagan on
the streets of Manhattan in 1978, I believe it was, after he had run
for President, and much of the world knew who he was from that
campaign, he was walking down the street in Manhattan and saw someone
inching toward him, wanting to get his autograph, thinking he knew who
he was, but not sure.
Reagan, ever the polite gentleman, turned to him and put his hand out
and said hello. The gentleman looked at Ronald Reagan and said, Could I
get your autograph, Mr. Milland? Ronald Reagan signed ``Ray Milland''
and moved on. Mike Deaver said, why didn't you tell him who you were?
Ronald Reagan said, I know who I am. He wanted to meet Ray Milland.
That is the kind of guy he was, the kind of President he was. He and
Mrs. Reagan deserve to be honored with a Congressional Medal as a
marvelous team in the history of this great country.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1415
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the concurrent resolution to
authorize a ceremony to present a Congressional Gold Medal to former
President Ronald Reagan and to Nancy Reagan. I regret that President
Reagan will not be present for that ceremony.
H.R. 3591, enacted in the last Congress as Public Law 106-251,
authorized presentation of this gold medal to our 40th President and
our First Lady.
Mr. Speaker, President Reagan was a strong leader, both substantively
in terms of policy and symbolically in terms of the image he projected
to the American people. He was a significant figure at a critical point
in time in our history. Ronald Reagan was clearly an effective advocate
for his views, and he retained the affection of the American people
throughout his Presidency. President Reagan was skilled at representing
the office of the Presidency as well as his policies. He was an
individual, as the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) has said,
simple, unassuming, profound in some ways and a thoroughly decent human
being.
I want to take this opportunity as well to salute Nancy Reagan his
wife, an active First Lady and a devoted spouse both in the White House
and in the difficult days since she has coped with the former
President's tragic Alzheimer's disease. Nancy Reagan has been a
tireless proponent of programs to prevent alcohol and drug abuse as
well.
Mr. Speaker, I may disagree with the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Linder) in terms of some of the policies and some of the reasons for
what has happened in America. We will have those kind of differences
appropriately. But what neither of us disagree on and what we both
agree on is that Ronald Reagan is in fact a decent human being who
cares greatly about his country, who cares about its people, who cares
about freedom, and who cares about justice. He was a leader of
significance, as I said earlier, a leader who made a difference, a
leader who set before the world an image of freedom, a leader who was
prepared to commit himself to the defense of freedom and, as a result,
in my opinion, gave to those who would undermine freedom in the Kremlin
and other places in the world second thoughts.
In the final analysis, I am convinced that Gorbachev, the leader of
Soviet Union, looked at his people and said, Ronald Reagan, the
Congress, the American people are prepared to pay the price of
defending freedom and are not going to let it go by default. We cannot
compete, I am sure Gorbechev said, with a President, a Congress and a
people with such resolve. As a result, I think, as the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Linder) has pointed out, shortly after the Reagan
Presidency, communism was certainly in retreat, the Iron Curtain came
down, the Berlin Wall, which he asked to be torn down, in fact was torn
down.
So although during the course of his Presidency I differed on some
policies and, frankly, agreed on others, but what we all can agree on
is that this was an American who served his country well, an American
who gave of himself, of his philosophy, of his intellect, of his
devotion to country. Americans and America and, indeed, the world
benefitted by that contribution.
I am pleased, Mr. Speaker, to rise with my friend, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Linder), in support of this most appropriate use of the
rotunda of the Capitol of the United States.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), for allowing me the time today to
appear and present a few remarks on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked the 50th wedding anniversary of former
President and First Lady Ronald and Nancy Reagan, a half a century of
commitment not just to themselves and to each other but a commitment to
the American people.
Mr. Speaker, today we plan for another milestone, the Congressional
Gold Medal ceremony for this distinguished couple.
In the 106th Congress I, along with my good friend and colleague, the
gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn), introduced legislation to award
the Reagans the highest honor that Congress can bestow, the
Congressional Gold Medal. Ronald and Nancy Reagan have dedicated their
lives to promoting national pride and bettering the quality of life for
every American. Certainly the Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting
tribute to their enduring commitment to public service.
Recently, I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 305 to authorize
the use of the Capitol Rotunda for their Congressional Gold Medal award
ceremony to be held on May 16 of this year.
The Reagans have stood as leaders and icons in our Nation's history
for years. A popular two-term governor and later as President of the
United States, Ronald Reagan was dedicated to encouraging economic
growth, recognizing the value of hard work and sparking hope and pride
among all Americans. He believed that everyone can rise as high and as
far as their abilities will take them. This principle became a guiding
creed of Reagan's Presidency as he successfully turned the tide of
public cynicism and sparked a national renewal of faith and hope. He
fulfilled his pledge to restore the great confident roar of American
progress, growth and optimism; and Americans once again believed in the
good old-fashioned American dream.
Always standing by his side, President Reagan's wife, Nancy, served
as a gracious First Lady and a distinguished leader in her own right.
Perhaps her most notable and longest-lasting achievement was her ``Just
Say No'' campaign aimed at preventing alcohol and drug abuse among our
youth.
Even today, Mrs. Reagan continues to be an active public leader as a
champion for increasing funding for research on Alzheimer's disease.
Together, the Reagans have dedicated much of their lives to our
Nation. Their leadership and service extended well beyond President
Reagan's tenure in office.
It has been an honor for me to lead the effort of awarding the
Congressional Gold Medal to this deserving couple.
I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution which
will allow for the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony to occur here, in
the People's House, our Nation's Capitol.
Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn).
Ms. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of this resolution to
allow the use of the Capitol to honor President and Mrs. Reagan.
I so much appreciate hearing the words of our colleague, the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who was eloquent in his
description of how this President was able to bring hope to this
country and work across the aisle to achieve great things for the
United States.
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Two years ago the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and I sponsored
a bill that awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to President Reagan
and his wife and his long-time supporter, Mrs. Nancy Reagan. That bill,
as the gentleman from Nevada told us, was passed in both houses; and it
was signed by the President. With passage of today's resolution we will
have the privilege to present our Nation's highest award to Mrs. Reagan
this May in the Capitol Rotunda.
President Reagan delivered his second inaugural address in the
Rotunda. I well remember that day because it was about one degree above
zero and they actually canceled the parade to be held that day for the
inauguration of the President. So President Reagan went ahead with his
inaugural address, but he moved it to the Rotunda, so that has
significance to us. In that address he personified our country as
hopeful, big-hearted, idealistic, daring, decent and fair. Those are
the exact words I would use to describe President Reagan himself.
Together, the President and the First Lady dedicated their lives to
lifting the American spirit and bettering the quality of life for all
Americans.
I continue and I know so many people also continue to be inspired by
President Reagan's ideals of lowering the tax burden on individual
working Americans, of strengthening families, limiting the control of
government and achieving peace through strength here for our United
States.
In the early 1980s President Reagan's policy and leadership lifted us
out of a terrible economic situation. I well remember the record
unemployment, the 21 percent interest rates, the double-digit inflation
that we lived through during that time. He stated in his campaign that
he would bring America back, and he did.
As we all know, the First Lady has been very instrumental in every
Presidency. This is especially true of First Lady Nancy Reagan who
traveled tirelessly around this Nation promoting her Just Say No
campaign in order to stop substance abuse among young people. She knew
she was not elected to office. She was not elected to office and yet
she put to the best use the clout that she had as First Lady of this
Nation to make what I believe was a lasting impact on our Nation's
youth.
President and Mrs. Reagan believed in the promise of the American
dream. In an era of growing cynicism, they worked in their own upbeat
and hopeful ways to make America a place where everybody can rise as
high and as far as their ability will take them.
My best wishes go out to President and Mrs. Reagan who have just
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Although he has withdrawn
from public life and we will be here forever to remember his
accomplishments, his wife will come to receive this honor in the
Rotunda on May 16. We will be there to greet her, to thank her for her
constant support of this great man and the wonderful activities she
herself initiated on behalf of our Nation's youth. We will never forget
their achievements.
Now it is time for us to honor these two individuals and to say thank
you to our Nation's most magnificent President and his First Lady,
Nancy Reagan.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution.
Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my
colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).
Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Linder), and I thank the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) for
introducing House Concurrent Resolution 305, and I subscribe to
everything that the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) thereafter has
said and the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn) has said.
President Reagan was an unusually great President of this country. He
lowered the burden of taxation on Americans. He in a large measure was
solely responsible through his policies and his tenacity for bringing
down the Berlin Wall and ending the Cold War. He was a leader of great
proportion. But I rise for a different reason, not just to repeat the
same.
It is really appropriate that we use the Rotunda to present this
award to Nancy Reagan, and it is because she and the President are
still achieving great things for our country.
Mr. Speaker, I lost my mother 4 years ago to Alzheimer's, and I have
the greatest of regard for the caregivers of America who today deal
with the care and the tragedy of that disease that afflicts their loved
ones. I am so proud of the President, President Reagan, in the way he,
in such a dignified manner, let the American people know of his
debilitating disease; and he met it with the same positive influence
that he met every challenge, no matter how great it was, in his life.
As President of the United States, he did wonderful things for our
country. As First Lady, Nancy Reagan did wonderful things for our
country. And when the Gold Medal is presented, it will be for all the
positive accomplishments that he made. But at this time in their lives
it also recognizes a couple who are a shining beacon to millions of
Americans whose loved ones have been confronted with Alzheimer's, who,
as caregivers, give every moment of their day to make the life of their
loved one as easy as possible.
So on the 50th anniversary of their marriage, on their recognition of
the accomplishments as First Lady and the President, it is also
appropriate that we point out to the American people that even today,
as a past President and a past First Lady, Ronald Reagan and Nancy
Reagan continue to be a beacon to the American people in their handling
of the most difficult of diseases in the latter years of their lives.
Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), and I
thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) for yielding me time, and
I urge the support of House Concurrent Resolution 305.
{time} 1430
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
urge all of our colleagues to support this resolution in honor of
President and Mrs. Reagan.
Mr. Speaker, I said much about President Reagan in the opening of
this conversation about his life, and let me close by honoring Mrs.
Reagan. President Reagan said for many years that his life started 50
years ago yesterday, that was the day he married Nancy Reagan. She has
been a full partner in all of his successes, of which there are many.
It is often the partner, the spouse, that does a lot of the work,
while the person up front gets a lot of the credit. She was there from
day one, 50 years ago yesterday. She deserves this tribute just as does
he. I look forward to their coming here on May 16 to receive this
tribute.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con.
Res. 305, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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